Residues On LMCs Stored In Whitman Tube

If those Lincolns had no problems when you put them into the tube then it sounds like an environmental Issue with either the tube or how you transferred the coins into the tube . Did you use clean cotton gloves ? If not maybe something on your hands caused the problem ? Or could have been an issue with the paper wrapper that they were in before you got it . whatever you do , DON'T try to clean them , you might get rid of the milky substance but never the black oxidation spots ,also known as carbon Spots .

Sounds like a lot of work unless they're really gemmy examples.

I really appreciate your responses. I "sacrificed" the last cent shown to BadThad's suggested treatment of VC+H2O; the pat-dry was done by blowing the wet coin into a ShamWow with a Hurricane air gun. Here is the result.

The treatment removed much of the milky residue; vestiges may be surface damage. Some of the carbon spots were reduced. The provenance of those hairlines is a mystery, although now they can be seen more clearly extending across the front field. The coin looks better. I'll cherry pick the best and preserve and store them in 2x2s.

I admit the most likely cause of the pox on these coins was me forty-some years ago when I made the transfer to the tube. I was careful but probably not careful enough and didn't appreciate what the decades would bring. A clean environment was not prepared. No gloves. As far as I know, the coins could have been exposed to traces of grease, spittle and halitosis.

Thanks for the great help and advice BadThad. Now I need a safe-freezer combo.

Thad , What's with the freezer storage ? I never heard of that . wouldn't the extreme temperature change do more harm to the coins in the roll ? also would you put no problem OBW rolls in the freezer too ?

Not an actual freezer, freezer-type BAGS. They are thicker and heavier than regular ziplocks.

As a follow-on, thank you all again for your comments. I have taken BadThad's advice and put my coin rolls, mint containers, and other good stuff in freezer-style bags within the safe. In each bag, besides a small desiccant pack to protect from moisture I've included an odor-adsorbing packet (activated charcoal) to protect from the smelly smell. My wife has started to use this technology as well for food items that tend to go "off" in the freezer and elsewhere. I now sleep better at night knowing we're protected!

Oh boy , good thing you cleared that up for me Thad, I was going to start throwing all the meat out of my freezer to make room for my gem Lincolns .