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 Replies: 15 / Views: 462 |
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
*** Edited by Staff to clarify the topic title. Please put as much info in the title as possible; they are crucial.  ***Hi, I'm going through my Morgan collection and getting some coins graded. There's a few coins that have weird brown spots that weren't there before. Could be vapor particles, or something else entirely. Any suggestions on how I should handle this or is it a lost cause? I want to say it's an MS-63 so I'd hate to lose it. Thanks, Mike 
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73687 Posts |
Looks like a carbon spot.
Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
Coins can tone or get spots depending how they are stored. Are they in capsules, albums, maybe PVC holders than can damage coins? They should be in low humidity environment, avoid chemicals in the air near them like cigarettes. Some use dehumidifiers, desiccant packs to keep coins dry, safer. I use desiccant cans for my coins and ammo in a safe.
Even graded/slabbed coins can spot over time. Slabs are not completely air tight.
One method to safely clean silver coins is a brief soak in pure acetone. Acetone removes grim but will not remove toning or corrosion spots. Be careful, Acetone is flammable. There's posts here on CCF how to properly clean coins.
For collectible silver coins do not put your fingers on the field, hold coin on the edge or wear soft gloves. Oil from fingers can leave prints on coins.
Edited by livingwater
02/15/2026 7:22 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
117 Posts |
They were stored in capsules in a CAPS binder.
I have cotton gloves for handling but never in the fields.
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Moderator
 United States
34393 Posts |
@boss, I know that it is unrelated to your question, but can you please tell us the date of this Morgan? I'd like to add that information to your thread title to improve its searchability. Thx!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7613 Posts |
Might try using a dab of pure Acetone on a cotton swab and see if will dissolve the brown substance on the coin. Almost looks liked dried soda pop or vape juice from an e-cig.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19115 Posts |
A judicious dab of acetone wouldn't hurt. Fingers crossed.
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
It's soaking now actually. Neither of those things would have come from me. It wasn't on there when I got them.
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
94786 Posts |
it actually looks like a dried drop of blood or something.
Lets see how it looks after your soak..
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
I tried pulling up the original ebay listing but it was three plus years ago and only the main pic of the obverse is showing. I've purchased plenty of coins from that seller so I'll contact him and see if maybe he still has the pics from the original listing for comparison. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7613 Posts |
Did the Acetone dilute and remove the contaminate? It should not be a long drawn out process.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10478 Posts |
It could have been a small spot of something corrosive that took years to eat into the surface then leech outwards - hopefully the acetone will remove it.
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
After speaking in acetone overnight, the spot is the same.
Is Verdicare worth a shot. Brought aside is worth the price of silver, it comes out around spot today. I paid $54 the years ago.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6506 Posts |
I don't think anything will get rid of that spot.  |
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Interesting.   |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 462 |
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Posted 02/15/2026 7:11 pm
