| Author |
 Replies: 23 / Views: 10,756 |
|
Valued Member
Canada
178 Posts |
Hi everyone, I just made a disturbing observation on some of my bullion coins. First off, I keep these coins in Airtites in a Lighthouse tray. So they are doubly sealed. I last looked at them probably three weeks ago and noticed nothing. Today I hauled them out and noticed that the first three of the Wildlife series (wolf, grizzly and cougar) all have white developing on them, spots and blobs of white. An Austrian Philharmonic is also getting white. None of the other 16 coins in the tray seem to have this problem yet. All of these coins are 1-2 years old. Now I admit I'm no expert on "milk spots", but I thought it was a flaw in the manufacturing process and that if you bought one that didn't have them you were ok. I didn't think they'd develop later on. Or are these not milk spots at all? I've taken a pic of the Grizzly, it's the worst of the bunch. The white is worst on the mountain top, and the bear's legs. Hopefully the picture quality is good enough for someone to diagnose my issue!  |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
6768 Posts |
That areas, that you've mentioned on grizzly doesn't look like a "normal" milk spots.
I think, it is possible to see the shape of finger on them -may be I misstake. But those caused by touching the coin with raw hands. It just started to develop later.
But what I've observed on some coins - tiny perfectly round white spots.
And on the same coins - Canada Wildlife and Austrian Philharmonics.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1502 Posts |
milk spots
they will develop with exposure to air. Unfortunately airtites are not absolutely air-tight, nor are they a vacuum.
I've heard that an acid dip of not-yet milk-spot-infected coins will prevent them from developing. I've also heard that this issue was fixed from the moose on. But, neither are proved right.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1189 Posts |
This issue stop me to collect silver bullion.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
396 Posts |
The white that you mentioned, it's probably just on the Airtites capsule. I see that the part of it on the left is definitely not on the coin but on the capsule only.
Did you put them in the Airtites yourself? Maybe you touched the inside of the capsule by chance.
|
|
Valued Member
 Canada
178 Posts |
I did put them in the Airtites myself, and the white is definitely not on the capsule itself as I cracked the Grizzly one open to check. But why would it just appear in the last few weeks when I've had these in the same Airtites and case for almost 2 years now? I can see why BiBo stopped collecting bullion, I'd guess my wolf just went from $70 to spot! Not happy!!
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
200 Posts |
I still observe milky spot on new bullion, such as Moose and Antelope
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
178 Posts |
I just went to put my tray of bullion away and the sun hit the coins and the white stuff turned brownish. Could this whiteness be the start of toning? The wolf especially shows hints of toning if I rotate it the right way. Looking head on at it, it's white, but tilt them a bit and it looks like light toning. Hmm...
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2543 Posts |
Quote:
I'd guess my wolf just went from $70 to spot! Not happy!! This is what is taking all the fun out of collectill this series. I have been trying to put together an MS 69 set of this series. I have the wolf , moose and cougar. So far so good with the spots. I made an offer on the grizzly a few weeks ago. The guy wanted $199 for it I offered $159, he declined. More and more I'm thinking ,what if these MS 69 start developing spots in their slabs ? |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
6768 Posts |
I had Titanic Privy SML in the slab.
But still there were tiny milk spots on it.
Why "had" - I removed it from the slab and put in AirTite.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
85 Posts |
This might be a solution?  |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
3733 Posts |
yes milk spots are ugly, but I don't think they affect grading. I am sure someone more experienced will get in on the discussion.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
6768 Posts |
Painting? But this kind of "different" set. I believe, that gilded coins also will be OK...but it again different set. I have the coins (2011-2012 Wildlife, not the Antelope)that I removed by myself from Thermotron seal (by RCM) and put into Airtite capsules - so far no milk spots on them. |
|
Valued Member
Canada
396 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
zzzhuge:  That is great! I had to laugh when I saw that. thehulk: The milk spots on my coins are usually small and circular. I haven't seen any like yours. I wonder if humidity helps to cause them. I have never had any develop milk spots in my possession, they have only come into my collection like that. I live where there is very, very low humidity. |
|
New Member
Canada
13 Posts |
@ tocoins: Was gong to suggest that very same video too! Beat me to it. Also, like the video says, I've tried using eraser to get rid of the milk spots, but it was only so-so effective. I think he also has another video about how to remove tarnish quickly, and that was worked like a charm. For those who don't know yet (which I doubt), the way suggested was to soak the silver in a hot water with baking soda solution. Then place the silver on top of a piece of aluminium foil. You can wrap the foil around to hard to reach places on the surface of the coin/silverware as well.
|
| |
Replies: 23 / Views: 10,756 |
Posted 02/22/2013 1:23 pm
