Do Australian Proof Bronze Coins Have A Mirror-Like Surface?

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 2,161
Pertinax Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2133 Posts	Posted 10/02/2013 7:39 pm I just saw this on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Australia-1...190916783122 The NGC certification agrees. I expect modern proof coins to have a mirror-like surface but this doesn't seem to have. Is it normal for Australian proof bronze not to have a mirror-like surface ? Is the value shown in the Proof column in the KM catalogues for PR70 or a different grade ? Report this Post to the Staff

enworb Pillar of the Community Australia 4411 Posts	Posted 10/02/2013 8:18 pm The predecimal (pree 66) proofs dont tend to have a huge mirror surface like the decimal (post 66). Having said that the Perth minted proofs have more of a mirror finish that the melbourne proofs. Report this Post to the Staff
sel_69l Bedrock of the Community Australia 21786 Posts	Posted 10/03/2013 08:16 am The description for this piece IS correct. Rennicks catalogue value $950, but I don't know what it may bring on ebay. I haven't seriously collected Australian coins in nearly 40 years. My numismatic interests lie elsewhere. The only Australian pre decimal proof coin I have is the 1959 Florin proof without egg. At least I am very familiar with the surface texture of the proof coin you see here. Sometimes the bronze proof coins of this era have small black 'carbon' spots on them. This one has two small ones: Underneath Lizzie's smeller (nose), and one in front of her chin. Edited by sel_69l 10/03/2013 08:20 am Report this Post to the Staff
Pertinax Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2133 Posts	Posted 10/03/2013 08:36 am Thanks for your answers. How much would these carbon spots reduce the value, please ? How are they formed ? How can they be removed ? Report this Post to the Staff
enworb Pillar of the Community Australia 4411 Posts	Posted 10/03/2013 08:47 am Carbon spots cant be removed theyre part of the planchet, not just on top of it. I reckon that one would be worth $300-400. Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16815 Posts	Posted 10/03/2013 10:21 am Carbon spots form when drops of water, saliva or some other liquid land on a coin. The moisture attracts extra sulfur from the environment (or contains additional sulfur itself), causing accelerated toning at that spot. They cannot be removed by any process that would not be considered "harmful cleaning". The only remedy is prevention: if you get water on your coin, allow it to dry quickly. If you cough on, sneeze at or spit-while-talking-over your coin or place your coin next to a glass of fizzy drink such that the fizz splashes onto the coin, wash the drops straight away and allow the coin to dry quickly. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
sel_69l Bedrock of the Community Australia 21786 Posts	Posted 10/03/2013 10:24 am The 'carbon spots' are NOT, in fact carbon, they are copper sulphide, and cannot be removed. They form as a result of less than perfect packaging at the time of issue. That is why perfect bronze proofs of this era can be double the value. Nevertheless, the spots in this case are only two in number, and are quite small. Report this Post to the Staff
Pertinax Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2133 Posts	Posted 10/03/2013 11:10 am I've noticed that bronze coins from the Middle East and North Africa very often have 'carbon spots' and on the basis of Sap's answer, I wonder if that's because people in those countries speak plosively with lots of saliva and spit frequently ? Report this Post to the Staff
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