| Author |
 Replies: 31 / Views: 4,166 |
|
Valued Member
United States
314 Posts |
Received in the mail today a 1912S Lincoln, certified XF 40 BN by NGC. My first reaction was very positive, as the coin is clean and has a very nice color. As I do with new coins, I was checking it out with various lights and magnifications. The afternoon sun was coming in a window, so I gave the coin a full blast of light, and Oops!, I thought, there was a small but unmistakable spot of green, maybe the size of a small grain of pepper. It is utterly invisible to the unaided eye (at least at my age), but it's definitely there. The green spot does not ruin my enjoyment of the coin except for the obvious anxiety: will it grow? I'm not an expert, but as I understand, verdigris is one of the corrosions that is most likely to grow with time. Here's the interesting side angle: the "official" photo of the coin in the NGC archive clearly shows the spot, but as with the dealer's photo, it just looks like some brown dirt. But I must conclude that NGC graded the coin with the spot present. That surprises me a bit, but I also wonder if it means that if it did not bother them, it should not bother me? I know verdigris has been discussed endlessly, but I hope the angle of finding this in a certified coin might make this a topic of some valid interest. Any thoughts or advice will be appreciated. The spot is snuggled up next to the first "S" in STATES.  Edited by Centsei
09/15/2015 6:45 pm
|
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Nice coin, not to worry, this is very common.  |
|
New Member
United States
14 Posts |
The spot is stable and should not worsen. Bronze disease (working corrosion) is identified by a powdery substance around the area and doesn't appear on your coin. To set your mind at ease, Google bronze disease.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
 Well said and correct. |
|
Valued Member
 United States
314 Posts |
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
 If you really need high magnification to see problems on coins, you may be a bit to picky. This is why you don't see many MS-70 grades on coins. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3463 Posts |
From what I have read, not from experience, the green can grow, even in a slab. Being somewhat protected from the environment by being in the NGC holder, I wouldn't think it could grow very fast, if it grows at all.
Even though this may be one of the best ways to protect your coins, they can still deteriorate over time, some Copper coins, such as cents can even get ugly spots on them. Taken from: http://www.lincolncentsonline.com/holders.htmlEdited by cwb
09/15/2015 8:32 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
to CCF! Looks like an awesome coin and you have nothing to worry about! Can we look at the other side? |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
932 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
Yes Centsi.... That's a great looking Lincoln and as mentioned we would love to see the obverse. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
Verdigris cannot grow without feed materials. Slabs should be stored in ziplock bags with desiccant and a sacrificial cent, just as raw coins should be. The verdigris should be quite stable for decades if the slab is stored properly. All of the TPG's occasionally slab coins with trace verdigris, I've seen it many times. Welcome to CC! Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
Quote:
The spot is stable and should not worsen. Bronze disease (working corrosion) is identified by a powdery substance around the area and doesn't appear on your coin. To set your mind at ease, Google bronze disease. I really hate that term for VERDIGRIS. It's not a disease, it's VERDIGRIS....or copper corrosion if you like.  |
|
Valued Member
United States
314 Posts |
Per request, here's the obverse. Further (OCD?,ha) study reveals that there may be a tiny spot between the date and the president's chin. Likewise, it is on the NGC file photo.  BadThad, even though I'm new here, I've been around long enough to hope you might weigh in on this subject. Great idea on slab storage, which I intend to follow. Edit: I love the term "sacrificial cent." Would I be correct in assuming that that should be a pre-59, or at least a pre-83 alloy coin? Edited by Centsei
09/16/2015 12:40 am
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
12815 Posts |
Welcome, Centsi! Great coin and thanks for sharing! I would take the word of these experts any day. Man, she's a beaut! |
|
Valued Member
United States
314 Posts |
Thanks, CK. I like it, too, and it's good to get a consensus that it's "healthy."
|
|
Valued Member
United States
95 Posts |
BadThad is absolutely correct. A sacrificial cent should be a bright shiney cent, preferably a pre 1983. But a shiney Canadian cent is as good or better. Nice coin, I just bought a 1912 coin also, about the same grade as yours. Nice old copper! Also, use Hefty brand storage bags, (polyethylene, ziplock). and welcome, this place is well protected and monitored, serious numismatist's!! No but seriously no trash here, a great forum for all levels!! Gary in Washington (I collect World Coins, and certain Jefferson nickels). Edited by GSDykes
09/16/2015 02:41 am
|
| |
Replies: 31 / Views: 4,166 |
Posted 09/15/2015 6:43 pm
