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 Replies: 15 / Views: 3,093 |
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
Hey guys, so I don't where to begin... So I bought these three commemorative coins from The Royal Mint a few months ago. They are the "Magna Carta 800th Anniversary 2015 UK £2 Silver Proof Coin", and the 2015 definitive Britannia coin. Now I am new to Numismatic, only been seriously collecting since about 3 months ago, but I knew not to touch the coins with my bare fingers and stuff. So I decided to take a look at my collection about half an hour ago, and what I saw worried me. I took a look at the three UK commemorative coins and they all have spots on them. Last time I checked them out they were fine (last week or so). So I'm really confused. Here are the pictures (I tried my best with my phone camera):  Here you can see the spots around the queen. All three coins have spots around the queen, but the one in the middle is the most obvious under camera.  The reverse of the coins looks fine. Except for the one on the left with spots around Britannia. Please help me guys. I have never touched them with oily hands, rarely taken them out of the original capsules. I store all my coins in a drawer. All the other coins, silver, gold, or clad proof coins are fine I think. Just these three coins. The Magna Carta coins happens to be my favorites, so I'm really upset right now. Now I am not gonna say I never played with them, but I always handled them either by the rims or with cotton gloves on. The coin in the middle was the one I never played with and it ended up being the worst... Please help guys. Thanks for any replies. Edited by Weirdkidhere
09/18/2015 7:42 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1788 Posts |
It's milk spots.
Nothing can be done to get rid of them unfortunately.
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New Member
 United States
41 Posts |
How did it happen? As I mentioned, the coin in the middle was in the capsule from the day it arrived. Why did it develop milkspots? What can I do to prevent my other or future coins from developing spots? Thanks for your help.
Edited by Weirdkidhere
09/18/2015 8:13 pm
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Valued Member
United States
59 Posts |
Isn't is amazing how all of these Anglo-American mints get all these milk spots and cannot figure out how to stop it?
Why don't they stop it?
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
thetracer, so you're saying that milk spots are common among Anglo american mints? My canadian coins are just fine... so far... also this is bull crap I spent so much money on british coins and now they are ruined for no apparent reasons...
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Valued Member
Belgium
464 Posts |
got the same on some on my 2015 maple leaves ... of 20 coins atleast 10 had milkspots
first time I bought canada coins,and I think nevrer again because I just not gonne collect
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
How/where are you storing them? Heat humidity may have something to do with it. I don't think milk spots just appear.Milk spots are pressed into the coin at the time of minting,it's residue from the washing/rinsing process of the blanks. John1  |
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
I have all my collectable coins stored in a drawer right next to my bed so I guess it's room temperature? I live in new York city so idk if that has anything to do with anything. Also all my other proof silver or gold coins looks fine so far. I am truly scare that more spots might appear on my other coins... this might just break this new found hobby... :(
Also you said it has to do with the minting process, is there anything I can do about it? Should I contact the mint? (bought these months ago...)
Edited by Weirdkidhere
09/19/2015 11:13 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6478 Posts |
The mints can't figure out how to stop it. If you keep your room at a little lower temperature, then you might be fine. Also, older, circulated coins won't get these, why don't you give that a whirl?  |
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
If it hasn't been too long you could try returning them to the seller. John1 |
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
Wow I still cant believe my proof coins are just ruined all of the sudden :( cmom Royal Mint, I thought you guys were all about quality... Anyway thanks for the repliespot |
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Valued Member
United States
374 Posts |
If you can't return them, whatever you do DON'T CLEAN THEM!
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Valued Member
United States
262 Posts |
The term "milk spots" is commonly used to refer to spots or areas of haze that appear on some silver coins after minting. They may take a few weeks or a few years to appear, while some coins of the same series may never have milk spots. Although the U.S. and Royal Canadian Mint have previously acknowledged the existence of milk spots on coins they produce, the exact cause has not been publicly confirmed by mint officials. Moreover, I'm am not aware of any mint stating that they intend to take any action to prevent milk spots in future. This point is worth pondering if you are a collector of modern mint products. Several theories exist as to the cause. I believe it has something to do with the minting process. Blanks are annealed and cleaned in a solution prior to upsetting (application of the rim) and striking of the coins. Perhaps the nature of this solution, failure to fully rinse this solution from the blanks, or the manner in which annealing and cleaning occurs may affect the metal surface in such a way that milk spots later form on some coins. Modern minting processes are fairly standard and are thus common to many of the world's mints. Unfortunately, there is currently no way to remove milk spots without abrasive cleaning, which is more detrimental to the coin from a numismatic and value standpoint. In my opinion, owners of coins with milk spots should NOT attempt to remove the milk spots. Ideally, I hope that the capable persons operating the world's modern minting facilities will implement a solution that prevents milk spots from forming on the coins they produce. |
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
PatAR, thanks for you knowledge. I guess I'll spend less on modern commemorative coins for now... This is just so sad to know that out of nowhere , my beautiful coins are ruined by really obvious spots on them... praying that at least my other coins will stay clear... :(
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
1064 Posts |
Collecting cheaper circulating coinage is far more fun than simply buying shiny coins from mints anyway. Well, in mu 'umble opinion.
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
augsburger, I think you're absolutely right. I am focusing more on historic and circulating coins because they're actually pieces of history. However, some of the modern commemorative coins are just irresistibly beautiful... maybe after these problems I will move to collecting circulating coins and probably bullions. Thanks.
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Replies: 15 / Views: 3,093 |
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Posted 09/18/2015 7:39 pm
