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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,307 |
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Valued Member
United States
141 Posts |
Hello,
I'm a new member. My apologies if this has been answered, but I searched and didn't find it covered.
I'm re-entering collecting after a long layoff. I was examining my 1975 proof set. It's still in the original case and has never been opened. On the reverse of the cent, there is a black mark. It stretches from the "o" in oF America to the "us" in pluribus. I can take a photo if that would help. Just wondering if this is a well known flaw in the metal (or maybe mold due to bad seal on the case). Should I open the case an attempt to clean the coin or just leave it alone.
Any help or opinions would be appreciated.
Hawkeye
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1179 Posts |
I'd leave it alone. My guess without pictures is that its toning. You can bust the set up if you like, but do not clean unless its some organic material, which I doubt. Oh and  Edited by ceaton
12/28/2008 12:46 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19931 Posts |
NEVER clean coins, especially proofs! If you touch them or use anything other than reagent grade acetone on them, they will be ruined forever. If it's indeed a black, tar-like substance, there's nothing you can do about it. If it's just a brownish coloration, it's just natural toning (a change in color only) and that's fine. Most collectors seek coins with toning. Not too much to worry about, these sets are only worth $10-15 anyway. to CC! Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Valued Member
 United States
141 Posts |
Thanks for the quick reply and the "Welcome"!
Yes, black tar like substance is a good definition. Any idea what the substance is?
I'll definitely leave it alone. Funny how these sets go up and down. I bought 5 sets in 75 and needed to sell three sets to buy Christmas presents for the kids in 78. I got $50 each at that time. As quickly as they went up, they went back down.
I may buy a set to replace this one. I'd like to have a proof set for every year that I've been married. 1975 - well, we're still going strong. I've noticed that a few of the years are VERY expensive. Right now I've got 1975, 2001, 2003 and 2008.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1807 Posts |
to the forum hawkeye. Sometimes something is mixed into the material the coin is made of, it will leave a streak. And if it had a lot of streaks it would be called a wood grain. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Hi Hawkeye welcome to the forum and back to collecting !
If the spot is black its more than likely what is known as a carbon spot , these happen on the proof lincolns as well as the business strike coins , and they are permanent ,, they are believed to be caused from impurities in the planchet and thus they are integral and in the coin rather than on the coin ..
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
I purchased five 1975 sets directly form the mint that year. On all five sets the cent is smeared with some kind of black tar like substance. It isn't carbon spotting and it isn't toning. It is GUNK.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Conder
its probably grease then , and an acetone bath would or should take it off , I have broken at least 25 of the 1975 sets and have not seen anything like that on the coins but I have found many of the cent coins to be spotted or otherwise impaired .
This has to be one of the worst sets the mint ever put out , it took me that many sets to build one high grade set for my collection , most of the rest of the coins have been put into circulation they were basically not worth keeping or selling .
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Valued Member
United States
230 Posts |
I just checked my one and only proof set which just happens to be a 75 and not a mark on it. I am a little disapointed that the dime is sideways in the holder. But other then that it's a nice set.
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Valued Member
United States
245 Posts |
I was told that is greased imbedded into the coin by die and will not come out.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19931 Posts |
Quote:
I purchased five 1975 sets directly form the mint that year. On all five sets the cent is smeared with some kind of black tar like substance. Welcome to my world! LOL The Memorial series stinks to high heaven when it comes to quality.  Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Valued Member
United States
141 Posts |
Thanks again for the replies! Grease or gunk or whatever...it wasn't there when I got it, but seemed to show up about 10 years ago, when I was showing the set to my grand daughter. Oh well, I hadn't planned to retire off the value of that set anyway ;) ebay seems to have a myriad of 1975 sets in 4-6 dollar range. Since I'm just getting back into things...do you all shop ebay or are there better places to look for value? I also collect vintage guitars and our saying is "shop ebay, just shop carefully!". Hawkeye |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
Welcome, hawkeye, that is a wise saying. When it comes to coins I think the slope is steeper and slicker, so's be careful. The experts are even fooled some of the time, identifying faked coins is getting to be a forensic art. Yes, some are that good.
Many yaruns ago, when the price of silver dropped counterfeit silver became common because a silver dollar had - say - forty cents worth of silver in it. Now it seems that China has stepped up at bat.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,307 |
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Posted 12/28/2008 12:58 am
