Milky/chalky film on proofs

[spy88]

On the 2001 PR set from the mint, I noticed the Jefferson has a slight amount of this milky film on it. Where does it come from and how does it form? What will it eventually do to the coin? Anybody got answers?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

David

 

[GDJMSP]

Certainly can't say for sure as I am far from an expert on toning. But I have always thought that what you refer too is one of the first stages of natural toning with Proof coins.

[michael]

this is really common for all proofs even going back into the 19 century but the 19 century proofs many got damaged and/or dipped or the coins did not tone in a great eye appealling way and a precious few 19 century proofs still have this original milky skin and also toned greatly and are basically untouched and combined with great eye appeal are truly rare unapprecaited coins

 

but modern later 20 th century proofs really common and seen on a regular basis in many sets and i am sure some years moreso then others with the proof sets of the last couple of decades and collectors seeking blast white higher grade coins well this type of toning is not desirable and many even turn like this in their holders as they are not dipped properly rinsed properly etc

 

well anyway too much information

 

not i cant say for sure as i am not really a student of proofs from the 1960's to the 2004 coins and i rarely if ever look at any sight seen in sets

 

but from what little i have seen and known the inside of the press rooms of the mint are an extremely dirty loud oily place with so many chemicals oil etc etc that the coins have after they are struck a skin of oil contaminants on them that just cant be readily seen with the nakked eye and look absolutely brilliant and flawless in the shirt term

but after some months or years

 

((((and of course how the coins are sometimes stored accelrates this process too))))

 

well the coins turn and develop the classic look like your nickel in your photo the contaminants on the coin finally reACT with the metal and start to change the coin usually seen as haze and spots and then keeps reacting azlso the mint the last few years are under extreme pressure with all the coins they are minting are making them as fast as they can and as best as they can and clearly there is a major problem with not only many coins in the sets being phycisally damaged and proofs none the less! and they have no process to get these contaminants off the coins or have the quality control so that coins go into the holders are free of this invisible skin that eventually turns most of the modern proof sets into what you have experienced with your nickel

 

definately a common occurance it is a hit amd miss with collectoes buying coins directly from the mint especially so the proofs i guess if you want perfect coins and that look great you will need to hand select sets right frojm the mint and before they start to turn in the holders from the residure on the coins from the minting process crack the sets and preform some sort of process to remove these residues and then properly neutralize the coin and then store it in a neutral holder within a neutral evviroment to insure future stability

 

good luck!

 

 

 

a really great thread

 

 

michael

[jtryka]

Michael certainly provided a lot of information for you, but I noticed the same thing happening with my 2001 sets, and I recall reading in Coin World or some publication that the mint made some changes in their chemical rinse in that time frame, but I can't recall the details. In addition, I recall they decided to sell 3-year sets for 1999-2001 and they had to stop selling them because of this problem. Needless to say, I don't think your situation in unique.

[spy88]

So basically, the milk is just the first stage of toning? Is this a correct compilation of what everyone has said?

 

David

[Wihlborg]

David,

 

The milky film is a type of toning. In my experience this milky film never turns into really nice toning where the colors appear to be shining up from within the metal of the coin. It tends to appear to be lying on top of the coins surface as a haze. It also tends to mute the coins luster. As for what causes it, I am not sure. IMO it is some type of surface contamination that is invisible at first. Some proofs that look perfect at first develop this milky haze quickly, while others show no trace of it after decades of storage.

 

John

[RobertB]

I've always hated that milky haze. To be honest with you I usually hit them with MS70 coin 'brightener' and then tuck them into my personal album collections. Never to sell. I think it's perhaps a form of oxidation dissimiliar to toning, but I'm no expert.

[EZ_E]

Seems that most pre-1964 sets that I've encountered has this type of toning to some degree or the other.

[Beijim]

For what it's worth, NCS can in many cases conserve coins in a manner that removes the milky hazing completely and restores them to their former glory. I say this because they have done so for me on multiple occasions, and the results were excellent.

 

Beijim

[spy88]

Thanks for all the facts, guys. This milky haze is most noticable on the Jeff but is also on the Kennedy and the Lincoln. I would like to get them conserved, but as they are in the mint plastic, it might be cheaper to just get another set. Then crack this one open and...?

 

Anyway, thanks!

 

David

[Beijim]

I would like to get them conserved, but as they are in the mint plastic, it might be cheaper to just get another set.

 

Therein lies the dilemma. Conservation at NCS will be $15 minimum per coin, so with many modern coins it rarely makes economic sense.

 

Beijim

[Oldtrader3]

I wonder if the milky haze is a residue of zinc (zinc stearate) based release agent that is used in most packaging film processing plants?