Page 1 of 1

Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 4:56 pm
by nero12345
Hey guys i got 7 Maples in the mail today that had this film on them. the seller says they weren't like that when they were shipped. Is it the cold that did this or what? What, if anything can i do about it?

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:14 pm
by Rastatodd
I love a good mystery. What were they mailed in?

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:27 pm
by nero12345
Plastic flips all 7 have it. Bubble envelope.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:29 pm
by Engineer
Is it lacquer?

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:31 pm
by SilverEye
Is it sticky? Does it come off with a fingernail? Does it smell?

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:34 pm
by nero12345
Fella said they didn't have them when he mailed them. No marks on the envelope. Maybe he's lying, I don't know. Could it be a reaction to the plastic because of the cold.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:46 pm
by baggerman
Looks like milk spots (that's what they are called anyway). I contacted the mint about this a few years back and was told they are just bullion and there is noting that they can do about it. I have some that are worse than this and I bought them at a discount to spot as the owner didn't like the looks of them.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:26 pm
by Thogey
Dude, that makes them WORTHLESS!

Send them to me so you don't have look at them.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:52 pm
by nero12345
Thogey wrote:Dude, that makes them WORTHLESS!

Send them to me so you don't have look at them.

You're all heart

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 7:00 pm
by jtlee321
Thogey wrote:Dude, that makes them WORTHLESS!

Send them to me so you don't have look at them.



I'll give you face value for them!! Plus an extra buck per just to be a nice guy!! :D

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 7:08 pm
by Rastatodd
OK, they came to you in plastic flips. There are plasticized and non-plasticized coin flips. If the coin flip was pliable (soft) there is PVC in those. Those are known as plasticized flips. Which over time those flips break down and create a plastic film on what ever is stored in them. If the flip was rigid or stiff those are non-plasticized flips, those contain NO PVC elements. Those are use in long term storage. To me, those were stored in a PVC laced flip which chemically broke down. Just my opinion.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:30 pm
by nero12345
Rastatodd wrote:OK, they came to you in plastic flips. There are plasticized and non-plasticized coin flips. If the coin flip was pliable (soft) there is PVC in those. Those are known as plasticized flips. Which over time those flips break down and create a plastic film on what ever is stored in them. If the flip was rigid or stiff those are non-plasticized flips, those contain NO PVC elements. Those are use in long term storage. To me, those were stored in a PVC laced flip which chemically broke down. Just my opinion.

thanks bud i think your right. will they just continue to get worse now? I've taken them out of the holders.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:41 pm
by natsb88
Rastatodd wrote:OK, they came to you in plastic flips. There are plasticized and non-plasticized coin flips. If the coin flip was pliable (soft) there is PVC in those. Those are known as plasticized flips. Which over time those flips break down and create a plastic film on what ever is stored in them. If the flip was rigid or stiff those are non-plasticized flips, those contain NO PVC elements. Those are use in long term storage. To me, those were stored in a PVC laced flip which chemically broke down. Just my opinion.

^^ This. PVC is evil in the coin world. Doesn't have to be an old flip either. Shiny copper will develop a haze in very short order (couple weeks) even in brand new PVC flips.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:06 pm
by Rastatodd
They won't get any worse, the damage has already been done. But you can try rubbing the surface with of all things "vegetable oil". Use your thumb and forefinger. That is a safe way to remove such film with out harming the round. If that don't work try Isopropyl alcohol, using a Q-tip.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:13 pm
by Pennybug
[quote="SilverEye"]Is it sticky? Does it come off with a fingernail? Does it smell?[/quote

That's what she said. :lol:

OK... sorry. Not my style... but I had to! It was just being left out there to dry up.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:49 pm
by baggerman
I have maples that have never been out of the original mint tubes that look like this. I have never tried cleaning them.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 2:49 pm
by DRP270
Milk spots, meh. I wouldn't worry about it as they are common. It is still an ounce of silver and if we we get some moon shot you will be selling spotted and non-spotted for the same price.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:01 pm
by Cu Penny Hoarder
Milk spots. The seller probably lied to you.

If they bother you that much, try to remove the spots with a pencil eraser. The eraser must be brand new (unused) or you will risk scratching the surface of the coins. Erase and you would a pencil error.

Let me know how it worked.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:02 am
by kidman232

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:45 am
by nero12345
Thanks Kidman232. The video helped a lot. I really can't believe I'm gonna say this but I'm going to use an eraser on my coins today. Haha. Jesh I'll post some after pics later today.

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 9:03 am
by thesilvertiger
It was just being left out there to dry up.[/quote]

And if you leave it out to dry up, you'll never get it off. And that IS what she said!

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 6:18 am
by Rastatodd
nero12345,
Was just wondering what the progress of cleaning up those Maples was? Did the eraser work?

Re: Whats this stuff??

PostPosted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:12 am
by nero12345
Hey guys, sorry had very busy weekend. I did one coin with an eraser and the results were good. Mind you i will not do anymore. The shine and luster seems dull and i'd rather have a few spots than what it looks like now. Take a look.