Have just recieved a shipment of pandas (2010) silver and have noticed hat look like milk spots on them! I thought pandas could get some red oxidisation but this is clearly a whitish colour. I have rubbed one with a cloth but it will not remove the spot. It also appears to only have spots on the polished areas of the coin (or possibly on other areas does not show as much) I have maples with milk spots and although the spots on the maples are larger the spots on the pandas are more concentrated and being on the polished surface easier to spot (pun intended) Could it be anything else?
Could be silver pox :| - keep your infected panda's away from the rest of your stack for 2 weeks minimum and consider getting your stack vacinated. I'd say it's just milk spots and try not to worry about it - out of curiousity where did your get them from? And anyone else having the same issue?
Check the supplier's description of the coins - you may be able to get a refund/exchange if they were described as in good condition, flawless etc. One year old coins are too young in my opinion to be suffering from this affliction, especially since china has improved their minting processes over the past few years. Don't try to clean them yourself - if they are milk spots you won't get rid of them. Better to contact the dealer and tell them you are unhappy. Red spots affect gold coins.
So weird, I just got a 2010 panda in the mail with a milk spot next to the 2010 on the reverse side of the coin. I have left it in the capsule for now...
Here is a pic. It is the worse affected one and there is also some spotting on the front of the coin as well [imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/1897_img_3605.jpg][/imgz]
I have just been informed of the problem and I did not notice this before sending out 2010 Pandas from group buy. All Pandas arrived in trays with mint sealed China mint plastic stamped around the edges of the plastic. Over a period of 2 years buying Pandas I have not encounted this problem before. I have repeatedly bought from 2009 to 2011 Silver Pandas. I did the group buy with Apmex. I will speak to them about our concerns tonight. I will stay in touch with everyone concerned and will do my best to resolve this matter to the satisfaction of everyone. Kindest regards Maggie.
Yeah, some of the coins may oxidise if left in hot and humid condition. Badon has a good write up on these spots. http://china-mint.info/forum/index.php?topic=3497.0 Because of their mirror finish, these spots are often more noticeable than if they were on a matt background. If they are one of my Panda babies let me know... I usually check each Panda for white spots before sending
This is why everyone should buy from trusted suppliers (Maggie is one of them), the sellers on this forum have ethics. All credit to you Maggie. Thank you.
I'm sorry to hear this for Panda lovers - still not and never will be a member of this club but milk spots or as Smoothcriminal puts it 'silver pox' is no laughing matter. For those being affected,take comfort in knowing you have real high purity silver without question
There is a lesson to be learnt from the experience. Open all sealed goods and inspect each and every one.
Maggie, FYI my batch from you was flawless. I believe it is an isolated batch of 2010 pandas. Hope all goes well regarding discussions with APMEX.
Just checked mine, they are spotless... further adds to the theory that it's probably an isolated batch....
