Milk spots on Royal Mint (Britain) silver coins

syracuse

New Member
Found Royal Mint (Britain) coins have much more flaws than Canadian coins.

More chances to get milk spots and dents.

When people talk about milk spots, it always links to Maples, but not Britain silver coins (Britannias, Lunar horses).
 
I have seen milked Lunar Horse and Britannias, not impressed... but at the same time I have seen milked maples, stock horse, elephants...

its like a norm for bullion silver to get spots.
 
Even proof ones get milkspots it seems. Just gotta store them properly.
 
Saw much more on Great Britain silver bullion coins than silver coins from other mint.

Worst part is that Great Britain silver bullions have shinning surface, which make the milk spots more apparent.

yrh0413 said:
I have seen milked Lunar Horse and Britannias, not impressed... but at the same time I have seen milked maples, stock horse, elephants...

its like a norm for bullion silver to get spots.
 
Am I to understand this correctly, that every silver coin, whether proof or bullion, if left in 'not such ideal conditions', will develop milk spots. How come I don't see milk spots on Morgans or Peace dollars? Talk about being exposed to elements. Something wrong with this picture. Why is it just the modern coins get them? Again, another reason I'm staying away from expensive, premium coins, because once a spot shows up, poof, there goes the premium and the quality, from the perception of the buyers. I put all my coins in airt-tite containers, with moisture and air absorbers, and seal them in coin armour bags. Yet, I'm sure somehow spots will develop. it's ridiculous. Oh, and that's why I try to always buy the premium coins like the kooks and the lunars in rolls of 20, because i plan to sell them in rolls of 20, and not worry about spots after the 1st and last coin in the stack. :D
 
From what I understand, barsenault, milk spots are not a product of storage conditions but minting conditions. The common wisdom out there about these spots is that if they were minted in such a way that leaves a coin prone to developing the spots, that the coin will no matter how well and carefully protected against the elements you store them. They are only found on silver coins and mostly found on bullion coins rather than proof coins.

That said, what I have never seen convincingly answered is the question of what time frame is there for milk spots, due to the manufacturing process, to develop? No one seems to have any clue at all about this. In other words, if my silver Canadain Maple Leaf from 1988 has no milk spots as of this time, can it develop milk spots in 100 years from now? What about 10 years from now? What about a 2012 slabbed silver Maple Leaf? If in 5 years it develops no spots, can it develop milk spots in a 10 year span of time? 100 years? Does anyone have an answer other than a guess???


Worst part is that Great Britain silver bullions have shinning surface, which make the milk spots more apparent.

I for one very much dislike that shiny finish the RM has put on their bullion Britannias....it is awful, cheap, and gaudy looking. I bought a couple of 2013 bullion Britannias and I think I will pass up buying any more if they continue to finish them like they do now. The best looking bullion finish on coins that I personally own is on my Perth Mint Lunars. So long as the Perth Mint continues with such a quality product, I will be a happy customer.




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Amen missing. Great questions.

Can someone from the Perth Mint share their opinion based on real life experiences at the mint, please?
 
Spots on my 2014 Royal Lunar bullion

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Milk spots are the result of inferior rinsing practices during the refining/minting process. Post-minting storage conditions have nothing to do with the occurrence of milk spots. The reason mention of milk spots is most often linked with mention of RCM products and specifically the Maple is because RCM products and specifically the Maple series are the uncontested world leaders in milk spots. No silver coins are immune to milk spots, RCM coins lead the field.
 
And despite all that... Record sales with a 56% increase over the 18.1 million ounces sold in 2012.

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The vast majority of people who buy bullion coins like Maple Leafs and ASE's actually don't care that the coins they have are perfect and blemish free. They don't buy bullion coins in the hopes that they will get all perfect collector-quality coins just to turn around and sell for high premiums....at least I don't think that's what they do.....that would be such a futile exercise....a waste of time and energy.

After all, isn't the idea of stacking bullion supposed to be storing the value of the silver content, not looking to get all perfect coins in the hopes that those bullion pieces can be instead sold for some high collector premium???




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mmissinglink said:
The vast majority of people who buy bullion coins like Maple Leafs and ASE's actually don't care that the coins they have are perfect and blemish free. They don't buy bullion coins in the hopes that they will get all perfect collector-quality coins just to turn around and sell for high premiums....at least I don't think that's what they do.....that would be such a futile exercise....a waste of time and energy.

After all, isn't the idea of stacking bullion supposed to be storing the value of the silver content, not looking to get all perfect coins in the hopes that those bullion pieces can be instead sold for some high collector premium???


That's okay by me, but when they go to sell those POS's, expect to get spot or below spot prices. :D And when I go to sell my purty kooks and horses, don't expect to get anything less than 20.00 above spot. :P


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Yes Barsenault, ultimately the buyer is the arbiter of what the value of anything that is being offered for sale is and so it seems to make sense that high quality Perth Mint bullion coins are getting premiums higher than lesser quality bullion coins from the RCM or the US Mint for example. I mean, any day of any week you can buy uncirculated ASE's for considerably less than you would have to pay for uncirculated Perth Lunar bullion coins from the same year.




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