Curse of the Silver Stacker : Milk Spots

So you bought some nice Silver coins and pull them out months or years later to marvel at their beautiful designs….and there they are. Milk Spots! Your coins have these cloudy, splotchy blemishes that ruin the aesthetic appeal of your cherished coin and now nobody will buy them from you for anything more than the Spot metal price and they look ugly too. If there is one thing that can ruin the premium on a semi-numismatic or numismatic Silver coin, this is it – The Curse of the Silver Stacker.

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There are a few newer stackers in the #steemsilvergold group that might not be aware of this issue that can plague a number of popular coin series. While it is a sad and sometimes distressing subject, it is worth talking about so that some precautions can be taken.

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There is a bit of mystery about what causes Milk Spots and there is no guaranteed cure. Even though some people claim they can repair or clean Milk Spotted coins, the success rate is usually low and there is often also some residual scratches or abrasions that still render the coin to be pretty much junk status in the eyes of a collector.

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The prevailing theory is that Milk Spots originate from some kind of contaminant or debris during the minting process. Perhaps some dust, dirt or even detergent that gets into the coin surface during or after striking. It’s a controversial topic for Mints and their response to producing coin series which subsequently develop Milk Spots is varied. Some endeavour to implement higher cleanliness standards during the minting process, while others deny responsibility. Others again seem to not care.

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So what do the budding stackers amongst us do about Milk Spotting? Firstly, it is important to be aware if the coin series you are looking to buy has any known Milk Spotting issues. Secondly, check to see if the Mint producing the coin series has a track record of having Milk Spot complaints. Thirdly, make sure you handle and store your coins well. You should never touch your silver with your bare hands if you want to preserve your coins premium value. Always use gloves as the natural oils in your hand can cause tarnish and make these types of problems worse. Also, it is a good idea to keep your coins in an air tight plastic capsule so that it is not subjected to humidity or other contamination that could lead to Milk Spotting.

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