TeaTime

A few years ago the RM used to sell coins like that on Ebay under the seller name 'llantrisant coins' - they were often half the price of the same (unblemished) coins on their own site. I bought a few silver proof sets from them with similar markings. They stopped their eBay shop about the same time they decided to not bother with any quality control. The result is that all the coins they used to sell off cheaply now get sent out directly from RM. I guess it must be working for them, maybe they have a deal with Royal Mail that makes the constant sending back and forth of rejected coins mo

Goddards silver dip will not remove milk spots. Nor will Isopropyl alcohol, jewellers pickling solution, acetone, soap and water etc etc. The only thing i've found that will remove the spots is Silvo wadding. It will leave micro scratches on the silver invisible to the naked eye but clearly visible with a loupe . It looks like there is no way to remove the dreaded bloom without abrasive. I'm still searching though and working my way through a batch of 2017 Brits that will probably end up in the melting pot.

Milk spots were an anomaly in the days of .925 & .958 coins but are a common feature of .999 coins. Odd that a silver alloy was relatively problem free but the purer silver is prone to spotting - Something must have changed in the manufacturing of the coins. If the RM really wanted to sort this issue out it would be relatively easy to work out what change coincided with the prevalence of spotting. If they wanted to.

The 'only bullion' argument sticks in my craw when used to excuse scratches and dents. If it's only bullion then stop charging a premium. If it's only bullion then why bother striking a design on it. It's like buying a printed picture with streaks of ink on it and being told 'it's only a print'...

Isopropyl alcohol should remove ink without damaging the coin......

'I very much doubt washing new bullion will prevent the formation of milk spots and stains'. Is a perfectly valid statement from someone who has not done this and is having a guess. The reality is that my elderly coin collector friend does this to each new purchase and has yet to have a milk spot appear. Lucky ? Maybe. I have been purchasing the Queens Beasts range for the both of us - my earlier issues have some minor milking and his do not. Make of that what you will 🤔

I know this will be contentious for some but a friend cleans all his bullion coins with washing up liquid under running water to stop the formation of milk spots. Gently clean with the ball of your thumb and pat dry. This needs to be done to every coin before any spotting occurs, once it appears you will not remove it without damaging the coin surface. Me, i just 'antique' them if the spots happen - helps me see the details of the coin !

I've always maintained that graded coins are problematic - i've got a graded proof 69 coin which is flawless (as far as i can see). I'm convinced that grading companies have quotas and grade accordingly. The difference betweena 68 and 69 and a 69 and 70 are often invisible. I suppost it's all down to the criteria being used - in this case it would appear that poor frosting was not considered to be an issue 🥴

The only reason i collect PM's is to make it harder to spend. I have no self-control when it comes to money - anything left in my bank account at the end of the month gets spent... I blame my upbringing (of course). That and the fact that i have made considerable profits long term (and by long term i mean 30 odd years of dabbling). If i ever mention investing in PM to friends or family i immediately see the shutters come down and the subject changes to one more suitable for the masses. I therefore make it my mission to gift silver coins and bars to people for birthdays, weddings and such.

I bought a coin i was after for a while (wasn't this forum - 'twas another) and when it arrived it was the worst coin i have ever seen for milking. There was no mention of this on the (vague) selling post. I also paid a large premium for the coin (2.5 x spot). I kept the coin because the seller was established and i was a relatively new member. As a long time collector of numismatic coins i accept that some coins are marked / toned etc. I would not have paid the premium though if i had known... It's a dilemma - do you insist on a refund and potentially lose a resource or accept the fact t

In my experience you can tell the RM whatever you want was in the package....Precious metals and money will not be covered, that includes historic coinage that is no longer legal tender. You'll get a refund of the postage cost (in stamps) for 1st class signed for items (and a very valuable lesson) 😶

I agree that buying small amounts of physical silver in the UK is not the way to go for stackers..... Paying a hefty premium over spot immediately puts the stacker in a massive deficit. I don't believe that people buying one ounce coins are actually stackers though. They're collectors. Even if they don't realise it.

It's a bit of a non-story really. Slow news day perhaps.... I have a few silver proof sets from the RM and i have noticed that coins in capsules that incorporate foam filler definitely tone more and quicker than coins stored in just capsules. I always assumed the mint knew what they were doing and used an inert material for the filler. Maybe not. Tomorrows Sun story - 'water evaporates'....

In my opinion the 'value' of modern proof or numismatic coins is largely based on the issue price. Demand will then determine its after-market value. If Colin buys a coin at £80 when the price of silver is £20 oz he is very likely not going to sell it for less than that if silver drops to £5 an ounce. Colin bought the coin on its artistic and aesthetic merits - the silver spot price means nothing to our Colin. Two very different markets with a bit of cross-over. Collectors and Stackers.

I recently purchased a 2006 bullion 1/10th ounce silver Britannia - other than that i have been unable to find any other year prior to 2020. The RM produced individual 1/10th ounces in proof for most years and they can be found for anything from £12-£50 each. There is very little information regarding these diminiutive delights - i cannot find anything in regards the 2006 issue.