Rusting gold. Does gold oxidize? What's Really Happening
Does gold rust? You can get a scientifically based answer. Thanks. and got the best answer
Answer from Egor Ahryapin[guru]
Rust is called metal oxide (or a mixture of oxides). In air, gold does not change its color and does not interact with oxygen even when heated to 400 ° C. Under normal conditions, the surface of gold is covered with the thinnest adsorbed layer of oxygen, but directly, even when heated, gold does not combine not only with oxygen, but also with sulfur and selenium. Au2O oxide and Au2O3 oxide can only be obtained indirectly. Conclusion: gold does not rust!
Answer from MAX[guru]
Unless it oxidizes over time, after all, metal too ... Therefore, you can notice that gold tarnishes, it doesn’t shine so brightly, etc., etc.
Answer from PASHTET (Pasha888)[guru]
No, because under normal conditions, at an average of 25 degrees Celsius, it does not oxidize like iron.
Answer from AlexChem[expert]
Definitely - gold does not rust! And does NOT oxidize. under normal conditions, as the previous speaker noted.
Answer from Vadim Kotov[guru]
What does rust mean? So they say only about iron. Even nickel and cobalt are said to oxidize in air. Copper also oxidizes in air, and in some cases, in the presence of moisture, the protecting metal from further oxidation and destruction is covered with a noble patina. Whether gold is oxidized in air is practically non-existent, although indirectly it is possible to obtain a reddish oxide, and purple gold oxide. In general, with the help of fluorine it is possible to oxidize gold to the limiting 8 valence state. Recently, compound 7 of valence gold has been obtained, for the oxidation of some hardly fluorinated compounds with fluorine. In general, with the help of photonuclear reactions occurring inside the melt with the help of an arc burning inside the melt, for example, inside iron, gold can be obtained through lanthanide compression, and it is better to use tin, lead, and mercury for this purpose. The little-known professor Bolotov dealt with this problem back in the Soviet Union.
Answer from Dmitry D.[guru]
what the hell is oxidizing if gold occurs in nature in the form of nuggets or golden sand. what do you think miners mine? it has been lying there for millions of years - and nothing!
Answer from VD[master]
Gold does not "rust" because it does not interact with oxygen. A does not interact with oxygen, because the valence electrons occupy states in it that are more favorable in terms of energy than if they went over to oxygen. But in iron, the opposite is true. So it's all about the electronic structure.
Answer from Alekx CU[guru]
chemically inactive, resistant precious metal, like all metals, tends to oxidize (rust oxide) in order to oxidize, a condition is necessary, in the natural environment, (conditions) oxidation, as well as reduction of oxide, does not occur energetically unfavorable processes (balanced) enthalpy does not change so much that there was a shift (direction) of the process
A selection of materials for those who are interested in the topic:the appearance of "rust" on gold coins
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A source - http://wzascok.livejournal.com/6505.html
As a former chemist, this topic also turned out to be interesting to me, especially since at one time I inherited a rather impressive collection of coins.
True, I have never seen rusty gold coins with my own eyes, although there are enough of them, maybe gold was different before? ...at least I've never seen rusty onesNikolaev gold chervonets, and rusty gold Finnish markstimes of the Russian Empire ...
Well, in general, read, draw conclusions, my opinion is thatthe reason still lies both in the stamp itself and in the technology of stamping coins.
21.02.11/18:31
Recently, information about "rusty" gold coins "George the Victorious" began to appear periodically. Sometimes they say that a patina appeared on the coins of "George the Victorious". Businessman German Sterligov was the first to report this phenomenon a few months ago. He published photographs of the coins, which clearly show stains, the color of which is different from the color of the coin. FinNews.ru decided to look into this problem and found out the following.
Are there "rusty" coins?
Only a few of the banks surveyed admitted that their customers faced the problem of "rusty" coins. The press service of Sberbank of Russia reported: “There were cases when Victorious, which most often have red spots and / or stripes on coins, were brought to Sberbank for a repurchase, but they were handed over not because of stains, but just like coins." The press service of the North-Western Sberbank said: "Yes, there are such coins." The press service of the Khanty-Mansiysk Bank said: "In one of the branches, the client kept them in a safe deposit box. He came to pick them up, and they had "rusty" stripes on them."
Other banks (including those playing a significant role in the precious metals market) either denied that their clients had such problem coins or ignored the questions from FinNews.ru. Since the largest player in the precious metals market (Sberbank) acknowledged the existence of a problem, the silence or denial of such a problem by other banks either indicates the insignificance of their real role in the precious metals market (there are not many rusty coins, so they have not come across such coins yet ), or about trying to hide your head in the sand.
What are the bankers saying?
Some banks have made "household" assumptions about the reasons for the appearance of "rust" on gold coins. So, SMP Bank suggested that "This is a "patina", it appears after 5 years of storage, as on jewelry with a long shelf life. They clean it, like jewelry, with a special composition." In the North-Western branch of Ak Bars Bank, it was suggested that “Rust is oxides of gold (chemically pure) from contact with hands that are not perfectly clean. Sweat contains a lot of urea. A lot of things can end up on our hands after we touched everything around themselves, brushed their teeth with fluoride paste, or touched mercury-containing batteries. There are a sea of cases. Head of Department plastic cards, commission, savings and investment products of Absolut Bank Elena Novikova said: “It is not recommended to touch the coin with your hands, since the fingerprint left on its surface (especially on the mirror field) is practically impossible to remove. Even if the trace is successfully cleaned it is possible that fat residues invisible at first glance will enter into a chemical reaction with the composition of the surface of the coin and later oxidation spots will appear in this place. The Department of Cash Circulation of the Bank of Russia stated that "in some cases, depending on the storage conditions, spots may appear on them, which are metal oxides and microscopic particles of various substances that fall on the surface of the coins. The presence of spots does not characterize the coins as defective."
To understand how these assumptions correspond to the truth, it is necessary to refresh the knowledge of chemistry. Those who did well in school and/or college may not read the next chapter. For the "victims of Fursenko" we will report the following.
Scientific knowledge about gold, rust and patina
The same Department of Cash Circulation of the Bank of Russia reported that "Gold coin with a face value of 50 rubles "George the Victorious" is a coin of investment value, the mass of the precious metal in purity is 7.78 grams, the fineness of gold is 999." Sample 999 means that one kilogram of coins will contain 999 grams of gold and only 1 gram of impurities of other metals (usually silver and copper). What does science say about the physical and chemical properties of gold?
Pure gold is a soft metal yellow color. Gold is very malleable and malleable (for example, from a piece of gold weighing one gram, you can stretch a wire three kilometers long or make gold foil 500 times thinner than a human hair - 0.1 microns). The softness of pure gold is so great that it can be scratched with a fingernail.
Gold is the most inert metal, standing in the series of stresses to the right of all other metals, under normal conditions, it does not interact with most acids and does not form oxides(highlighted by the editors), due to which it was attributed to noble metals, in contrast to ordinary metals, which are easily destroyed under the influence of the environment. Gold dissolves from pure acids only(highlighted by the editors) in hot concentrated selenic acid: 2Au + 6H2SeO4 = Au2(SeO4)3 + 3H2SeO3 + 3H2O. In aqueous solutions of cyanides, with the access of oxygen, gold dissolves, forming cyanoaurates: 4Au + 8CN− + 2H2O + O2 → 4− + 4OH−. Gold reacts with dry chlorine at ~200°C to form gold(III) chloride. In a concentrated aqueous solution of hydrochloric and nitric acids (aqua regia), gold dissolves with the formation of chloraurate ion already at room temperature: 2Au + 3Cl2 + 2Cl− → 2−. Gold easily reacts with liquid bromine and its solutions in water and organic solvents, giving the tribromide AuBr3. Gold reacts with fluorine in the temperature range of 300–400°C; at lower temperatures, the reaction does not proceed. Gold also dissolves in mercury, effectively forming a fusible alloy (amalgam). There are organoaury compounds (for example, diethylgold bromide). All alloys above 750 samples do not tarnish in air (that is, they are not covered with a thin film of oxides, ed.).
What is rust? Rust is the common name for the result of the corrosion process of various metals. Corrosion (from Latin corrosio - corrosive) is the spontaneous destruction of metals as a result of chemical or physico-chemical interaction with environment. From the point of view of chemistry, rusting, for example, iron is oxygen corrosion iron in water: 4Fe + 6H2O + 3O2 = 4Fe(OH)3. Hydrated iron oxide Fe(OH)3 is what is commonly referred to as rust.
From "Big Soviet encyclopedia"It is known that patina (Italian patina) is a film of various shades (from green to brown) that forms on the surface of copper, bronze and brass products as a result of metal corrosion under the influence of the natural environment or as a result of patination, that is, heating or processing oxidizers.
Domestic causes of rust are excluded
So, since the gold coins "George the Victorious" have a hallmark of 999, they should neither tarnish nor rust. Toothpaste with the content of fluorine compounds cannot spoil the coin in any way. Just like urea. Cyanic compounds, as well as mercury, like bromine, do not come into contact with a person in ordinary life. Traces of secretions from the skin sweat and sebaceous glands can be easily cleaned with organic solvents, which will dissolve fat and wash away inorganic compounds, but the solvents will not interact with gold in any way.
The term "patina" is not applicable to the "George the Victorious" coins, since they are made of gold, not copper. German Sterligov also spoke about this in one of his speeches: “I sent [the coin “George the Victorious”, ed.] for examination to the Institute of Steel and Alloys, and there the professors explained with a smile that patina and gold are two things incompatible. If there is gold, then there can be no patina. If there is patina, then it is not gold."
There is no doubt that the coin consists of 999 gold. If this were not the case, this would have been known long ago. The fact is that the coins "George the Victorious" from the very beginning of their sale in 2006 are used by jewelers in the production of jewelry due to the absence of VAT in the price of such coins, as well as the high metal breakdown in these coins.
There is a contradiction - there should not be rust, but it is. Let's go back to the commentary of the Cash Circulation Department of the Bank of Russia: "In some cases, depending on the storage conditions, spots may appear on them, which are metal oxides and microscopic particles of various substances that fall on the surface of the coins." This comment is akin to saying - Newton explained why the apple fell, but did not explain how it ended up on the tree. So here - the Bank of Russia explained that rust appears due to microscopic particles, but did not explain how they appear on a coin stored in a plastic capsule in a bank safe.
What is really going on?
Fortunately, the world is not without good people. Representatives of the two banks quite logically explained the origin of the "rust" on gold coins.
Stanislav Filippov, head of the Financial Market Operations Department at Rus-Bank, said: “As for the defects themselves, it must be said that this problem is not new. Separate batches of coins periodically appear, on the surface of which after 2-3 years (depending on the conditions storage) appear various turbidity, changes in color or reflective properties. All these changes are nothing more than a manufacturing defect, and superficial. The reasons for its appearance, most likely, lie in the ingress of foreign chemical impurities on the surface of the stamp, possibly during its cleaning, although more detailed information could probably be given only by mint technologists.
Azat Salyakhutdinov, head of the department for working with precious metals at Ak Bars Bank, said the following: "Rusty" coins and ingots appear due to the presence of microscopic particles of iron on their surface, which is transferred there upon contact with an iron tool during the manufacture of a coin or ingot. As a rule, this happens during stamping or rolling. Rust is significantly larger in volume than the piece of iron that gave rise to it (about 300 times), so what is imperceptible in the form of microscopic pieces of iron becomes visible in the form of rust after storage in a relatively damp room (sometimes moisture that has entered the capsule along with air). Iron was transferred to the coins during the rolling of the sheet, during the manufacture of blanks for coins, in connection with the identified cases at the mints, an investigation was carried out, which determined the origin of the defect. Now, as far as we know, this has been eliminated in production, and MRH conducts strict visual control of all coins sold. Ingots also have such spots, but only on stamped ones and, as a rule, made on worn dies. The stamps for gold coins are covered with gold, so rust cannot appear there during this process, and at the refinery they treat this a little easier."
How to prevent "rusting" of coins?
Elena Novikova recommends "Keep coins in a dry place without sudden light and temperature changes. To remove a coin from a capsule if necessary, for example, to weigh it or examine it in detail, there are special gloves or tweezers with soft tips. You can also purchase in specialized numismatic stores special blower for dust removal, chemical stain removers, storage boxes and capsules and other accessories for working with coins. However, as we have already found out above, gold is very inert, and ordinary light and temperature conditions do not affect it in any way. But the requirement for dryness of the room in the light of the foregoing is of key importance.
The press service of the "Khanty-Mansiysk Bank" recommends "Store at the required humidity and temperature", without specifying the required values of humidity and temperature. In addition, the bank itself acknowledged that the banking safe deposit box is not a place where the humidity and temperature necessary to prevent the appearance of traces of "rust" on the coins are observed.
Obviously, the bankers' answers are affected by the obvious insufficiency of the knowledge they received at school in the natural sciences. Against this background, the so-called reforms of school education, carried out by the relevant ministry under the leadership of citizen Fursenko, will only lead to an even greater deterioration (although much worse) general level education of the Russian population. Reforms, and, in fact, the destruction and degradation of school education must be stopped immediately.
But we digress. So, if a microscopic particle of iron appeared on the surface of a gold coin due to a manufacturing defect, then it is not possible to prevent the “rusting” of such a coin. Rusting of iron is inevitable, because there is always water vapor and oxygen in the air, which cause corrosion.
What to do with "rusty" coins?
Bankers are unanimous - there is no reason to panic.
Azat Salyakhutdinov believes that "In reality, there is nothing wrong with these spots, they are superficial, easily removed with simple chemicals, and practically do not affect the test value.
Stanislav Filippov believes that “Owners of coins that have these defects on their surface should not panic and get rid of such coins at any cost. In any case, the value of such coins cannot be lower than the value of the gold they contain.The buyer of the coins can only ask for a slight discount for appearance.
You should not change your preferences when choosing investment vehicles. Ordinary people who are not able to store precious metals and products from them in favorable conditions, you can recommend investing in gold through depersonalized metal accounts. Gold on OMS is not available to thieves and will never "rust"!".
When "rusty" gold coins are found in cash centers, North-Western Sberbank rejects them and sells them to MA/VSP customers at a reduced price through the branch network.
Ivan Makarov, VTB24 spokesman for the Northwestern Federal District, suggests that the owners of "rusty" gold coins "Submit a claim on the quality of the coins, both to the bank-seller and to the producer of the coins."
So, let's draw conclusions. The problem really exists. There are shortcomings in the technology for the production of gold coins and ingots made by stamping, due to which tiny iron particles appear on the surface of some coins, invisible to the naked eye. Over time, these iron particles corrode and the corrosion products become visible to the naked eye. The defect is superficial and worsens only the appearance of the coin, without affecting its essence, as a means of saving capital. If rust spots appear on one or more of your coins, there is no need to try to get rid of these coins urgently. The difference in price compared to a coin without rust is 50-200 rubles, or approximately 0.5-2.0% of the price of the coin.
Why is the Bank of Russia "silent"?
Speaking of the manufacturer. In the case of "rusty" gold coins, the only thing that defies reasonable explanation is the position of the Bank of Russia. The issuer of coins is completely indifferent to his reputation and to the reputation of his product. We found out that the "rust" on the coin is the result of a manufacturing defect. That is, defective gold coins are in circulation. All over the world it has long been accepted that defective goods are changed free of charge at the expense of the manufacturer. And the Bank of Russia does not react to the current situation in any way. For at least six months now. Not only that, according to Stanislav Filippov, the Bank of Russia does not buy coins back, and Russian banks do not have the opportunity to replace defective coins. So after all, the Bank of Russia does not regulate the issues of repurchase of coins by credit institutions from the population. So reported in the department of cash circulation of the regulator. Why doesn't the Bank of Russia replace its defective coins? And when will he start doing it? Or is it only a court decision in a consumer protection case that can force the Bank of Russia to perform its duties properly?
First of all, I decided to go to Sberbank and find out why spots on gold coins appeared, and whether they will accept the coin for buying.
A large spot near the letter "I", as well as other spots are visible along the edge of the coin.
The savings bank said that the coin will be accepted without question. not a hindrance, because the Central Bank issued an order in which coins with spots are equated with coins of excellent condition. The main thing is that there are no spots on the coin. More important: At the price of gold, they buy only Pobedonosts and Sochi rectangular, the rest are considered non-investment. And for my coin of 50 rubles 2015 Sochi Hockey, I was offered 16,500 rubles, which is currently lower than the price of the metal in the coin (7.78gr. * 2600r = 20228r - the price of the metal). Therefore, it makes no sense to hand it over to the savings bank.
About the origin stains on gold coins I was told that this is a technological problem.
Theory 1:
I am satisfied with the trip to Sberbank. But she continued to investigate. On the Internet, I came across a very interesting version, it says that the appearance of such stains on gold coins, may be due to the fact that at the Mint, the stamp with which the coin is minted is not completely cleaned, and that particles of other metals remain on it. These same particles are imprinted on gold coins, and it is precisely these metals that remain on the surface of the gold coin and oxidize, resulting in rust-like spots. This theory is quite interesting, I think it has its reasons.
In order to be 100% sure and dispel any doubts, I will take this coin to a special laboratory where they will analyze its composition. In order to make sure that the metal is pure and that the coin really consists exclusively of 999 gold, we give the coin for examination, where X-ray spectral, fluorescent analysis is carried out on it. This method is used to determine the concentration of elements in substances of various origins. Performs accurate measurements at high speed. It is based on the collection and subsequent analysis of the spectrum that occurs when the material under study is irradiated with X-rays. It should be noted that this method of determining precious metals does not destroy or damage the coin. The error of the instrument is up to 0.5%. Such an analysis is carried out in few places, for those who are interested, it can be carried out at the State Historical Museum, for a certain amount of money. So, the analysis showed that the purity of the metal is 24 carats, and this is the maximum purity, the gold content is 100%, with an error of 0.3%, that is, the Mint, The Central Bank and Sberbank do not deceive us, in this case, it is not an impurity or dirty metal, but pure gold of the 999th test.
Theory 2:
In the course of our little “investigation”, we talked to one of the leaders of one of the largest jewelry factories in Moscow, which made gold medals of the appropriate standard for the 2014 Olympic Games. He confirmed the formation of orange dots on gold. It was revealed that it was not the metal that was to blame, but the plastic capsules in which these medals were placed. After discovery "rust" on gold, the jewelers took the medals out of the capsules, washed them with a special chemical solution, the stains came off them, packed back, and after only three days the stains appeared again. In my case, there is no marking on the capsule, the manufacturer is not known, so the possibility cannot be ruled out that in stains on gold coins plastic capsules are to blame. Cleaning the coin, unfortunately, is not possible, as the coin is of PROOF quality, and will be hopelessly damaged because it will lose its luster.
However, Sberbank will buy this coin even with spots (for them spots on gold coins not an indicator, since the Central Bank ordered that Sberbank accept coins with these spots), but Sberbank will buy them at the price indicated in their price list, in my case it is 16,500 rubles, but this is not profitable for me, since the price of the metal is currently more than the price in the price list of Sberbank. I found sites on the Internet that buy gold coins at metal prices, so if you urgently need money, it is more profitable to sell a coin there. They also accept gold coins with spots.
The well-known businessman German Sterligov made a sensational statement in mid-July: investment coins made of precious metals, which the Central Bank produces, allegedly rust, which means they are not cast from pure metal. He came to this conclusion by simply burying, like Pinocchio, his "gold" under a tree. As a result of storage in such conditions, brown spots appeared on gold coins with a breakdown of three nines after the decimal point, which resembled rust ...
Recall that pure gold does not oxidize, and therefore rust simply cannot form. At the same time, German Streligov only stated the fact, giving the rest the opportunity to inflate the topic to the extent of a large-scale scandal that forced the Central Bank to justify itself. Leading articles in Russia's leading business publications were devoted to this topic. However, it seems to us that the goal of German Sterligov was not at all to check the Central Bank for "lice", this could be done simply by taking the coins for examination, there was no need to go the way of Pinocchio. However, hardened in the corporate wars of the early 90s, German Sterligov knew what he was doing, he finally decided that the time had come to "say what he thinks", as it was once in the advertisement of his company "Alisa". The story of burying gold under a tree became free publicity for his new project, the International Reserve settlement system".
The website of the "Anti-Crisis Settlement and Commodity Center", which is also the brainchild of German Sterligov, reported that it was decided to create in Moscow the equivalent of Gokhran - Russia's first professional independent storehouse for gold and other precious metals. It will differ in that individuals and legal entities, and the accepted values will be 100% insured. However, the previous project of the enterprising ex-owner of the funeral services bureau, and even earlier - the farmer and founder of the Alisa Corporation, as far as we know, failed: the project of the Anti-Crisis Settlement and Commodity Center, promoted by Sterligov, in its original declared form did not take place. As far as is known, Sterligov filed for bankruptcy of the ARTC with the "reorganization" of the business. The main emphasis will be placed on the possibility of freely converting paper money into gold coins. And the regional network of the ARTC should be transferred to a new project - the "International Reserve Settlement System". The activity of the center was largely reduced to the sale and purchase of coins made of precious metal. The ongoing operations with precious metal coins have forced the company to face a number of questions about the authenticity and safety of the coins. Namely, the problems of safety and authentication are currently one of the key arguments for attracting customers in the company.
Vice President of the First Republican Bank Dmitry Orlov:
Really physical precious metals (coins, bars…) are not a very popular investment tool. This is due to the fact that exit from these instruments is quite difficult - both for clients and for banks. Indeed, in order to repurchase, for example, investment coins, it is necessary to conduct a mini-examination. This is quite expensive, so now, for example, there are more banks selling coins on the market than those who are ready to buy them back. In addition, do not forget about the VAT arising from the purchase and sale. Depersonalized metal accounts are much more popular, when the metal is not physically purchased, but its equivalent is paid, which is taken into account by the bank. This is a much more liquid instrument, which is easier to work with for both the client and the bank. But both the first and the second are in demand among a limited group of investors. For the most part, deposits are still the most popular tool for most clients.
Chief Economist of Finam Management Alexander Osin:
In early July of this year, I. Zhiznevsky, Managing Director of the G. Sterligov group of companies, said: “Now the gold market is inadequate. To confirm this, one can cite the report of the so-called non-profit organization Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee (GATA) in the US, which regularly writes letters to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the United States department of the Treasury. In its latest reports, GATA directly points to the collusion of the central banks of the leading European countries and the Fed, which purposefully play against gold. The situation that we are seeing in the market, namely the “swing”, will end only when the “bubble” that is created in the paper gold market due to the huge number of short positions collapses. The volume of short positions is 1.5 times the volume of gold production in the world, that is, the supply for the metal is now artificially generated, that is, a so-called bubble is being created.” According to Mr. Zhiznevsky, if we talk about the volume of physical gold, then the demand for these assets in reality is many times greater than the supply. “If this situation became real, then the prices now would probably be three to four times higher than in today's market: instead of $1,240/oz, we would see about $3,000-$3,500/oz on the market of real demand and supply. ounce," he said. Against this background, Mr. Sterligov's statement that there are foreign impurities in investment coins of the Bank of Russia reflects both his general bullish position in the gold market and his repeated rejection of modern financial and economic policies. developed countries and RF.
Timur Khairullin, Deputy Head of the Analytical Department of IC Grandis Capital:
Gold coins in Russia are not as popular as deposits in banks or even investments in stocks or bonds. Coins made of gold or other precious metals are a specific investment tool. Among the advantages of coins is their reliability - during periods of crisis, they lose their value no less than, indeed, gold. For example, during the crisis of 2008, when the value of the main exchange assets fell by 50-70%, the price of gold fell by only 11%. Gold coins and bars are also suitable for force majeure events like wars, revolutions and other socio-political upheavals. The disadvantages of investing in coins include high transaction costs and low liquidity. So, it is difficult to quickly sell coins without losing value, and when they are sold, taxes must be paid. Moreover, the growth in the value of gold and its derivatives remains lower on average compared to alternative instruments. Accordingly, gold coins will be most interesting for collectors and conservative investors focused on a long investment period. As a rule, such investors prefer reliability and are ready to put up with low returns on investments.
Expert of the department of assessment "2K Audit - Business Consulting" Petr Klyuev:
Today, when the economic situation is still unstable, investment coins are a good investment tool. Investors prefer conservative assets protected from complete depreciation. But it is necessary to take into account the fact that such investments should be long-term and you should not expect income from them. Precious metal coins and bars will help keep savings, but not increase, given that the monetary policy and financial stability of individual states do not affect the fluctuations in the price of gold. But if we compare, it can be noted that neither bank deposits, nor securities, nor cash foreign currency today give real profitability, losing to inflation. Also, investing in coins allows you to diversify investments. As for the quality of the coins, it can be assumed that negligence was made in the production process. The quality of coinage of investment coins, unlike commemorative ones, leaves much to be desired. During the production of coins under pressure, iron may have remained in the microcracks of the coins themselves and, as a result, characteristic spots appeared.
Until now, there is a heated discussion on the Internet of the situation at the Mint in St. Petersburg, when the gold coins “George the Victorious” issued by this court suddenly began to show rust. Scandal, what can I say! What? And they steal here!?
"Yes!" - The well-known Russian businessman and public figure German Sterligov said on the air of the Dozhd TV channel.
But is it really so?
A very serious investigation was carried out and everything was resolved in the most prosaic way. It turns out that the matter is in imperfection, or rather, a violation of technology. Part of the metal shavings, literally microns, as a result of non-compliance with the technology, fell on the surface of the coins. Over time, this “gold” began to stain.
But, in fact, this is not the first time investors have encountered such behavior of gold coins. From time to time, the press services of banks report the indignation of their customers, who, after a year of keeping their gold coins in the cells, suddenly take them out with “rusty stripes”. Such cases were noted by employees of North-Western Sberbank and Khanty-Mansiysk Bank.
As for the defects themselves, it must be said that this problem is not new. Separate batches of coins periodically appear, on the surface of which, after 2-3 years (depending on storage conditions), various turbidity, changes in color or reflective properties appear. All these changes are nothing more than a manufacturing defect, and superficial. The reasons for its appearance, most likely, lie in the ingress of foreign chemical impurities on the surface of the stamp, possibly during its cleaning, although more detailed information could probably be given only by mint technologists.
Head of Financial Market Operations at Rus-Bank Stanislav Filippov
The situation is very unpleasant, so banks tend not to advertise such incidents. The main thing is that our chief, Sberbank, recognizes the problem, accusing its partners of wanting to "not wash dirty linen in public."
The reasons put forward are varied. The given errors at production are obvious. But some people seem to think that:
- Considering the state of the atmosphere and its influence on everything around, after 5 years of storage, traces on the "gold" still cannot be avoided;
- We just wash our hands badly, and sweat contains urea and fat, which adversely affect the surface of coins;
- Storage conditions are not clean enough.
On the other hand, if we consider the chemistry of all processes, and after all, “George the Victorious” was produced from gold of the 999th, highest, standard, then, in principle, there should not be any given reasons. If a gold coin left the Court in perfect condition, it should remain so for ages.
All this talk about sweat, urea and fluoride in toothpaste is the usual excuse and the desire to put a shadow on the fence.
Yes, gold is affected by cyanide compounds, bromine, mercury, but God forbid they meet in ordinary life, it was not enough that our hands were in mercury.
Scientifically speaking, patina and gold are completely incompatible things. If there is a patina, then there are problems with gold, and not in some mythical reactions "from the press services of banks."
On the other hand, there is no doubt - if it is announced that the 999th test was used in the manufacture, then it is so.
There is only one conclusion, to which, albeit reluctantly, all bankers come: rust is the result of mistakes technological process manufacturing. We started with this, arguing and weighing all the opinions, making a circle, and came to the same. It is impossible to say: “They are stealing, gentlemen!” (even at the Mint!). But what works, and here, after the sleeves - this is beyond any doubt.
It should also be noted that although the Central Bank admitted the mistake, it is in no hurry to correct it. Although the scandal erupted back in 2010, rust on the coins of the St. Petersburg Mint (SpMD) also appears on the coins of 2015. In fairness, it must be said that on a much smaller scale. By the way, this is precisely the reason for the slightly lower price, compared with the products of the Moscow Mint (MMD), where such a marriage was not observed.
What to do if your coins are covered with "rust"?
First of all, you need to calm down. Your coin is absolutely genuine and contains exactly as much precious metal as indicated.
In reality, there is nothing wrong with these spots, they are superficial, easily removed by simple chemical means, and practically do not affect the sample.
Head of Precious Metals Department of Ak Bars Bank Azat Salyakhutdinov
Stains can be removed. But it is not recommended to do it on your own, without proper experience and knowledge, you can only aggravate the situation, which will lead to a real decrease in the value of the coin. It is best to contact a jewelry workshop, where the coin will be cleaned quickly and in a safe way. The average cost of the cleaning procedure for one golden Victorious is 50-100 rubles.
You can leave the coin in the same state. Most investors are already aware of the causes of the problem and do not focus on it. And the difference in price between a “normal” and a “defective” coin is 200-300 rubles. And sometimes it doesn't exist at all.
