what does mean when i coin come back from pcgs as altered surface

lonn47

altered surface coin

Hemispherical

@lonn47

Altered Surfaces
Adding anything to the surface of the coin to either "improve" its appearance or to cover marks. Surface alteration methods include adding dental wax, putty, lacquer, nose grease, etc. "Thumbing" is the application of a putty-like material to fill in marks, scratches, and other defects or to haze over portions of the coin. Coatings (such as lacquer), while intended to protect coins, result in a No Grade because it is impossible to determine the quality of the underlying surfaces.

https://www.pcgs.com/grades#grade94

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&t=2m25s&v=nzpruoHc3g4

lonn47

thanks hemispherical.

Hemispherical

@lonn47 said:
thanks hemispherical.

Your welcome. Please post a pic of the coin/slab.

lonn47

cant upload now. but soon

ricko

Altered surfaces can also mean 'metal movement', to change a date or add a mint mark for example.... Cheers, RickO

PerryHall

@ricko said:
Altered surfaces can also mean 'metal movement', to change a date or add a mint mark for example.... Cheers, RickO

I think they call that "tooling".

ricko

@PerryHall .... Correct terminology... though I have seen tooling (when only done to firm up details) referred to as altered surfaces.... Thanks for pointing that out though.... Cheers, RickO

Insider2

@ricko said:
Altered surfaces can also mean 'metal movement', to change a date or add a mint mark for example.... Cheers, RickO

Actually @ricko you are half correct. Sure, altered surface can refer to anything UNNATURAL that is done to a coin by the hand of man but a naturally corroded coin also has an "altered surface." Generally, natural occurring alterations have been given names such as toning and corrosion. PMD, cleaning, and scratches which also alter the surface have specific names to describe them also.

EDIT: I forgot to add that changing the design on a coin (date, mint, etc.) is an "Alteration."

Bottom line: As @Hemispherical posted, when a TPGS uses A/S it usually refers to adding anything to the surface of the coin to improve its appearance or hide something.

@Hemispherical said:

Altered Surfaces:
Adding anything to the surface of the coin to either "improve" its appearance or to cover marks. Surface alteration methods include adding dental wax, putty, lacquer, nose grease, etc. "Thumbing" is the application of a putty-like material to fill in marks, scratches, and other defects or to haze over portions of the coin Coatings (such as lacquer), while intended to protect coins, result in a No Grade because it is impossible to determine the quality of the underlying surfaces.

https://www.pcgs.com/grades#grade94

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&t=2m25s&v=nzpruoHc3g4

This is NOT CORRECT: "Thumbing" is the application of a putty-like material to fill in marks, scratches, and other defects or to haze over portions of the coin.

Actually it is the application of skin oils ONLY!

Indulger

Good to know..

lonn47

thank you indulger.

Insider2

Thank you indulger.

lonn47

thank you insder2.

Kkathyl

IT MEME YOU GOT CAUGHT

DennisH

To me, "Altered Surface" is the most unspecific of all body bag terms. The few times I have received such rejections the coins were either immediately resubmitted as is, or given a quickie dip then resubmitted. All have come back in problem-free holders.

Treashunt

"what does mean when i coin come back from pcgs as altered surface"

It means that you shouldn't have bought it.

Insider2

@DennisH said:
To me, "Altered Surface" is the most unspecific of all body bag terms. The few times I have received such rejections the coins were either immediately resubmitted as is, or given a quickie dip then resubmitted. All have come back in problem-free holders.

That's because a proper dip will remove many of the substances applied to a coin to alter its surface.

jmlanzaf

@Treashunt said:
"what does mean when i coin come back from pcgs as altered surface"

It means that you shouldn't have bought it.

Disagree....somewhat. It means you should not have submitted it. There are very rare coins that are saleable with altered surfaces.