PCGS Restoration Before & After: Classic Gold Coins
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When it comes to PCGS restoration services we're often asked to show before and after photos, and we're happy to be able to bring you a few examples in our Restoration Lab Report feature. This particular one focuses on gold, and we should have another to share by next week.
For a closer look at the coin above, and for an additional gold piece: https://www.pcgs.com/news/classic-gold-coins-restoration-before-and-after
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Xx
This won't go well.
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
Mmmmmm...have me some dipped gold!!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Please tell me, how is this different then cleaning a coin? I submitted what I thought was a wonderful Morgan Dollar and it was slabbed as being cleaned. I still don’t see evidence of that at all, but how is what you are providing here okay? And what I submitted was not?
Totally confused,
Jeff
@jwitten has to send his in...
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By the photos, I prefer the "before" look of the two examples in the article.
Maybe I would have a different opinion in person, but doubt it.
Can still see a dark area where the darkest copper color was on the after photo of the $2.50. Wonder what @jwitten would say.
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
I think they both looked fine before restoration.
Collector, occasional seller
Not this time.
If you "restored" this one it would be like destroying history.
I do like the 91-CC $10 restoration. Edit: After looking at the restorations on a bigger screen, I think I would have just stuck with the original orange tone on the $10. Why would you want to brighten all those marks as is typical with an MS61 CC $10?
I'm not so sure about "ideal candidates for restoration".
Ideal candidates are really coins with obvious foreign matter stuck to them,
like some shipwreck coins, and the "Saddle Ridge Hoard".
As for the coins shown on the linked page,
the ultimate factor is the "before and after price".
We know that CAC does not like the "processed gold look",
and CAC can be a big factor in the price.
I'll take the 'Befores' please.
Liked the surfaces of both before... That 1927 was really nice
not a fan ... looks like cleaned coins ...
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
I prefer the "before" on both, they have the "original skin" that is desirable to me. The "afters" look dipped.
Coinlearner, Ahrensdad, Nolawyer, RG, coinlieutenant, Yorkshireman, lordmarcovan, Soldi, masscrew, JimTyler, Relaxn, jclovescoins
Now listen boy, I'm tryin' to teach you sumthin' . . . . that ain't an optical illusion, it only looks like an optical illusion.
My mind reader refuses to charge me....
I had 2 saints restored to remove PVC haze.
A small amount of "toning" was removed but not much.
Overall, I'm quite happy with how they turned out.
My feeling on CAC is that JA prefers the dipped look on saints.
My Saint Set
I wanted what appeared to be residue from liquid removed from this AU50 coin:
Before
After
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Is that really what the coin came back as, ms70? Holy Crud! I was hoping you just manipulated the color saturation on the image!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Those are the actual pictures, untouched.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
What a shame.
Latin American Collection
Shoot me if I turn this into another CAC thread, but have to disagree with your comment. Both 'After' pictures are probably o.k. by CAC.
I have the feeling you are going to be shot...
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I dunno. This is going to be a pretty divisive topic. I'd like to see them in hand. The Indian is OK I guess but the Liberty has a much harsher look now. The field chatter is much more prominent and the richness and depth of color is gone.
I've always liked the look of some copper toning on gold; however, what are the long-term effects on the surface of the coin, if any?
Personally, I don't think these restoration candidates produced the results intended. They both look more like processed bleh now.
There are companies that trade a lot in certified gold that only buy copper spotted, blotched or otherwise affected gold coins at a discount. It's unfortunate that the "market" seems to like that. Cac has no problem with copper spots on gold generally. But then I have old fashioned tastes. I wonder what HL Mencken would say? I had a High Relief Saint that was NGC certified, the dealer I bought it from said that if only a small ball of dirt on the reverse were removed it would upgrade. The temptation was too great and NCS worked on the coin after which the formerly MS62 coin looked AU.
I like both "before's" better. Much better. To each his own. I would cry if mine turned into normal boring gold. I love scrolling coinfacts and instantly being able to tell which coin is mine
I doubt it. JA likes original surfaces....and has no problem with copper spots or deeper color In 2008 he CAC'd a 1903 $20 Lib PCGS MS65 ogh I had with dozens of black specs on both sides. But the overall fresh orange toning and glowing luster under that toning earned it the bean. He probably would have CAC'd the 1927 $5 before dipping. After dipping as a 65+ .....I don't think so. Coin looked a lot better to me with the original toning and "ugly" coppery patina. With the toning removed the cheek bone now is silver colored and high lights the scuffs there. Not a fan. Same comment on that first $5 1891. Looks better toned. Dipping old silver or gold coins usually results in a lot of marks, chatter and hairlines becoming much more obvious....sometimes dropping the grade by 1-2 MS pts.
To get the + sign on old gold you need popping luster. So perfectly fine gems get dipped to earn a + sign. And in 10-30 yrs from now, they'll tone back again.
@jwitten ... simply stunning !
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
with some threads it's better to look and not comment, this is one of them.
I'll sit this one out as well
Jmo
I couldn't agree more!
Smitten with DBLCs.
I’m with the others, the color on this is primarily what sold me.
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