Did conservation diminish the desirability of this coin?
ksuscott
Posts: 282 ✭✭✭
I submitted a silver coin for conservation and it came back (after a 5 months) as "no conservation was performed" with the reason being that, "a probability exists that toning removed will diminish the overall attractiveness and/or it's desirability and grade". The coin was previously graded as questionable color/artificial toning.
So, conservation could possibly diminish the attractiveness/desirability/grade. I guess this means I need to sub it a couple more times to see if I can get a straight grade?
Then, I stumbled upon the coin below with before and after pictures provided by the seller. The before photo appears to be a nice original half eagle. Why would the TPG conserve this coin? I'd expect the same "no conservation was performed" reason for this coin. Didn't removing the originality "diminish the overall attractiveness and/or it's desirability"?
Comments
"Attractive" is a subjective judgement. Not everybody agrees what it is.
The before coin looks better in my opinion but it's hard to tell what was wrong with it from those pictures.
The coin looks like it was soaked in acetone to remove the crust. Apparently not everyone likes crusty coins.
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"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
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I wouldn’t guess as you did: “I guess this means I need to sub it a couple more times to see if I can get a straight grade?” Depending upon what the coin looks like, it might have only a minimal chance, at best, to straight grade.
Also, since it was deemed to have artificial color, if the coin were to be conserved, it’s quite possible that doing so would expose currently-hidden flaws and/or cleaning and/or dead surfaces.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Conserving coins can present a Faustian bargain. I have a very nice pre 1835 coin in MS 64. It looks better than some I've seen in MS 65 holders. I couldn't upgrade it. A big crack out guy wanted to buy it from me. I went a few big fish in the business who said they could conserve the coin.
Except the last one, who I thought was the smartest guy in the room, showed me a small hairline on the coin. He said if the coin was conserved, said hairline would become more noticeable, and I'd probably wind up back where I started. I've left it alone.
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The conserved NGC coin looks like a typical, processed POS.
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Based on those photos, for me yes. However, I've found the conservation people to be conservative, so we may be seeing the removal of grunge rather than character.
I like the before images better. The conserved coin looks harshly cleaned and without the contrast that the crust provided it looks more worn with less details visible
Mr_Spud
Five months is a long time to wait.......and they didn't do anything? Oh, well.
i am electing to post these images in lieu of the tpg holder images because they are just terrible, while these are only semi-terrible.
Exactly, some collectors will like the "new" coin, some will not.
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Conservation rarely looks appealing on low to mid grade circulated coins. JMHO.
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I also like the look of the coin before conservation better. However, the "before" coin looks like it has some foreign matter on it, and if that foreign matter could damage the coin over time, It seems prudent to carefully remove it. I would not buy the "after" coin as I find it unattractive.
Tom
I would never conserve with NGC. Too many stories of coins ruined, this just adds to the list. That nice crusty original Charlotte $5 is now a dipped out POS
It would be interesting to hear what the posters on the NGC message board thought about that.
They would probably agree that NGC ruined the coin.
I guess a sticker is out of the question now.
I'm sure that's possible. Based on the posted images, I don't think either the before or after versions are particularly attractive.
Before conservation, this was a beautiful coin. Now, it's garbage, as far as I'm concerned. I'd not even give it second's attention.
If you dip off the artificial toning, you will remove a layer of the mint surface which will take some or all of the luster. The artificial toning has damaged the surface. Without it, it’s a dull, lifeless coin. It’s not nice or attractive.