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PVC and PCGS

DisneyFanDisneyFan Posts: 2,064 ✭✭✭✭✭

What do you do when your coin graded by PCGS appears to have PVC?

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  • NickelMikeNickelMike Posts: 194 ✭✭✭

    Picture?

  • TPRCTPRC Posts: 3,789 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Often, if not too harsh, pvc can be carefully removed. Sometimes it cannot.

    Tom

  • lilolmelilolme Posts: 2,655 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DisneyFan said:
    What do you do when your coin graded by PCGS appears to have PVC?

    What do i do.... and appears to have PVC.

    First confirm that it is PVC (or what it is) and this might involve others to help.

    If confirmed, then I would evaluate the coin as far as cost, can it be restored and my personal preferences for the coin.

    Then either send to PCGS restoration if the above indicated this to be the best path for me. Or if not then would be either to sell or crack out and do it myself which would be for me lower value and something I just wanted to keep or similar.There is a possibility to leave it alone and keep depending on specifics of the above.

    Fairly general, but without knowing any other details about the coin, that's it.

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  • OAKSTAROAKSTAR Posts: 7,175 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 6, 2022 4:50PM

    PVC and verdigris can form on a coin after it's been slabbed. Is it a large cent?

    Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )

  • MetroDMetroD Posts: 2,197 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 6, 2022 5:57PM

    And it does not appear to be covered by the PCGS Guarantee.


    Source: https://www.pcgs.com/guarantee

    Edited for clarity.

  • davewesendavewesen Posts: 6,140 ✭✭✭✭✭

    in the slab? some have sent in for grade review and PCGS has removed and reholdered or bought back

    I hope it is not in a rare and valuable slab

  • DeutscherGeistDeutscherGeist Posts: 2,990 ✭✭✭✭

    Does PCGS slab PVC tainted coins? I am not sure about their protocol. It would not hurt to call their customer service and ask them that question you have.

    It is possible to send it to them for conservation and reslab, but I do not know the procedure for that or the costs associated.
    You need to know the value of the coin to see if the extra costs justify it.

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  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Crack it out, dip, send in for grading, hope for the best.

    Coins & Currency
  • MetroDMetroD Posts: 2,197 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 6, 2022 6:04PM

    @DeutscherGeist said:
    Does PCGS slab PVC tainted coins? I am not sure about their protocol. It would not hurt to call their customer service and ask them that question you have. [...]

    A PCGS video about 'PVC residue' can be found here:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CkeSB815Tw&t=118s

    The relevant section starts at 1:55. Per the video, PCGS will not slab a coin with visible evidence of PVC (at 3:40).

    @DeutscherGeist said:
    [...] It is possible to send it to them for conservation and reslab, but I do not know the procedure for that or the costs associated.
    You need to know the value of the coin to see if the extra costs justify it.

    Details about 'PCGS restoration' can be found here: https://www.pcgs.com/restoration

    Edited for clarity.

  • LanceNewmanOCCLanceNewmanOCC Posts: 19,999 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DeutscherGeist said:
    Does PCGS slab PVC tainted coins? I am not sure about their protocol. It would not hurt to call their customer service and ask them that question you have.

    It is possible to send it to them for conservation and reslab, but I do not know the procedure for that or the costs associated.
    You need to know the value of the coin to see if the extra costs justify it.

    i've never had one go through. any coin they detected that had pvc that i've submitted came back in a body bag.

    that being said, i've seen more and more coins with green spots, not just copper in new slab generations.

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  • lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DisneyFan said:
    What do you do when your coin graded by PCGS appears to have PVC?

    1. Send it to PCGS to conserve.
    2. Crack it and treat it yourself with acetone. Resubmit and hope for the best.
    3. Live with it.

    It depends on what it looks like...how bad and old is the damage. Pix would help.
    Lance.

  • 2windy2fish2windy2fish Posts: 820 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Pics please and an explanation…

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 34,204 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lkeigwin said:

    @DisneyFan said:
    What do you do when your coin graded by PCGS appears to have PVC?

    1. Send it to PCGS to conserve.
    2. Crack it and treat it yourself with acetone. Resubmit and hope for the best.
    3. Live with it.

    It depends on what it looks like...how bad and old is the damage. Pix would help.
    Lance.

    PVC damage is different than PVC. If there is active PVC present, the damage will continue unless it is removed. PVC damage, on the other hand, cannot be removed.

  • gumby1234gumby1234 Posts: 5,584 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Depending on the coins value.
    If valuable send it in for restoration in its slab so you keep the grade.

    If not very valuable say less than $200. Probably best just to crackout and soak in acetone.

    Restoration along with shipping and handling will run about $100.

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  • DisneyFanDisneyFan Posts: 2,064 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @OAKSTAR said:
    PVC and verdigris can form on a coin after it's been slabbed. Is it a large cent?

    No - silver coins

  • OAKSTAROAKSTAR Posts: 7,175 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DisneyFan said:

    @OAKSTAR said:
    PVC and verdigris can form on a coin after it's been slabbed. Is it a large cent?

    No - silver coins

    Do you have pictures of it?

    Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,133 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DisneyFan said:

    @OAKSTAR said:
    PVC and verdigris can form on a coin after it's been slabbed. Is it a large cent?

    No - silver coins

    Are you sure it's PVC rather than putty or just some type of contamination picked up while in circulation? Some good pics would help us greatly to provide you with some good suggestions.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
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  • MetroDMetroD Posts: 2,197 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @gumby1234 said:
    Depending on the coins value.
    If valuable send it in for restoration in its slab so you keep the grade.

    If not very valuable say less than $200. Probably best just to crackout and soak in acetone.

    Restoration along with shipping and handling will run about $100.

    The PCGS restoration page states that a coin submitted in a PCGS holder is guaranteed not to downgrade.

    Source: https://www.pcgs.com/restoration

    That said, the restoration submission form is more specific. Coins submitted in PCGS holders are "covered per the PCGS guarantee".

    Source: https://www.pcgs.com/submissionform/restorationcoin.pdf?v=2022

    And, the PCGS guarantee explicitly states that it does not apply to coins exhibiting "environmental deterioration", like "PVC contamination", after 'grading/encapsulation'.

    Source: https://www.pcgs.com/guarantee

    Per the post above from @davewesen, I have no idea what they actually do in these cases on a goodwill basis. And it never hurts to ask. Notwithstanding, their official policy is publicly communicated, and, unless I missed something, the guarantee would not apply in this case.

  • DisneyFanDisneyFan Posts: 2,064 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thank you everyone for responding to my question. I'm not referring to a specific coin; but, attempting to learn how to avoid coins that will not receive a CAC. From an earlier string of posting on this website regarding PVC, I read

    "number of PCGS slabbed coins out there with PVC residue on them. ...it is the most common reason for otherwise nice for the grade coins not getting a CAC sticker.""

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Two main choices IMO...
    1- send it in for restoration
    2- Crack it and soak in acetone yourself
    Those are suggestions based on your inputs... We really need good pictures to give better advice. Cheers, RickO

  • DisneyFanDisneyFan Posts: 2,064 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I borrowed this picture from Joeykoins - Is the dot on the eagle's feathers PVC?

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 34,204 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DisneyFan said:
    I borrowed this picture from Joeykoins - Is the dot on the eagle's feathers

    Looks more like a carbon spot.

  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭

    IMO, there is way too much green entombed in plastic :'(

  • MrBlusterMrBluster Posts: 330 ✭✭✭

    I agree carbon spot

  • DisneyFanDisneyFan Posts: 2,064 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @DisneyFan said:
    I borrowed this picture from Joeykoins - Is the dot on the eagle's feathers

    Looks more like a carbon spot.

    Is that as bad as PVC?

  • coastaljerseyguycoastaljerseyguy Posts: 1,348 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DisneyFan said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @DisneyFan said:
    I borrowed this picture from Joeykoins - Is the dot on the eagle's feathers

    Looks more like a carbon spot.

    Is that as bad as PVC?

    Different issue. PVC is post-mint 'damage' from storage, carbon spots occurred during mint production. Usually carbon spots, unless very, very small, cannot be removed. But they are on many coins, esp Morgans and Peace $'s. Impact depends on where the spot is located, if in the focal areas, can make the coin much less marketable. I've not bot many coins because of that. Sometimes you have to make an exception. But will not grow and cause further damage.

  • DisneyFanDisneyFan Posts: 2,064 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here is one from my collection.

    PVC along the bottom from 4:00 to 7:00 o'clock?

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 34,204 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DisneyFan said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @DisneyFan said:
    I borrowed this picture from Joeykoins - Is the dot on the eagle's feathers

    Looks more like a carbon spot.

    Is that as bad as PVC?

    More or less harmless.

  • hummingbird_coinshummingbird_coins Posts: 1,133 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DisneyFan said:
    Here is one from my collection.

    PVC along the bottom from 4:00 to 7:00 o'clock?

    I don't have much experience with PVC damage, but I think it is usually green. I don't think that is PVC damage on your dime.

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  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,133 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @hummingbird_coins said:

    @DisneyFan said:
    Here is one from my collection.

    PVC along the bottom from 4:00 to 7:00 o'clock?

    I don't have much experience with PVC damage, but I think it is usually green. I don't think that is PVC damage on your dime.

    Agree. Looks like a couple of carbon spots. Nice looking coin. Enjoy it as is.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • kruegerkrueger Posts: 864 ✭✭✭

    I once complained to an NGC grader over the phone about a very scarce rare coin in an NGC straight graded MS64 holder appearing in a Heritage auction.
    chunks of green PVC could be seen all over the coin, he finally admitted to my observation but what could be done except to hear my complaint about their assessments. it was bought cleaned an went into a PCGS holder at MS66 and returned to another soon heritage auction. smart buyer. I missed that one.

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