1890-CC Tailbar PCGS Morgan Restoration Before and After
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Thought I would share my restoration results for a recent submission. Turn around time for this coin by itself on Regular service level was just over a month. PCGS recieved Mar 29 and shipped out on May 3.
As you can imagine, the goal with this one was to remove the crud from the reverse and the "goo" from the tailfeather/arrow area. It's much better, but not as good as I had hoped.
The grade is XF45.
Before:
After:
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Comments
Turnaround was reasonable, kinda has that cleaned overly white look for the grade now especially the obv.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
The reverse is improved a bit, but the obverse now looks like something they'd give a details grade to if it was submitted raw. I think I prefer the original look. I wish they could have left the obverse alone and only touched the reverse since thats what needed the help.
I think I would have left it as is. I agree with @Bolo and think it would get a details cleaned (92) if submitted raw today.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
I agree with your decision to submit for restoration. My expectations would have been guarded, given that it was a circulated coin. I like the new appearance, and while the preceding comments are understood, you did retain the straight graded XF45.
- Ike Group member
- DIVa (Designated Ike Varieties) Project co-lead and attributor
Another excellent example of there's "cleaned" and there's "cleaned."
If OP had submitted the coin after the "restoration" (without the history, having done exactly the same process as the TPG did, as a raw coin) it almost certainly would have received a "details--cleaned" grade. But because the TPG cleaned it, it's ok. It's a distinction without a difference, and, yet, there it is, with a straight grade.
While I liked the old obverse a little better, the new obverse looks fine to me too. Had all of the black stuff and goo been removed it would have been a complete success. The black "mold" (or whatever) was very unappealing. I don't know if I necessarily gained value but I think the coin looks much better now and will probably sell a little faster or a tiny bit more if/when I do sell since the "mold" is not so prevalent. Maybe it makes no difference. Hard to say.
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Maybe somebody here can help me to understand why the need to send it in for restoration, I was under the assumption that the Tailbar variety was not a rarity, but maybe I was under the wrong assumption?
Why would you only restore rarities?
Why to send it in for restoration is that the the reverse was ugly and I thought it could be improved. Isn't that enough reason?
I am not trying to disparage your actions or thoughts, there is a cost for this service, I assume it was already slabbed, if it was rare I can possibly understand, but if it isn't, wouldn't It be more advisable to wait for a higher grade without issues?
How much do you think it costs? This coin was submitted with others so shipping is just a few dollars. The service was $50, or less than 10% of the coin's value. If restoration could theoretically improve the value of the coin by ~10%, it's worth it. I would speculate that had it cleaned up nicely it would or could bring 10% more.
There's also the tuition side of things which aren't apparent to any observer, but I'm also willing to spend a few dollars like this to learn the capabilities and limits of PCGS coin restoration also.
I get it, thanks. I didn't think the Tailbar variety was rare, good to get confirmation from a Morgan Dollar enthusiast.
Actually, if the 'restoration' was not known to have been performed, I believe most would find the obverse acceptable and not call it cleaned. Cheers, RickO
I would have left it as is. J/S
I have had some very good results with PCGS restoration service and a few not as good as I expected. I think it was worth trying to improve the coins appearance.
+1 "I would have left it as is. J/S"
Agreed.
The obverse looked better before restoration while the reverse now looks better IMHO.
I have limited experience with PCGS’ restoration service. It seems like the biggest potential problem is unless you’re there (impossible) or they follow your instructions precisely you never know what they will do. You’re going to have good outcomes and not so good outcomes.