Is It Ethical Not To Disclose Pvc On A Coin You Are Selling?
Walkerlover
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This Coin is being auctioned off on EBay right now. It appears to be full of green PVC. Should the seller disclose the obvious PVC damage on their coin? Your thoughts. 
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Where exactly is the PVC?
Coin Photographer.
I see reflections on the coin that appear green to me, but I am not certain there is PVC on it.
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If that’s photographic reflections please correct me if I am mistaken
Might not be PVC. Would probably need to check it out in hand.
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Those are photographic reflections.
Coin Photographer.
Lighting & reflections.
Notice they’d all on the right edge of the devices? Looks like lighting to me.
Okay thanks for your comments I stand corrected. Seems likely it’s poor photos.
That is clearly a reflection. No PVC on this coin.
The person taking the photo may have had a Green shirt or dress on, clearly a reflection and not pvc.
You could send advice on how to doctor it. 😳
Assume there is a coin with PVC, I would not hold it against the seller if he failed to mention PVC on a coin. PVC can be difficult to see and is pretty common, so it is easy to overlook if the seller is dealing with volume. If the damage was significant like a hidden scratch or whiz, that would need to be disclosed or shown in the photos.
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I don't know why people don't remove the stuff. It's easy enough to do.
As for PVC disclosure, I'm stuck with an expensive slabbed coin that has PVC on it. I don't know why the grading service didn't note it. It could have been easily fixed when they had in for grading.
Any coin defects should be disclosed when selling - unless the individual does not see or recognize the issue. For example, a non-collector selling Grandpa's inherited collection. Cheers, RickO
No, it is not ethical.
That assumes the seller knows about it or recognizes it.
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If that actually was PVC then yes, it's unethical to know about it and not disclose it. In this case I agree that it's reflections from some source off to the right of the coin. Note how they are all on the right side of the respective surfaces in question. PVC would be more random.
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
Ethics and purism are something we should try to achieve if possible; some people think they are confined to the philosophy department. People make mistakes. Sales people are steeped in moving product not pointing out the defects of what they're selling. The sharp buyers I've encountered look for accurate pictures or they don't buy/bid.
It is never ethical to not disclose issues if the seller knows about them, it is also just as wrong to automatically assume that said seller is aware.
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I think it really depends on how obvious it is. It's pretty easy to miss some PVC especially before it's turned green and is more opaque and grey. Also lots of things that can resemble PVC that aren't. If it's obvious and blatant and the seller knows about it then yes. But then how do we know the seller KNOWS?
Usually if a coin has any haze I try to mention it as showing that with images can be tough and I'd rather not have to deal with a return headache.
If it is PCV it would be unethical not to disclose it.
It ultimately is buyer beware. I have had so many coins in slabs with PVC (some stable some not) but most of the time I got to inspect them first right? Then only after a change or better light I see. I have also had over dipped coins, Hidden scratches ect. Most coins aren’t perfect and perfect changes from person to person, grade to grade and price to price so there is a lot of variables to that question.
Also makes a difference if it is a classic coin in a classic holder tomb that multiple dealers hav done the math and figured it is worth more to a sucker fan of the holder than to crack, treat and hope to reholder vs some common date Buffalo that of course spent much of the last 85 years in various storages. Those who buy it cheap with problems and then fish for a sucker, it is unethical. Someone blowing out raw 38d nickels, I would be shocked if they spent enough time inspecting, thinking about it to qualify as a moral dilemma.
If it is a high-end retail dealer, yes I expect a full rundown of it if so rare that they would offer it anyway. Resellers or whole sellers ehhhh not so much. eBay I expect stuff to require a 2nd and 3rd look
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