Another PCGS Restoration Before and After: Morgans and Peace

ProofCollection

I was not looking for or expecting any grade bumps, but I did get one.

1882-O MS63DMPL --> MS63+DMPL
Very happy to get rid of the crusty gold toning. It also cleared up those mirrors.

1894-O MS61
Again I'm happy to get rid of the toning.
Before:

After:

1921 High Relief MS63
I'm not sure they restored this one. Was hoping to eliminate or reduce the spot and improve luster. The toning behind the eagle's neck seems to have improved but that could just be lighting. Otherwise looks about the same.
Update 9/28: Confirmed that this coin was not restored.
Before:

After:

percyb

Nice work. Wow. However, I thought they’d keep the same ID number though.

Tramp

Quite the improvement on the Morgan's but not much difference on the Peace dollar like you said.

Looks good!

1madman

Trueview on that peace makes it look like a washed out 58 trying to splotchily retone. I would send that to NGC to conserve, then either sell in that holder, or if it’s something special to you regrade it at pcgs again. I don’t see 63 at all on that coin.

Morgan13

The Morgan's look great!

Walkerfan

The 1882-O and the 1921 Peace both look better.

The 1894-O (my favorite of the three) was nice before and is still nice after, IMHO.

david3142

That 82-O looks significantly better. Somehow cleaner too. Really a stunning coin now. However, I prefer the 94-O before, even with the subtle print. The toning is nice and even and the surfaces look smoother.

fathom

Those are nice coins.
I like the 94o pre-resto. They are tough to find legit Mint State.

mlittle

I'm no expert but to me, on the 94o, in both photos there appears to be wear above the ear and on the eagle's breast. I'm puzzled as to why it is a MS instead of AU. Could someone point out to me why I'm wrong?

david3142

@mlittle said:
I'm no expert but to me, on the 94o, in both photos there appears to be wear above the ear and on the eagle's breast. I'm puzzled as to why it is a MS instead of AU. Could someone point out to me why I'm wrong?

The O mints from 1890 to 1894 are generally quite poorly struck. The hair above the ear is flat but it has the same color as and luster the rest of the coin, not dulled as it would be if it were worn.

winesteven

@percyb said:
Nice work. Wow. However, I thought they’d keep the same ID number though.

With Restoration, they must use a new cert number, even if you ask or insist the old cert number remain the same (I’ve tried).

Steve

Relaxn

Dislike the 94-O significantly... to me it seems like the originality has been zapped from the coin. Prefer the crust... with that said... I do not collect Morgans and only have a smattering of them.

lilolme

@mlittle said:
I'm no expert but to me, on the 94o, in both photos there appears to be wear above the ear and on the eagle's breast. I'm >puzzled as to why it is a MS instead of AU. Could someone point out to me why I'm wrong?

This pcgs video on strike tries to explain it. Jump to about the 4:10 minute mark in the video and a more specific explanation of the difference starts but some information before that.

https://youtu.be/ytcLuf-hI0k?t=254

ProofCollection

I was able to confirm that the Peace Dollar was NOT restored.

winesteven

@ProofCollection said:
I was able to confirm that the Peace Dollar was NOT restored.

I then wonder why they cracked it out of the holder if they first chose not to restore it?

Steve

ProofCollection

@winesteven said:

@ProofCollection said:
I was able to confirm that the Peace Dollar was NOT restored.

I then wonder why they cracked it out of the holder if they first chose not to restore it?

Steve

Well something I learned the hard way (but it does say on the website) that even it they don't restore a coin they still crack it out and regrade it. Was told there is no way to avoid a crackout/regrade if they do not restore. I think it is one of their worst policies because I'm not sure who would want a coin re-graded if it is deemed not-restorable.

shish

That 82-O looks significantly better. However, The 94-O looked much better before being dipped, the toning was nice and even and the surfaces looked original.

TorinoCobra71

LOVE the end result on that DMPL Morgan!!! Congrats!!!!!

lilolme

@ProofCollection @winesteven

The subject of a pcgs slab coin and restoration and crack out or not has been discussed and I am not sure it is consistent today. Maybe it is now. It used to be that the pcgs coin was evaluated for restoration and if no restoration was to be done, then it was returned in the original pcgs slab and no grading (I had a couple of these but has been years ago). But as noted in this previous thread there appeared to be a change as noted by ProofCollection. Here is the thread and some wording on pcgs website that appears to not match (evaluated before being removed and if not restored will be sent for grading).

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/13227646#Comment_13227646

https://www.pcgs.com/restoration

1madman

@winesteven said:

@ProofCollection said:
I was able to confirm that the Peace Dollar was NOT restored.

I then wonder why they cracked it out of the holder if they first chose not to restore it?

Steve

It’s gotta be a legal thing where if PCGS wants to collect a grading fee for every coin in a restoration submission, this would be enough to prove they actually did something to collect that cost. By cracking all the coins and choosing not to restore, they can say they looked at them again in the grading room, agreed with the previous grades, and reencapsulated. It would be nice if they still did just the $10 eval fee.

winesteven

@ProofCollection said:

@winesteven said:

@ProofCollection said:
I was able to confirm that the Peace Dollar was NOT restored.

I then wonder why they cracked it out of the holder if they first chose not to restore it?

Steve

Well something I learned the hard way (but it does say on the website) that even it they don't restore a coin they still crack it out and regrade it. Was told there is no way to avoid a crackout/regrade if they do not restore. I think it is one of their worst policies because I'm not sure who would want a coin re-graded if it is deemed not-restorable.

If what you say is true, then this is a new policy! I’ve had coins submitted for Restoration, and their materials said if they determined not to restore it, the ONLY charge was a $10 “Evaluation” fee, and that’s what happened! The coin was NOT cracked out, and NOT regraded!!!

Steve

winesteven

I see you are correct. I believe this is a change, but here it is:

$10 Evaluation Fee – If PCGS determines the coin(s) will not benefit from restoration or should not be restored, the coin(s) will still be submitted for grading. Coins that are not restorable will be charged an evaluation fee of $10 per coin and then sent for grading. For coins that complete the grading process, standard grading fees apply plus the evaluation fee (see submission form for grading fee structure).

Steve

ProofCollection

@winesteven said:

@ProofCollection said:

@winesteven said:

@ProofCollection said:
I was able to confirm that the Peace Dollar was NOT restored.

I then wonder why they cracked it out of the holder if they first chose not to restore it?

Steve

Well something I learned the hard way (but it does say on the website) that even it they don't restore a coin they still crack it out and regrade it. Was told there is no way to avoid a crackout/regrade if they do not restore. I think it is one of their worst policies because I'm not sure who would want a coin re-graded if it is deemed not-restorable.

If what you say is true, then this is a new policy! I’ve had coins submitted for Restoration, and their materials said if they determined not to restore it, the ONLY charge was a $10 “Evaluation” fee, and that’s what happened! The coin was NOT cracked out, and NOT regraded!!!

Steve

Well at least I know that maybe I'm not crazy because that's how I thought it worked too. PCGS sure kept this change a secret. I'm not sure how many of us re-read the website or submission forms every time we fill a new one out.

Cougar1978

They real good! Nice coins.

skier07

The DMPL looks terrific and much better after conservation. I like the pre conservation 1894-O better but I see how some like the post conservation look more.

logger7

I've found their restoration department to be competent and their aesthetic standards to be a lot better than the competitor. Though I've used the spot removal service at NGC on gold, and they do a good job on those coins. One dealer told me how he buys NGC MS/PR69 gold moderns with a spot that will often upgrade to 70 with their service.

lilolme

@ProofCollection said:

@winesteven said:

@ProofCollection said:

@winesteven said:

@ProofCollection said:
I was able to confirm that the Peace Dollar was NOT restored.

I then wonder why they cracked it out of the holder if they first chose not to restore it?

Steve

Well something I learned the hard way (but it does say on the website) that even it they don't restore a coin they still crack it out and regrade it. Was told there is no way to avoid a crackout/regrade if they do not restore. I think it is one of their worst policies because I'm not sure who would want a coin re-graded if it is deemed not-restorable.

If what you say is true, then this is a new policy! I’ve had coins submitted for Restoration, and their materials said if they determined not to restore it, the ONLY charge was a $10 “Evaluation” fee, and that’s what happened! The coin was NOT cracked out, and NOT regraded!!!

Steve

Well at least I know that maybe I'm not crazy because that's how I thought it worked too. PCGS sure kept this change a >secret. I'm not sure how many of us re-read the website or submission forms every time we fill a new one out.

.
Yes on the more notification when a change is made.

I can narrow it down some. The thread link I provided above from April 2022 had this online change but how much before was it there?? My memory is bad as I did do a restoration in 2022 and it has the same form as today. I found a late 2017 restoration and it is a different form. This is also one that came back in the same original holder unrestored. So it appears the change may have happened from 2018 to 2021.

If they are now removing all coins from holders, then from the online screenshot below I think they should change:
"All coins are evaluated before being removed from their holders."

To something similar to:
All coins will be removed from their holders.

coinbuf

Like many I think the 84-O was a huge improvement, the 94-O is more a matter of personal taste and the Peace looks to be a push. Thanks for sharing your results again.