What's the best thing you've ever done for a coin?

bennybravo

My other recent "what's the worst thing you've done to a coin?" thread had some really interesting posts, and I learned ways to damage and destroy the collector value of coins that i'd never have thought of! Let's talk about coin conservation. I think over the last 30 years or so, I've saved quite a few from the ravages of older PVC flips, or cancerous spots that would have worsened or wrecked some pretty nice pieces over time. Do you have examples of coins that you personally saved, or at least left for the better for future collectors?

oih82w8

Let it go to another collector so they could enjoy it like i did.

bennybravo

@oih82w8 said:
Let it go to another collector so they could enjoy it like i did.

Beautiful post.

steve_richardson

I recently learned, with help from folks on this forum, how to conserve a coin using an acetone bath.
Pics are in this thread: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1103488/please-advise-how-to-conserve-this-1909-s-ihc#latest

But here’s a quick before/after of the 1909-S:

airplanenut

@oih82w8 said:
Let it go to another collector so they could enjoy it like i did.

Now I feel kinda bad for locking mine away in a small, cold, dark box

jacrispies

Let the coin doctors reveal themselves!!!

bennybravo

@jacrispies said:
Let the coin doctors reveal themselves!!!

That's an interesting angle too, but if a coin is being ravaged by PVC or a cancerous spot, would you rather it devolve to an uncollectable coin? What have you done with slightly problematic coins jacrispies? Would love your insight.

OAKSTAR

@airplanenut said:

@oih82w8 said:
Let it go to another collector so they could enjoy it like i did.

Now I feel kinda bad for locking mine away in a small, cold, dark box

Just as long as you didn't bury them somewhere and didn't tell anyone where! 😉

OAKSTAR

@jacrispies said:
Let the coin doctors reveal themselves!!!

Before:

After:

airplanenut

@oih82w8 said:
Let it go to another collector so they could enjoy it like i did.

Well, I do have a story that goes with this theme. One of my favorite consignments was a son who sent me his late father's collection. The father simply collected the coins of his (and I think his father's, maybe even grandfather's) lifetime. It spanned the late 1800s to either the 1990s or early 2000s. The values of the coins had a huge range, and the collection appeared to be a much enjoyed labor of love. Everything was raw, and I sent the higher value stuff to PCGS. The 1916 SLQ was the highlight, coming back as an XF40 and selling, I believe, for $16k. But some of those moderns were humble pieces with little value--cents or maybe a dollar or two and certainly not items I could sell efficiently when shipping and my commission were both way above any given coin's value; at best they'd all go into one big grab-bag lot. I emailed my thoughts to the son and asked if he'd be okay with me pulling all of these low-value pieces and sending them to a YN program. They were worth a fraction of a percent of the collection's value, and in exchange, part of his father's collection could go on to dozens of kids and hopefully help spark their interest in collection. He liked the idea, and off they went.

bennybravo

@airplanenut said:

@oih82w8 said:
Let it go to another collector so they could enjoy it like i did.

Well, I do have a story that goes with this theme. One of my favorite consignments was a son who sent me his late father's collection. The father simply collected the coins of his (and I think his father's, maybe even grandfather's) lifetime. It spanned the late 1800s to either the 1990s or early 2000s. The values of the coins had a huge range, and the collection appeared to be a much enjoyed labor of love. Everything was raw, and I sent the higher value stuff to PCGS. The 1916 SLQ was the highlight, coming back as an XF40 and selling, I believe, for $16k. But some of those moderns were humble pieces with little value--cents or maybe a dollar or two and certainly not items I could sell efficiently when shipping and my commission were both way above any given coin's value; at best they'd all go into one big grab-bag lot. I emailed my thoughts to the son and asked if he'd be okay with me pulling all of these low-value pieces and sending them to a YN program. They were worth a fraction of a percent of the collection's value, and in exchange, part of his father's collection could go on to dozens of kids and hopefully help spark their interest in collection. He liked the idea, and off they went.

OUTSTANDING!

jacrispies

@bennybravo said:

@jacrispies said:
Let the coin doctors reveal themselves!!!

That's an interesting angle too, but if a coin is being ravaged by PVC or a cancerous spot, would you rather it devolve to an uncollectable coin? What have you done with slightly problematic coins jacrispies? Would love your insight.

I am not condemning coin doctors, I was just commanding them to come out

I have been criticized in the past for altering appearances so I know it can be a touchy subject with some. Regardless, I am excited to see what cool results people post.

@OAKSTAR Awesome!!!

Coinscratch

One time at band camp 😁

Edit, it was an inside joke.

bennybravo

@jacrispies said:

@bennybravo said:

@jacrispies said:
Let the coin doctors reveal themselves!!!

That's an interesting angle too, but if a coin is being ravaged by PVC or a cancerous spot, would you rather it devolve to an uncollectable coin? What have you done with slightly problematic coins jacrispies? Would love your insight.

I am not condemning coin doctors, I was just commanding them to come out

I have been criticized in the past for altering appearances so I know it can be a touchy subject with some. Regardless, I am excited to see what cool results people pos> @airplanenut said:

@oih82w8 said:
Let it go to another collector so they could enjoy it like i did.

Well, I do have a story that goes with this theme. One of my favorite consignments was a son who sent me his late father's collection. The father simply collected the coins of his (and I think his father's, maybe even grandfather's) lifetime. It spanned the late 1800s to either the 1990s or early 2000s. The values of the coins had a huge range, and the collection appeared to be a much enjoyed labor of love. Everything was raw, and I sent the higher value stuff to PCGS. The 1916 SLQ was the highlight, coming back as an XF40 and selling, I believe, for $16k. But some of those moderns were humble pieces with little value--cents or maybe a dollar or two and certainly not items I could sell efficiently when shipping and my commission were both way above any given coin's value; at best they'd all go into one big grab-bag lot. I emailed my thoughts to the son and asked if he'd be okay with me pulling all of these low-value pieces and sending them to a YN program. They were worth a fraction of a percent of the collection's value, and in exchange, part of his father's collection could go on to dozens of kids and hopefully help spark their interest in collection. He liked the idea, and off they went.

Just saying, that was an awesome story man.

ChrisH821

I have somewhat accidentally turned a 66CAM Franklin into a 68DCAM via crack-out and removal of unattractive haze. It did CAC at the 68DCAM level.
More recently a similar experience with a 64 Kennedy half from 67DCAM to 68DCAM.

bennybravo

@ChrisH821 said:
I have somewhat accidentally turned a 66CAM Franklin into a 68DCAM via crack-out and removal of unattractive haze. It did CAC at the 68DCAM level.
More recently a similar experience with a 64 Kennedy half from 67DCAM to 68DCAM.

Congratulations sir!!!!!

mikee999

Save it from further wear tear & having it entombed in a plastic slab, like this

TheGoonies1985

A nice acetone bath on a few coins. Those coins thanked me after!!!

Ronsanderson

I recently posted this in another thread, but a lot of red was revealed by treating with distilled water, acetone, xylene, and Q-Tips very gently used to lift off the dirt.

Vendor photos

After I did my careful restoration. Original on the left, afterwards on the right. (Although I’m certain that nobody here needed that last bit of explanation!)

renomedphys

I have played at doctoring, but nothing serious. Once I took a 1911-s cent that I bought in PCI 65RD out of its holder and teased off some goop behind Lincoln’s head with a toothpick and it went PCGS 65RD. I also sent in 2 coins for restoration but only one was accepted and returned without PVC haze. The other was left alone. Maybe the best thing I ever did for a coin monetarily was getting an NGC AU53 chain cent into a PCGS AU53 holder. Maybe a $10-$15k bump there.

emeraldATV

Gave it a name.

OAKSTAR

@emeraldATV said:
Gave it a name.

The @emeraldATV Numismatic Personality

emeraldATV

This one's name is Steve....from one md nickel.

OAKSTAR

@emeraldATV said:
This one's name is Steve....from one md nickel.

I say you should start a new thread with all the highlight pictures of your most significant posts.

Manifest_Destiny

Cracked it out and put it in a Dansco.

Barberian

Pulled it out of a Dansco and slabbed it.

(truly rare coins should be protected)

Walkerfan

Had PVC and an active spot gently removed by a professional conservation.

Smudge

Gave it to a YN.

skier07

Before and after with eZest

Steven59

@emeraldATV said:
Gave it a name.

Damn Emerald - got to admit - you're the best - hook, line, and sinker -

Married2Coins

@emeraldATV said:
Gave it a name.

I call it "Thawed out Liberty" taking up space in a discussion.

Married2Coins

The best thing I ever did for a coin was to wash and wax a dealers car.

emeraldATV

Wait a second, wait, this is something I don't think you realize. When I was young, this movie was the bomb.
One of my favorites and I know it well. I found the coin and kinda put it to the way side. Then something caught my eye.
It was so MC Cool how everything fit. FYI (ps...I don't f...with cats and my eyes are green and not brown)

lkenefic

The best thing I've ever done FOR a coin... get an education so I can buy more of them... ;-)

Smokey1

Best thing I’ve ever done for a coin was never post it on this forum..

TheGoonies1985

I give them a good home!!!

Mr_Spud

Here’s one for @emeraldATV

Mr_Spud

And probably one of the best things I’ve done for some coins, put modern uncirculated coins into humidity controlled jars with desiccant to make time capsules for future collectors. This pic was right after putting them together, the relative humidity in the jars ended up going down to less than 20% which should keep their surfaces pristine. Imagine someone opening these 100 years from now

may

@emeraldATV said:
Wait a second, wait, this is something I don't think you realize. When I was young, this movie was the bomb.
One of my favorites and I know it well. I found the coin and kinda put it to the way side. Then something caught my eye.
It was so MC Cool how everything fit. FYI (ps...I don't f...with cats and my eyes are green and not brown)

Soooo you made the 1940’s German-Swiss Border out of picture of a nickel?

emeraldATV

Yes Sir. True story.
And I would like to add another besty to this thread.
I interact with the playful ones.

Ronsanderson

I am totally confused by both the pictures and the explanation. What’s going on here?

Barberian

@Ronsanderson said:
I am totally confused by both the pictures and the explanation. What’s going on here?

Then you fully understand.

Welcome to EmeraldATV world!

OAKSTAR

@Ronsanderson said:
I am totally confused by both the pictures and the explanation. What’s going on here?

When you fully understand, please let us know!

jfriedm56

Put this 1795 Flowing Hair dollar in a certified holder, to prevent a future cleaning and save the original skin.