How can you tell if a coin has PVC damage?

mercury1

I hear all about coins with PVC damage being body bagged or a coin won at auction only to have it arrive with PVC, is it that had to detect or are peaple just hoping the grading services won't notice?

nwcs

MOst of the time the people got rid of most of the PVC and left little bits left. It can be subtle. But most times it's easy to see PVC because it is an ugly green crud adhering to the coin surface.

TomB

Many times PVC will manifest itself as a light green, hazy coloration on the surface that may only be visible at certain angles. In these cases it usually is not as visible head-on and will appear like a fine talc on the coin when it is tilted.

1jester

PVC coin holders and supplies should be outlawed. All sellers of PVC products should be boycotted and shunned and put out of business.

PVC is an extreme scourge to the hobby, and I don't understand how anybody can sell/market that poison in good conscience. It really bothers me that so many good coins are being destroyed!

gemtone65

With some luck, acetone, and a soft brush, you can often remove PVC from the coin with little telltale effect. However, if the PVC has remained too long, e.g., more than several years, it will have etched into the surface of the coin, leaving noticeable scarring after removal. Nevertheless, once removed, the coin often will be graded by the top services; it will be body bagged if the PVC remains. Regardless, the PVC must be removed as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

09sVDB

i often wondered why these products were sold at all. It does seem to make alot of sense as most advanced collectors own slabs and most beginners don't know, so where's the benefit?

FlyTooHigh

Example of coin bagged by ANACS for PVC:


After a nice dip, it is minty mint again!

crito

TomB

Those are excellent images that crito has and everyone should take a good look at them. I believe I have seen these before, did you put them in the PCGS Boards or in the NGC Boards previously?

crito

Ya, I got a bad batch of Venezuelan 5 Bolivares. Think I posted this one on r.c.c. first, then on msn error world, NGC's board, and now here You can definitely see where the plasticizer ate metal away, and would have continued to do so had it not been removed.