Letter To Numismatic News Published As This Months Viewpoint

WWBillman

I started a thread on this board awhile back and after reading it to my self a few times I refined it a bit and sent it to the editor of Numismatic News.

Guess what? I got my November 26 issue today and my letter titled "Weigh definitions when considering grade" has been published as this months Viewpoint page 7.

What a nice surprise.

Clankeye

Congratulations, Bill. I always like to hear about it when forum members make contributions outside in the real world. Good job.

Carl

LanLord

Nice job, can't wait to get my copy, which is usually 3 days after everyone else is done talking about what is in it

merz2

Bill
Kudos.That is great!!!! I knew there was a reason I still hung out here.

michael

wow that is great bill! congradulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



really nice lanlord! is she your wife? swwwweet!

if a really nice personality also then a real find!!!!! i would like someone like her!! i would show her how to be a really good girl!

sincerely michael

Lakesammman

Any chance you can post it or is it protected??

MrKelso

<< <i>I started a thread on this board awhile back and after reading it to my self a few times I refined it a bit and sent it to the editor of Numismatic News.

Guess what? I got my November 26 issue today and my letter titled "Weigh definitions when considering grade" has been published as this months Viewpoint page 7.

What a nice surprise. >>



Yep here it is big and bold right on page 7 just above ICG's Half Price Comm Sale add and continues on page 14 very nice great job William

WWBillman

For those that are interested but do not get the paper here is a copy of the text from the letter I sent to Numismatic News.



Ever since the SS Central America gold was put on the market there has been increased debate concerning what constitutes cleaning and what is or is not acceptable measures of caring for and preserving our coinage form the past. I feel strongly on this issue and would like to share my perspective. All definitions given are mine and based on how I understand the terms to apply to coins and the hobby.

CONSERVE: To prevent decay, waste, or loss of.

Where would we be today without conservation? What would have happened to all our historical artifacts? Where would the flag that flew during The Battle of Baltimore and was Francis Key Scott''s inspiration for the Star Spangled Banner be today if not for conservation? Conservation is a good thing if done correctly in the best interest of the item being conserved. Without conservation we would have no need for museums as everything would have already deteriorated and disappeared forever. A professional educated in the methods of conversation in his respective field will tell you his first responsibility is to the artifact. He owes no allegiance to the owner and personal financial gains are not the intent of his work. Why should coins be excluded from this? Are coins not artifacts (an object made by human beings, one belonging to an earlier time or culture stage)? Are coins not a part of our history that deserves our care and preservation to ensure they exist for the generations to come?
I do not know what company was responsible for conserving the SS Central America gold but the only one I am aware of available to the collector is Numismatic Conservation Service (NCS). NCS has made available coin conservation to the very people who need it most and are in possession of the majority of our nations monetary treasures, the collector. They choose to NOT conserve a large percentage of the coins submitted. Why? Because their first responsibility is to the coin not the submitter paying the fees.
I sent NCS an originally toned PCGS MS64 1861 Indian Cent that had 2 distracting spots on the obverse. I knew if those spots were not there it would have a shot at MS65 and be much more desirable. Guess what? NCS refused to conserve it. Why because they were concerned it would have a negative affect producing an unnatural color on the coin. Did they care about making me happy? Did they care about making the coin more aesthetically pleasing? Did they care about increasing the coins monetary value? NO, all they cared about was the coin.

DOCTOR –– To tamper with.

There is a big difference between conserving and doctoring. A doctor has no concern for the item he is toying with. His bottom line is profit derived from fraudulent acts with no regard to the long-term effects on the coin or its historical significance. Money is his only motivator and everything he does has but one goal, more money. He is self-serving and will go to any extreme to further his goal. He is a parasite and could cares less about the damage he is inflicting on the coins or the hobby he professes to love as he struts around the bourse floor. He uses harsh methods to disguise small imperfections, alter, or enhance a coin to make it more appealing and create a false sense of desirability. Greed has blinded him which in turn has enabled him to rationalize his actions. I mean think about it, no one likes to think what they do is really bad or hurts anyone.

CLEANING –– To make free from irregularity.

This is where it gets tricky. Dipping a coin "technically" could or could not be considered cleaning. Dipping if done incorrectly can remove the flow lines/irregularities on a coins surface that produce the luster affect. It is done to remove contaminates and or oxidation from the surfaces that is damaging to the coin to stop the deterioration. I do not agree with the novice dipping a coin but left to a professional conservationist the damage is minuscule and has little effect on the flow lines/irregularities on a coins surface and luster. On the other hand harsh abrasive "cleaning" removes all the irregularities completely altering a coins surfaces and definitely falls under the category of doctoring.

As someone once stated, "we as coin collectors do not own our coins rather we pay for the privilege to be the caretakers". These coins will hopefully be here long after we die for the enjoyment of future generations. We as collectors will not always agree on everything but I think we can all agree that it is our responsibility to care for and protect our coins to the best of our abilities. Helping, educating and protecting each other is imperative for us in achieving that goal. Zero tolerance for the parasites within the hobby is a must.

William H. White
Enid, OK