NCS conservation of an impaired Lexington 50 c
Higashiyama
Posts: 2,201 ✭✭✭✭✭
I recently gave NCS a rather serious test, and they passed with flying colors.
A year or so ago, while aimlessly browsing ebay, I came across an obviously unloved Lexington 50c. There was a good quality image, and the coin, though apparently mint state, had a couple of blackish spots on the reverse. I don't know what possessed me, but I pulled the trigger and ended up getting the coin -- for about $ 60. (not a bargain for an impaired coin, but not too ridiculous)
After examining the coin, I really thought it was beyond repair -- there were three sizable black spots that appeared much like tar ground into the coin -- it was not simply unattractive toning, and the spots did not appear superficial. (think about gum after it has been trampled on a sidewalk)
In any case, I sent it as a somewhat "tongue in cheek" submission to NCS -- asking for conservation only if they thought it could be slabbed by NGC.
I received the coin back last week -- looking like a near gem, and slabbed (accurately) as MS64.
Amazing!
A year or so ago, while aimlessly browsing ebay, I came across an obviously unloved Lexington 50c. There was a good quality image, and the coin, though apparently mint state, had a couple of blackish spots on the reverse. I don't know what possessed me, but I pulled the trigger and ended up getting the coin -- for about $ 60. (not a bargain for an impaired coin, but not too ridiculous)
After examining the coin, I really thought it was beyond repair -- there were three sizable black spots that appeared much like tar ground into the coin -- it was not simply unattractive toning, and the spots did not appear superficial. (think about gum after it has been trampled on a sidewalk)
In any case, I sent it as a somewhat "tongue in cheek" submission to NCS -- asking for conservation only if they thought it could be slabbed by NGC.
I received the coin back last week -- looking like a near gem, and slabbed (accurately) as MS64.
Amazing!
Higashiyama
0
Comments
Frank
For some life lasts a short while, but the memories it holds last forever.
-Laura Swenson
In memory of BL, SM, and KG. 16 and forever young, rest in peace.
For some life lasts a short while, but the memories it holds last forever.
-Laura Swenson
In memory of BL, SM, and KG. 16 and forever young, rest in peace.
Do you have a scan or pic of the BTW before you sent it in so that we can compare
the before and after.
Fred
Fred
FrederickCoinClub
As for the BTW, it's hard to say without seeing a full picture, but from those 3 small photos, I don't think that MS65 is out of the question. These coins were minted ugly.
Greg
<< <i>Before pictures obverse , reverse . Now it's just over dipped with white hazy areas where the toning used to be. I learned my lesson trying to dip this kind of toning years ago as I got the same ugly results they did. I just thought they had the know-how and experts to "curate" at a level beyond what could be done at home. mike >>
i'd have left that one alone. looked just fine as an original toned btw.most look this way in general. as far as their "conservation" methods. on silver ms & proofs it's jewel-luster with q-tip swabs is all they do. both services use this when they "fingerprint" one or leave it in a flip not protected by a polybag where they will haze or fog up during a 2 week between grading/finalizing/qc "in-slab" final check, etc. they (both pcgs/ngc) know my 5 or 600 coin submssions each mo after recieving go back in the polybags then back in the flip. and they are not removed again post grading until its time to plastify them. ZERO fog/haze problems henceforth...
just add a note in with submissions you want your coins placed back in their polybags as you sent them in between their different recieving,grading,awaiting slab stages, otherwise they are going to chunk your polys in the garbage and slide your proofs back into the flips you sent them in and on proofs/cameos ,especially they will fog/haze up in just a few days most times placed ina flip alone causing a loss of up to 3 or4 point in final qc grade verification and can cause a loss of cam to ultra or cam to dcam every time...INSIST ON IT. or put a note like "why would i send you a pr64 cameo 1962 half worth $20 when i sent it in as a lock 67dcam. they get the message then it's costing you money. you send them 200,000 coins ina 16 yr period they add it up for us anyway. we dont have that problem
sincerely michael
If you didn't tell them what you wanted done, they have the right to do any work they feel is necessary. That's why I always write a VERY specific letter telling them what I want done and what I will/won't accept. They will work with these terms without problem.
<< <i>I have had super results from NCS, but one "bad" one as well. I sent in some Peace Dollars that had tape residue on the reverse, and had beautiful toning on the obverse. I was going to soak them in Koinsolve or Acetone but it has been too darn cold here to get any ventilation. When I got the coins back, the tape and residue was gone, but so was the toning
If you didn't tell them what you wanted done, they have the right to do any work they feel is necessary. That's why I always write a VERY specific letter telling them what I want done and what I will/won't accept. They will work with these terms without problem. >>
another quote from a butt i have to totally agree with..well spoken and put..
Here are the after pictures -- they are fairly accurate, but overall coin is nicer than the image. (you have heard that many times!)
The reverse image greatly exaggerates the current appearance of one of the problem areas to the left of old belfry. Also, the slide marks which jump out in the scan are not nearly as bad in person, although prior to the dip, they stood out rather dramatically!
Re NCS methods; It seems that if they can`t clean up the easy stuff they just chemically bleach the really dark stuff
your wanting off the coin to sorta blend it in with the coin overall.On the BTW it looked like you sacrificed some luster
to clean up the black stuff.
I,m not sure an over-dipped coin has more eye-appeal than a more lusterous coin with ugly toneing.
Its a toss-up.
Cam40, I would much rather have the original creamy luster with ugly toning back! I really thought they could save this original luster and remove the ugly toning at least it was a cheap coin. Now my $10 liberty is a different story- that coin is just plain ruined- my mom who does not collect or know about coins picked out this coin out of a group of a dozen $10 liberty's as the one that was cleaned. mike
I guess they,d go out of business if they did that as most coins they get are probably beyond repair anyway.
What can you do.