Another PVC Question

Woodwind

Okay. I just got my bodybagged 1882-CC Morgan from PCGS. They said PVC residue. I checked prior threads asking about PVC, but I don't think they answered my question.

As I was looking at it, I can't tell for the life of me how they came up with this PVC crap. I know prior threads indicate that there would be a green haze, but the coin is white and clean with no apparent haze. What did I miss? How can I check for the next time, assuming I will ever purchase a raw MS Morgan?

mrdq

when the green goes away it leaves varying degrees of damage. Early damage will be blemishes on the surface of the coin and increase to where it will actually be pitted. check it out with a loupe and look for blemishes on the surface or little pitted areas on the fields / devices. It's VERY similar to "toning" that many people love except that "toning" is a surface reaction between Silver/metals in the coin and air/oxegen/sulpher/ etc.. and doesn't continue to eat into the surface like PVC does.

CLick the link at the bottom of this page and read THE EVIL PVC info for some tips.

crito

I had this coin bodybagged by ANACS for PVC contamination. After looking at it with a 16x loupe the other day, I did find a couple tiny spots of green corrosion at lower ribbon and by assayer's initials. Acetone didn't remove them, but a chewed up toothpick dipped in EZ-est did

darktone

Woodwind, can you post a picture of it? maybe someone here can spot the problem. mike

sinin1

Sometimes the PVC is not active on the coin yet but it still present -

You can tell by smelling the coin -> smells like a new shower curtain

If the grading services smell this, they are reluctant to holder because itr may turn 5-10 yrs down the road and someone may be after their guarantee.

Barry

You think they really sniff every coin they grade?

1jester

MRDQ, I like the unofficial website! Thanks for the info.

nwcs

PVC is hard to look for. Contrary to what is often thought, you can have PVC without green. In fact, you can have a coin covered in PVC and almost not see it. Only a trained eye can really see it. And after the grading class, I realized that I don't have it!

sinin1

I don't know if they sniff every coin they grade - I'll ask homerunhall next tuesday

The sniff test also could get artificial color coins.

wallstreetman

Crito, better look again, and you dont need a loupe! That whole coin is covered with a green coating of PVC! The green your refering to is not PVC alone! Critos coin is a good example!

wallstreetman

sinin 1, you better be careful, youll get bagged for green snot!

nwcs

Remember, PVC is not green most of the time. It's a film. It can also be black, brown, or other colors. And sometimes coin doctors will put PVC onto a coin to hide problems.

Woodwind

sinin1, thanks in advance for asking David Hall. I'll look out for the response, but feel free to PM me if you want.



<< <i>You can tell by smelling the coin -> smells like a new shower curtain >>



Come to think of it, when I did get it back it did smell a bit funky. I'd post a picture, but the scan I would make would not be much help. Besides, I've already dipped it in various substances so it's not the same coin.

Thanks again to all who responded. Much appreciated.

crito

there was a good explaination posted here a while ago on how PVC contamination works on a coin... maybe they could have used it in the grading class But basically, the oil in some flips traps corrosive gas (hydrogen chloride? have to look it up again, but I'm too lazy right now, so do it yourself ) that the PVC gives off, which corrodes the metal and that's the green you see. It doesn't stick to the surface because of the oil, and acetone is particularly good at removing oils, which is why that method of "conservation" usually works. That's not the only way you can get green corrosion on a coin, though, and some graders can't tell the difference apparently. The irony is I've yet to get a bodybag from PCGS, but got one from ANACS, instead of a net grade for corrosion, like the coin should have come back. Anyways...