Cleaning Proof coins

alergar

I have some proof dollars that I wnat to send in for grading and a couple of them have fingerprints on them.

Will PCGS clean these before they slab them or should I clean them before I send them in.

If you think I should clean them what do you suggest I use to clean them so they are not damaged?

Wolf359

Don't clean them; too dangerous for my taste. Fingerprints will not affect the grading.

Sequitur

Will PCGS clean these before they slab them or should I clean them before I send them in.

No, PCGS will not remove fingerprints, or perform any other "cleaning," before slabbing.

If you think I should clean them what do you suggest I use to clean them so they are not damaged?

Impossible to answer without knowing the coins and seeing some pictures to form at least a rudimentary assessment of the damage. Search the forum and you'll see some members have successfully removed fingerprints from coins without destroying them.

Strat

Sounds like dipping is your best bet, however, dipping proof coins is not a good idea, as the surfaces are delicate and the mirrors can be greatly diminished by dipping. You probably should leave the coins alone, or consider sending them to NCS/NGC. What exactly do you have? Keep in mind that not all fingerprints can be removed.

Coppernicus

<< <i>Fingerprints will not affect the grading >>



Whaaaat????? I believe they would, probably a point lower for MS examples, at least that's what I think I see in the Lincoln wheats. I could be mistaken, of course.

Mike

relayer

If your proof dollars are Sacs, SBA, or Ike's and they have fingerprints, just find another without fingerprints.

If your proof dollars are Morgans or earlier, send them to NCS/NGC

Sequitur

Isn't this an impossible question to answer unless you know what coin? If it's a proof SBA and the print isn't too bad, just dip the damn thing -- if you fry it, who cares, no big loss. But if it's a gold dollar, it's an altogether different question.

Steve27

"Will PCGS clean these before they slab them or should I clean them before I send them in."

PCGS will NOT clean or conserve them.



"If you think I should clean them what do you suggest I use to clean them so they are not damaged? "

Use acetone, if it doesn't remove them, it's because you waited to long and the acid has etched the prints into the coins.

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"Fingerprints will not affect the grading. "

Bwahahahahahaha!!!

Wolf359

Go Bwahahahahahaha!!! all you want, but I stand by what I said. Fingerprints will not affect grading.

alergar

FYI, the coins are an IKE 1971-S PR69, an IKE 1972-S PR69 and an IKE 1976-S Type I PR69.

The coins where previously in PCGS holders but I got robbed and some of the coins recovered had been broken out of their slabs.
The thieves (juveniles) where caught and I need to have the coins re-graded to prove amount of loss for the civil case. I'm hoping I loose grading fees only and don't loose some point value as well.

Neptune

glad you got your coins back! Sounds like NGC to me.

CarlWohlforth

It is fortunate you recovered the coins. Did you recover the labels? They would prove what grade the coins used to be and that is what is important. If they coins were cracked they may also have been damaged in other ways..

Strat

Thanks for the details. If you have the original PCGS labels, you might be able to rectify the situation, but their guarantee doesn't apply to coins broken out of holders. One suggestion is to post a thread on the Q & A Forum to HomerunHall's attention, then see what he says. Just say what happened. Hopefully, they'll do you a favor and rectify the situation, it certainly doesn't hurt to ask.

If you have to submit your Ikes for grading, then the fingerprints will have to be removed for the coins to have any chance at a PR69 grade. They're too inexpensive to send to NCS, so they will have to be dipped (perhaps a dealer you know can do it for you?). Don't expect great results though. Personally, I would just find other examples. Good luck!

Myqqy

Go Bwahahahahahaha!!! all you want, but I stand by what I said. Fingerprints will not affect grading.

How can fingerprints not affect the grade on a proof?

relayer

<< <i>I need to have the coins re-graded to prove amount of loss for the civil case. I'm hoping I loose grading fees only and don't loose some point value as well. >>



If you are looking to be made whole, it would seem your loss is the difference in value between a PCGS PR69 and a raw Ike proof with fingerprints on it.