Planning to "conserve" and have a Seated Liberty half graded...

Riccar

Hello,

I'm new to the forum and was wondering if anyone would have any
recommendations concerning the "conserve" + "grading" process.

I found this coin and would like to keep it and thought that I would
enjoy it even more if I had it conserved and graded. I took it to a coin
shop where the guys placed it under a microscope and said they had
never seen such detail on one of these. (can see the full clasp, etc.)
They speculated that this coin had one owner before it was dropped...

I called PCGS and they said they only grade coins, and that I would
need to find another company(?) to have it "conserved." I live in
Northern CA and was wondering if any of you had any recommendations
on how to proceed.

Thanks in advance. Your forum has already been an education to me!

Riccar

1867-s Seated Liberty Liberty Half Dollar.
(Here it is and it has not been cleaned)

tmot99

Is that "shipwreck effect"?

Try NCS

coinguy89

I also recommend NCS. They do a great job from what i've seen.

ms70

Welcome to the forums. Good luck with the coin & please post "after" pics when you get it back!!

lordmarcovan

Detector find?

You should come and tell us about it on the Metal Detecting Forum!

ms70

He did! He posted in the October entries thread!

Riccar

Thanks everyone!

I just looked up NCS and am planning to call them tomorrow.
Will I need to have a coin shop (or NCS member) send it in for me?
After looking at their before and after shots they have posted, I
really hope I can take advantage of their services.

This is a metal detecting find (but it sure looks like it experienced a
shipwreck). It was dropped next to a main thoroughfare that existed
during the early days of Northern CA.

Thanks again. If I can somehow get it conserved and graded by NCS,
I will definitely post it here to show you the results...

Riccar

DorkGirl

and great MDing!!!!!

XpipedreamR

On the NGC message boards, they have an NCS forum. You should post the pics there. Maybe you can get some opinions before you send it in...

coinguy1

Welcome Riccar.

It's hard to tell for certain based upon the images but..... I suspect that the coin has little, if any luster remaining, that it is "environmentally damaged" and that the toning/staining has eaten into the metal. If such is the case, the coin cannot really be saved through conservation. For, if the toning is already into the metal, even if the coin is "conserved", there will still be noticeable remnants of that toning/staining and it will stick out like a sore thumb. Just a guess form your images.

Good luck, no matter what.

wam98

relayer

Ignoring the ding on the rim, I'm not sure it would be conservable.

Riccar

Wow, this is a fast forum! How many members are travelling
through here per day (hour)?!

I signed up for NCS but I received an error message after filling
everything out and was not able to access their message board.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like there's a lot of knowledge
lurking in here...
So is it possible NCS would say they would not conserve it (even
if I'm not trying to sell it or increase the grade)?

Appreciate all the "welcome's" and suggestions!

Riccar

coinguy1

Yes, it is entirely possible that NCS could decline to conserve it.

And, while I haven't submitted anything to them in some time, I believe that they charge 1% of the insured value of the coin to examine it (even if they don't conserve it). Then, if they are willing to conserve it, there are additional fees.

Weiss

Have to agree with Coinguy1. I think I'd send it to ANACS 'nstead. They'll encapsulate it and, if I understand the process correctly, they'll "net grade" the coin. That means they'll indicate the grade the coin would receive if the problems weren't present, then indicate a grade that takes the problems into account. For your coin, they might grade it uncirculated for details (a rough guess of MS61, seated coins aren't my specialty), then offer a net grade of EF45 of more taking the environmental problems into account.

Here's an example of what I mean:



1834 half net graded on eBay

And here's a link to ANACs info:
ANACS grading services

Is the stuff on the surface of your half just run of the mill dirt? Don't mean to ask a stupid question, and you've done well for not cleaning the coin (which would harm the value). But if it's just plain dirt, you could run it under water for a few seconds (don't rub it) without causing any problems.

Riccar

Thanks Coinguy and Weiss!

Does ANACS offer a "conserve" process?


Riccar

TomB

Among grading/certification companies only NCS offers a conservation service. If I understand your post correctly, you found this coin in the ground. It has likely corroded and would not be a good candidate, in my opinion, for any conservation as the removal of material will leave noticable changes in the patina. If you must have it certified, your best bet might be ANACS with their net grading scheme.

I have submitted coins to NCS for board members and, on those occassions where NCS has declined to perform a conservation on the coin, I believe they have not charged anything.

nwcs

NCS will charge $5 for the evaluation if they do not conserve. But they also do holder with the details of the problems without net grading. So that's an option, too.

gemini12398

Just curious, but did you try a bit of liquid soap and water on this coin? It almost looks like caked in dirt to me.

David

ziggy29

I agree. I'd try soft, liquid soap and water first -- it just looks like dirt to me that can (mostly) be loosened and removed.

gemini12398

Any chance you can do the soap and water trick tonight?

jdimmick

I would agree with Tom B on this coin, Thier is really no reason to holder it. Most of the Numismatic value has long since left it, since its a dug piece as it most likely has heavy corrosion. However, I will say what a fabulous metal detector find and a true treasure in that respect. As a past detectorist in my earlier years I would have killed to dig one of these coins especially in the condition it was in when it was lost.

I have dug a few neat coins in my day, but I usually just cleaned them up to look presentable and placed them along side some other memorablilia in a display case just for dug relic's as a viewing enjoyment. IMO, even though the coins are neat, the numismatic value is usually minimal unless a really rare date were to be dug, but still very enjoyable, knowing that you actually found it?? and they location and history behind it.

jim

dorkkarl

that coin cannot be "conserved".

K S