Does PCGS do a bit of clean-up on submitted coins?

joeyuk

I was looking at the mint mark of a 1879-CC Morgan I sent in recently .
I took pics before submitting and after I got the it back.


before


after

BECOKA

I know they have fixed a couple of coins for people upon request. can you post the before and after shots?

Coxe

I have noted it from another TPG on a few occasions, and it was never requested either.

joeyuk

saintguru

NO! They will not touch anything on any coin...grease marks, any substances...the liability is huge....

joeyuk

In all honesty the placement of the mint mark is suspicious at best. It should be off center to the viewers left.
They may have cleaned up a bit to see better if it was a added mint mark.

PerryHall

<< <i>In all honesty the placement of the mint mark is suspicious at best. It should be off center to the viewers left.
They may have cleaned up a bit to see better if it was a added mint mark. >>



That's what I was thinking. Most added mint marks are glued on. Acetone on a Q-tip will remove most of them.

Boom

Barry

Probably caused by changes in light reflection from the plastic now in between you and the coin.

joeyuk

Barry I do not think that can be the case in the mint mark pic. in my first post.



edit for fat fingers(spelling)

messydesk

Very interesting. It would appear, then, that this is an unknown die pair for 1879-CC. This was a coin the Joe sent to me for VAMSlabbing a while back. The first thing that had me puzzled was the doubling in the date, then the mintmark position. I sent it to Leroy with my findings and he was just as suspicious, although perhaps my findings influenced his. A summary of "non-conformances" is here. They neither prove nor disprove anything as far as authenticity is concerned, but I think they're interesting. I'll have to keep my eyes out for another such specimen.

MrEureka

Very interesting!

majorbigtime

Yesterday a dealer at a local show swore a TPG switched coins on him!

Conder101

Well from this coin and the one that was sent in for VAMslabbing we know that it isn't just a mintmark that has been added to a coin from another mint. So it should either be a new variety of 79-CC, or a die struck counterfeit.

construct

I don't know about others, but I have a Type I $20 Lib with grime on a few of the rays in a PCGS slab.

joeyuk

<< <i>Well from this coin and the one that was sent in for VAMslabbing we know that it isn't just a mintmark that has been added to a coin from another mint. So it should either be a new variety of 79-CC, or a die struck counterfeit. >>



The previous pics are both of the same coin. Before and after being sent to PCGS. I did search Heritage to find a 1879-CC Morgan that
matches the diagnostics on mine and I did find one in a pcgs slab.

These images are from Heritage. The first C is weak but you can see the centering.
Here is the auction.



Here is the auction.

Wolf359

In my experience, ANACS has "touched up" a few of mine, to verify authenticity or the variety I
suppose. It happens, although they'll never admit it.

messydesk

<< <i>

<< <i>Well from this coin and the one that was sent in for VAMslabbing we know that it isn't just a mintmark that has been added to a coin from another mint. So it should either be a new variety of 79-CC, or a die struck counterfeit. >>



The previous pics are both of the same coin. Before and after being sent to PCGS. I did search Heritage to find a 1879-CC Morgan that
matches the diagnostics on mine and I did find one in a pcgs slab.

These images are from Heritage. The first C is weak but you can see the centering.
Here is the auction. >>


I sent a note back to Leroy about both your coin and the Heritage coin. The easy diagnostics on these are the gouge inthe L of PLURIBUS and the bubbles on the left stars (although the Heritage one has lots of dirt there). I asked if he'd assign it a new VAM number (VAM 5, I think), since he's already seen and photographed it. This second specimen confirms what Conder101 said above. Now I need to find a higher grade specimen. Too bad I can't afford one.

savic

I don't know about PCGS, but Scott Heller at NGC told me today that they do "conserve" a coin (even if not specifically requested) under Appearance Review if they believe it can be brought back to the original grade. If this takes place, the original insert is used in a new holder. NGC does not note that such an action took place.

--Savic