85-CC Morgan

Batman23

I just got this back from PCGS in BB for Altered Surface. Does anyone have an opinion why? Any suggestions on how to get it into a slab? Any guess on grade is welcome. Thanks.

DoubleEagle59

From the photo, I can't tell for sure why it would have been BB'd.

My grade guess is either ms63 or ms64.

AUandAG

Is that a bit of PVC residue about the date and to the right of United on the reverse. If so, I believe you can
use acetone to get the off without harming the coin/finish. Then back it goes for a plastic holder and MS63.

bob

BlindedByEgo

Send it to ANACS.

TennesseeDave

From the spotting,I would guess a bad acid dip has eaten into the sufaces.

Newcomp103

Possibly polished? Can't really tell from the pics, just brainstorming.

Batman23

Wouldn't polished come back as cleaned? I don't think it is polished but I am still trying to figure out what I am looking for.

The acetone, I see that it has been mentioned and debated. Some say that the coin has been cleaned by using acetone. Will acetone do anything to the mint luster or to the coin surface? Do I just dab or soak? How much or how long? Never done it before and any tips are welcome.

Thanks for the help.

AUandAG

Acetone (be sure it's pure and not 99%) will not harm the luster or coin in any way. Experiment, but a good
soak of a minute or so might do the trick. Acetone evaporates very quickly and will
not leave a trace. Ventilate the area. There are others here on the board that have more experience
with acetone than me and perhaps they will chime in.
bob

Shortgapbob

Pictures can be difficult to judge, but maybe the coin has been overdipped.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

Over-dipped?

dmb411

Your coin more than likely was overdipped which gives it an unnatural appearance. It also appears to have some pvc buildup in certain areas.

Batman23

I bought the coin about 13 years ago from a coin store. I bought a Capital Plastics (three pane hard plastic) dollar holder for it at the same time. It has not been out of the holder until it's recent trip to PCGS. I do not know if this helps but here is the history I have. It would be nice if PCGS would have given an explanation as to what they think is wrong. It looks like they used Altered Surface as a generic term to mean they do not like it but won't call it cleaned.

Batman23

Alright, a minute soak of 100% acetone to clear any PVC residue. Anything I can do about dipping?

Coxe

I have seen this on DMPLs with PVC damage (not presence of PVC but damage from it). Cannot tell from your image though. If PVC is dipped off and the surface was already corrupted, there is not turning it around.

beep

Nice coin.
Give her a bath in acetone and take her to town

tightbudget

<< <i>Pictures can be difficult to judge, but maybe the coin has been overdipped. >>



I concur

Steve27

" Pictures can be difficult to judge, but maybe the coin has been overdipped. "

Wrong

" From the spotting,I would guess a bad acid dip has eaten into the sufaces."

Very wrong.

" Nice coin. Give her a bath in acetone and take her to town."

RIGHT!

cmerlo1

Send it to NCS...

ajia

Maybe this explains my view of "Altered Surface" from this thread..

It was returned by PCGS last year as Altered Surface as well. I sent it to NCS, they did what they do and put it in an NGC Slab in a decent grade. I guess PCGS now agrees.

Herein lies my issue with "Altered Surface".
What does that mean?

"......altered Surfaces" designation on it. Instead, they are providing a useful service to the submitter: rather than just saying "DNC" and leaving it at that, PCGS is telling the submitter why the coin did not cross.

Ok, better than just DNC, but still ambiguous.
Is it always something that can be removed, like some sort of residue? Hence the trip to NCS took care of it.
Or can it be something more perminent? Stains, 'milk spots', etc.

Would be nice to know exactly what the graders spotted.

From another thread I replied to:
I too have been hit with the 'Altered Surface' BB from PCGS.
I wish they would be more specific than that.

PCGS' definition:
94|N-4 Altered Surface - Whizzed, harsh cleaning, thumped over (using a pasty substance to alter the appearance).

Whizzed & harsh cleaning shuld be easy to see, so my guess would be 'thumbed over', but it's anybody's guess.
Personally, for the cost of grading & having the coin BB'ed, the least we should get is a better explaination why the coin was determined to have 'altered Surfaces'.

And lastly, from still another thread:
Although this may never happen either, i wish PCGS would comment on why they think a coin should be BB.
Sure, there are the obvious signs of cleaning, but I just got a slabbed coin (by 1 of the other 2-3 top TPG) coming back for 'Altered Surface'.
I wish they would explain what PCGS saw that the other's missed.
Might be a good lesson to learn for the money spent.

Yup, sent a few coins in that came back BB'ed for "Altered Surface"

Wish I was more help, those 'spots' worry me, but can't really tell what they are.
I would look at the coin under different lighting, sometime faint hairlines show up better with different lighting.
Take a loup & slowly go around the coin at different angles, also looking for PVC.
What do you think of the luster?

If you really want it in a PCGS slab, and you just can't find anything wrong, maybe a dip in Acetone & resubmisstion will work?