Does PCGS ever remove debris from coins when they reholder?

39Special

Just curious about this. Sometimes PCGS slabbed coins have fairly obvious debris, whether that be lint, a hair, a piece of crud, whatever, that is not embedded into the coin, like a carbon spot or toning. Do the graders ever take the liberty of re(safely) moving the particle(s) before they reholder a coin that has been regraded (or even just reholdered)?

Coll3ctor

I have one PCGS reverse proof with a hair in it and a few more with debris.

BECOKA

You could always submit it under mechanical error stating what is wrong in a letter and they should re-holder it without the debris.

Boom

I have found many different types of foreign matter, hair to little pieces of dirt (and far worse) inside PCGS "slabs."

Actually, I find it to be disturbing & GROSS and if left in contact with a coin's surfaces this debris can and will cause very unpleasant results.

joeyuk

Sure they do. Before/after pics from a 1879 CC Morgan.

Boom

If I think about it & have time, I'll post some pix that show some of the types of damage caused by different forms of foreign matter.

BAJJERFAN

I don't think the graders have anything to do with reholdering. In case the techs don't catch it, it should be pointed out and they will probably do it for free.

EagleEye

They have a "Blow-off" service for hair, cookies, ham sandwich pieces which get in the holders and are just resting on the surface. They also have a "Flick-off" service for chewing gum, lollypop and other stickier situations. I don't think they go into removing spots and stuff originally on the coin, like dirt.

tahoe98

i would think that would be a job for the most recent hire

cmerlo1

Didn't somebody post one a while back that looked like it had a nacho cheese Dorito crumb in it? I seem to remember seeing that somewhere...