Coin Doctors

llafoe

In another thread, a fellow board member made a comment about coin doctors that got me thinking. While at the SLNA, I overheard dealers and experienced collectors talk about coin doctors... their comments resonated in my head. Essentially, they stated that most older coins were doctored in some manner. Whether dipped, conserved, repaired, recolored, whizzed, etc. They seemed complacent to most types of doctoring (aside from the ones meant to deceive, more so than the ones listed - lasering, added mintmarks, etc.) Those of us who are collectors are simply not around the market enough to "see" the reality of our hobby. Do I want to believe the coins I own are "original"? Absolutely... but what is truly "original" when a coin is 100... 150... 200+... years old? Is it good to stop all future doctoring... ABSOLUTELY! Are we being blinded in hopes that our coins (hobby) don't get a bad rap? Why can't we find an acceptable definition... or policy with regard to coin conservation vs. coin doctoring?

scottgardener

Conservation is done to prevent a coin from deteriorating--such as removing PVC damage or active corrosion.

Doctoring is done in spite of causing a coin to deteriorate--it is done to make a coin look better than it is.

Dipping is controversial--light dipping can remove damage, but it also washes off layers of molecules and can change a coin's appearance. This controversy may be the heart of the "problems defining" argument put forth by the PNG.

The Professional Numismatists Guild has declared recently that it is not their duty to define coin doctoring, and some of their members have even blamed the grading services for encouraging the evolution of the practices. The PNG may have a point (sarcasm intended), since they are merely the foremost prominent organization of major coin dealers in the U.S., and the purpose of a guild is not necessarily expressly stated to be to monitor and vouch for each others' activities within a scope of ethical guidelines. The motto "knowledge, integrity, responsibility" includes at least one word that does not imply this duty. As for blaming the grading services... in related news, various members of PNG have urged victims of sexual assault not to dress that way.

Elcontador

The powers that be a long time ago decided to quietly overlook light cleanings or net grade Draped Bust material that didn't look too hideous. Revier in his book re Bust $ said as much. In my search for an AU Bust $, most slabbed coins I saw were either cleaned and / or were net graded. Many of the net graded coins had color that was a bit off, but didn't look realy bad. OTOH, tooled and whizzed coins, or those which seemed to be played with more recently were in geniune holders.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

"original" is subjective, just like grading.

ricko

Evidently it is only 'doctoring' if someone catches it and objects to it. If this were not so, why are there so many coins that have 'had work done' in slabs etc???? Cheers, RickO