When submitting proofs for grading, what precautions do you take to prevent hairlines??

Lakesammman

Suggestions appreciated.

Any horror stories??

Monstavet

I worry most about the ones that are already on there. So, first I plug in the Dremel...

Cameonut

In the old days, I remember that the standard practice was to place the proofs in poly bags and then into the 2.5 x 2.5 flip. The bags were supplied by PCGS and they often hazed up the proofs - not a good thing.

So they simply eliminated the poly bags and we submitted the coins like anything else - raw in the flip. In my experience - around 200 or so proofs (cents to Ikes), I have not had a problem with additional hairlines. I packaged carefully and make sure the coins are supported well in the box - no rattling of any kind.

Now if I were submitting $1000+ coins, I might be more inclined to change the packaging. More like a plastic 2x2 inside the flip. PCGS may charge to remove the coin from the 2x2, but it would be worth it for piece of mind.

Perhaps others have experience with this - if not, I'd try a couple of calls to customer service and see what they have to say.

RWB

I always insist the coins be handled only by bald PCGS employees.

fivecents

Becareful sliding the proof coins past the opening edge of the mylar 2 1/2 x 2 1/2. That is always the part that makes me nervous.

19Lyds

<< <i>I always insist the coins be handled only by bald PCGS employees. >>

coindeuce

I presume you are inquiring about precautions that will keep the coin stable in transit. I've placed them in Kointains and then placed the Kointain in an oversize airtite capsule with the foam gasket. Who cares if the TPG claims they will charge extra for extraction from these capsules. At least the coin will have been secure in transit. Would you feel comfortable just slamming a multi thousand dollar proof coin into a safeflip and then crushing a jiffy mailer around it? Not me.

fivecents

I trust the mylar flips but then I don't submit multi thousand dollar proofs either.

MrEureka

My biggest concern is about particles that may be sitting on the surface of the coin, so I take a good look at the coin before placing it in the flip.

llafoe

Nair®

pontiacinf

I used to put them in poly bags a certain service used to offer till it started hazing everything 64-todate

glad they got rid of em.

pontiacinf

<< <i>In the old days, I remember that the standard practice was to place the proofs in poly bags and then into the 2.5 x 2.5 flip. The bags were supplied by PCGS and they often hazed up the proofs - not a good thing.

So they simply eliminated the poly bags and we submitted the coins like anything else - raw in the flip. In my experience - around 200 or so proofs (cents to Ikes), I have not had a problem with additional hairlines. I packaged carefully and make sure the coins are supported well in the box - no rattling of any kind.

Now if I were submitting $1000+ coins, I might be more inclined to change the packaging. More like a plastic 2x2 inside the flip. PCGS may charge to remove the coin from the 2x2, but it would be worth it for piece of mind.

Perhaps others have experience with this - if not, I'd try a couple of calls to customer service and see what they have to say. >>



sorry I did not see this, and hey at least I didnt call em out

edit to say: flips never caused a problem, to my knowledge, but back then the poly was suggested by them, only reason alot used it.

lkeigwin

Once they arrive at PCGS they are taken out and put in mylar flips for their journey around the plant. So I just send them in that way and package them so they don't move around.

Do you see how they are handled when you submit them at shows? The stack of coins in mylar flips, along with the submission forms, are squeezed together and tightly rubber banded. I'm sure it's quite safe but I can't watch.
Lance.

WTCG

Make sure there is no dust or other foreign materials either on the flips or coins. Once the coins are placed in the flips then make sure they are secure and do not move around. I prefer to keep proof coins in poly bags when submitting them for grading.

robkool

I leave them in those capsules, & place them in the flips.

georgiacop50

<< <i>I leave them in those capsules, & place them in the flips. >>



The trouble with this approach is that the folks (lower paid folks, no doubt) in the receiving department are entrusted with the job of removing your coins from the capsules and dropping them into the flips. I'd rather have control of that operation myself!

dragon

My standard practice when submitting coins (MS or proof) is to first put on non-powdered nitrile gloves, then blow both sides off of the coin with a can of compressed air, then it goes into a poly bag and folded over, then into a soft large flip.

I think those hard PVC free flips are for the birds.....I've seen them split open and coins fall out, and they have sharp edges and corners which doesn't seem very coin friendly to me.

RWB

¡K then blow both sides off of the coin with a can of compressed air¡K

That has got to be really strong compressed air! -- But how do they grade a coin that has both sides blown off? ļ

fivecents

<< <i>I prefer to keep proof coins in poly bags when submitting them for grading. >>

Those are a NO NO...they haze the crap out of the proof coins. PCGS even says not to do it.


<< <i>I think those hard PVC free flips are for the birds.....I've seen them split open and coins fall out, and they have sharp edges and corners which doesn't seem very coin friendly to me. >>

That is a non issue if you use NEW mylar flips. Now if you reuse mylar flips then yes this could happen. ALWAYS use new fresh mylar flips when submitting coins(you care about).

WTCG

<< <i>

<< <i>I prefer to keep proof coins in poly bags when submitting them for grading. >>

Those are a NO NO...they haze the crap out of the proof coins. PCGS even says not to do it. >>



I disagree with PCGS on this one. I've never had a hazing issue with poly bags and they are safe for short term storage. Proof coins submitted for grading are never kept in the bags long enough to cause damage to the coins.

DRUNNER

I agree with Wei . . .

As I spun through this thread, I wondered about the poly bags I submit coins (proof or bus. strike) in . .and then it hit me . . .

So they spend 5-7 days inside the bags max. Is that enough to haze a proof???

Drunner
(I buy my Doilies in Poly Bags)

pontiacinf

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>I prefer to keep proof coins in poly bags when submitting them for grading. >>

Those are a NO NO...they haze the crap out of the proof coins. PCGS even says not to do it. >>



I disagree with PCGS on this one. I've never had a hazing issue with poly bags and they are safe for short term storage. Proof coins submitted for grading are never kept in the bags long enough to cause damage to the coins. >>



you must not have used their polybags, cause they caused my coins a world of problems

determined

If some have found poly bags to be associated with hazing I have no reason to doubt their experience. But I'm perplexed because the polyethylene in poly bags is considered to be an archival material.

Cameonut

I always thought that the poly bags shouldn't cause a problem - after all they are polyethylene and not PVC. At the beginning, I sent in a number of submissions of proofs in poly bags without incident. The I recall one submission that had a couple lightly hazed - you know - that light foggy haze that you see often in the proof packaging from the mint. Shortly after that, PCGS suggested that poly bags shouldn't be used.

As to why you have problems with some coins vs others, who knows? Who knows what temperatures the shipping package experiences in its trip to Newport Beach and for how long? Who knows what other materials may have been present on the poly bags? etc. etc.

I just decided to stop using the poly bags at the suggestion of PCGS. Haven't had a problem and I figure PCGS sees way more proof coins than I do and ought to know what is best.

RYK

I leave them in the original Mint plastic capsules.