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Does PCGS and the "sniffer" reject the use of "Coin Care"?

jmski52jmski52 Posts: 23,267 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
I tried to remove some haze on a couple of 1969-D clad quarters that otherwise might have had some potential, but the acetone did nothing. When I used my soft brush and some Coin Care on the same coins, the haze disappeared and the coins looked 100% better. Not as nice as the one I picked out for submission, but good enough for my Whitman folders.

Does PCGS reject coins that have been exposed to Coin Care, or should I leave the quarter I picked out alone and submit it as is?
Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

I knew it would happen.

Comments

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thoroughly rinse in alcohol and DI water and it should be fine... Cheers, RickO
  • coinguy1989coinguy1989 Posts: 1,056 ✭✭
    To be honest, I wouldn't even bother submitting them at this point. There is a risk that you may have incidentally caused hairlines on the coins. Sometimes they are so small that they only appear at the "right" angle, and I have heard of similar stories where the coins were rejected. I wouldn't waste the money to submit them to find out.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,856 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Thoroughly rinse in alcohol and DI water and it should be fine... Cheers, RickO >>



    Why not acetone? No matter what you use, you risk making a nice glossy coin into a dull, lifeless coin.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,716 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I was told (but don't know if it is true or not) that PCGS does not use the sniffer on every coin submitted.
    Not sure if it's only used on coins designated for Secure Plus grading, or all high end coins, or gold coins, etc.
    Hopefully someone will give me the facts - but until then, I'm guessing that if you submit a 69D quarter under
    a regular submission, it won't be sniffed.

    W/o seeing any pics of the coin, if it does get hairlines from the brush, or if you leave a glossy residue on the surface, it may
    bag or gennie anyway.

    I do know that PCGS slabbed one of my 1839 large cents that I gently brushed with the old formula Blue Ribbon prior to submitting, but
    that was a few years ago, in the 'pre-sniffer' days.
    Successful BST transactions with 171 members. Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • OPAOPA Posts: 17,141 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I don't believe you have anything to worry about. It's doubtful that PCGS would use the sniffer on inexpensive common clad coins.
    "Bongo drive 1984 Lincoln that looks like old coin dug from ground."
  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭
    wouldn't that only be used to detect AT coins, not untoned ones?
    LCoopie = Les
  • COALPORTERCOALPORTER Posts: 2,900 ✭✭
    What is Coin Care made of?
  • WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 9,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
    BRUSH?? I wouldn't use a brush on any coin, whether it is soft or not. I believe it would likely cause hairlines.

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,856 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>What is Coin Care made of? >>



    The formula is proprietary but it's probably just mineral oil with some additives.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,893 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Supposedly the Sniffer detects CoinCare and it is one of the banned substances.

    But the Sniffer is dedicated to Secure Plus and only rarely used, at PCGS's discretion, for non-SP submissions (according to a post DW made not long ago).

    PCGS's concern about CoinCare and Blue Ribbon is over their use to artificially enhance the appearance of coins. I wouldn't be surprised if coins slip by undetected, more than occasionally.

    I have no doubt that an acetone dip/rinse would take of things.
    Lance.
    Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #213
  • telephoto1telephoto1 Posts: 4,962 ✭✭✭✭✭
    They don't need the coin sniffer; they just need to use their own built-in sniffer. Coin Care and Blue Ribbon both have a distinct aroma.

    RIP Mom- 1932-2012
  • coinguy1989coinguy1989 Posts: 1,056 ✭✭


    << <i>wouldn't that only be used to detect AT coins, not untoned ones? >>



    No, the sniffer uses tandem mass spectrometry to reveal the elements on the surface of a coin. Chemicals associated with artificial toning would fall within the list, but so would numerous coin cleaners and conditioners, putties, etc.
  • RedneckHBRedneckHB Posts: 19,690 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Submit. You'll be safe.

    Excuses are tools of the ignorant

    Knowledge is the enemy of fear

  • coindeucecoindeuce Posts: 13,496 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>wouldn't that only be used to detect AT coins, not untoned ones? >>



    No, the sniffer uses tandem mass spectroscopy to reveal the elements on the surface of a coin. Chemicals associated with artificial toning would fall within the list, but so would numerous coin cleaners and conditioners, putties, etc. >>



    I believe you meant to use the term mass spectrometry. It is a totally different analytical procedure from spectroscopy. I don't believe spectroscopy would be practical in the analysis of coin surfaces.

    "Definition: Mass Spectroscopy is an analytical laboratory technique to separate the components of a sample by their mass.
    The sample is vaporized into a gas and then ionized. The ions are then accelerated through a potential difference and focused into a beam. The ion beam passes through a magnetic field which bends the charged stream. Lighter components or components with more ionic charge will deflect in the field more than heavier or less charged components. A detector counts the number of ions at different deflections and the data can be plotted as a 'spectrum' of different masses."
    (Source: about.com/chemistry)

    "Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
    http://www.american-legacy-coins.com

  • Coin FinderCoin Finder Posts: 7,410 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well I think if you submit with the Secure Plus service it will be "sniffed". I have a horror story about this. I just submitted a cracked out, First Generation MS65 PQ PCGS Morgan and sent it in for Secure plus. It came back as Genuine with Altered Surfaces. I did nothing to the coin mind you just a quick crack out, no dip... I didnt even breath on it.... So I would not do it, my two cents... What do I do now?
  • CEOcoinshopcomCEOcoinshopcom Posts: 350 ✭
    Does the sniffer have 4 legs, and a wagging tail?
    I'm Just Sayin"


    http://www.coinshop.com
  • coinguy1989coinguy1989 Posts: 1,056 ✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>wouldn't that only be used to detect AT coins, not untoned ones? >>



    No, the sniffer uses tandem mass spectroscopy to reveal the elements on the surface of a coin. Chemicals associated with artificial toning would fall within the list, but so would numerous coin cleaners and conditioners, putties, etc. >>



    I believe you meant to use the term mass spectrometry. It is a totally different analytical procedure from spectroscopy. I don't believe spectroscopy would be practical in the analysis of coin surfaces.

    "Definition: Mass Spectroscopy is an analytical laboratory technique to separate the components of a sample by their mass.
    The sample is vaporized into a gas and then ionized. The ions are then accelerated through a potential difference and focused into a beam. The ion beam passes through a magnetic field which bends the charged stream. Lighter components or components with more ionic charge will deflect in the field more than heavier or less charged components. A detector counts the number of ions at different deflections and the data can be plotted as a 'spectrum' of different masses."
    (Source: about.com/chemistry) >>



    You're absolutely correct; it was a typo.

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