Coin Conservation & Restoration?

daOnlyBG

Question for you all: what do you know about coin restoration? NCS calls it "coin conservation" but I haven't the slightest clue as to what their methods are. I know they try very hard to restore the coin as close as possible to its original condition... and I'm sure they charge a nice fee to do so, as well.
Yes, I also know that you shouldn't clean your coins. I'm just curious what their professional methods are.

mrpotatoheadd

<< <i>I'm just curious what their professional methods are. >>

Don't know about NCS's opinion on the subject but if I had a business whose success depended on people sending me coins to conserve, I'd probably try to avoid revealing my "professional methods".

But then, that's just me.

daOnlyBG

Haha, true. I'm not asking about specific instructions or a "how-to" manual, though- just general knowledge of the treatments they use; i.e., a chemical solutions, movement in distilled water, etc.

Greeniejr

There are a lot of chemicals that can be used to conserve coins. They range from acids to oils to detergents. Each reacts with the surface and anything on the surface differently. On some occasions there is no effect on the surface such as using acetone to remove PVC contamination. Other times acids are used to remove unsightly toning. There are purists and zealots who say that anything done to the surface of a coin is unacceptable. Most others accept some forms of treatment to varying degrees. Collectors and dealers who only deal in slabs can be a lot more picky and be against any kind of treatment because they can simply avoid any truly ugly coins that would benefit from chemical treatment. As a dealer who handles raw coins and will buy ANYTHING that comes in over the counter, there are a lot of occasions where a coin will need at least something to make it at all salable.