Who does PCGS coin conservation?

Insider2

On another coin forum, one member claims he called PCGS and was told that David Hall does all the coin conservation for that company. Does anyone on this forum know the truth of his statement?

keets

don't know but I would think he's certainly capable of doing it. he's been around the block a few times.

MICHAELDIXON

I would think there would be several who perform the conservation. I am anxious to hear who actually does it.

IrishMikey

C'mon, guys -- no one has an image of a mad scientist at work?

georgiacop50

I have also heard that HRH was doing it. But that was a long time back, when it was just called "spot review". Things have changed, no doubt.

IrishMikey

Seriously, though, I doubt that David has the time to do ALL the work. They might call him in for really expensive and/or sensitive pieces. PVC on an 1804 dollar?

Insider2

Mr. Hall is certainty over-qualified. It just does not make sense to me. The last time I was near the NCS lab, they had three full-time conservators + a lab head that did all the expensive stuff. Perhaps the volume of conservation business is extremely low at PCGS. Wonder what goes on at ANACS too?

keets

I am anxious to hear who actually does it.



Joe the Janitor takes care of the load in between his other duties. remember, you heard it here first.



my boss once sent a PCGS graded Half-Dollar or Dollar to PCGS for conservation. it was around 2005 before they had actually started offering the service and I think the coin was a VF/XF pre-1800. he got a call from David Hall and the question was "Where did you store this coin, at the bottom of a swamp!!??!! it was classic HRH and whoever did the work did a wonderful job. the coin had evidently turned in the holder and PCGS un-turned it.

keets

The last time I was near the NCS lab



one of our customers is a grader for NGC and he can't even go see what they do, strictly off limits. how close did you get, the parking lot.?

blu62vette

I have heard the same thing or at least every coin goes to David's desk for the decision on whether or not it should be restored.

3keepSECRETif2rDEAD

I was at the very first PCGS grading 101 course (maybe in 2012?) and Mr. Hall told us all that every single coin sent in for Reconsideration was looked at by himself. So if the buck stops with him on that service then maybe it also stops with him on the Restoration service???

MedalCollector

Originally posted by: Insider2
Mr. Hall is certainty over-qualified.

What do you believe the qualifications of a coin conserver to be? I would hope a degree in chemistry or something, not just an experienced numismatist. I don't mean to be rude or anything, I'm genuinely curious. An answer to the original question would likely answer mine too!

TPRC

That is also what I was told.

chumley

the nite crew then the day crew

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bolivarshagnasty

Hall and Willis conserving coins. Never noticed how small their hands were before this pic.

coindeuce

Dr. Emmett Brown





J - K !

logger7

PCGS does a better job than the competitor IMO, but don't their rates cost more in most cases?

ricko

I have no idea, although have heard the reference to Hall before. I would say, that there could be an interesting chapter or two in a book on this subject. Cheers, RickO

Insider2

Originally posted by: keets

The last time I was near the NCS lab



one of our customers is a grader for NGC and he can't even go see what they do, strictly off limits. how close did you get, the parking lot.?

: Lame;



Perhaps your customer, a grader for NGC, should ask Dave Camire (in a sheepish, sort of puppy dog way playing up to his considerable skills) that he is very interested in the amazing work he has seen coming out of NCS and would be eternally grateful for a quick tour of the lab. Then, I hope you have the "class" to tell us that he got closer tnan the parking lot. Wink, wink!

Insider2

I was being charitable.



Obviously, there are many different materials conservators work on. Much of the time they stay in their specialty but many methods cross. True conservators that work in museums, etc. have had years of training in their specialty. About ten years ago, I was a member of one of their organizations although I have very little formal training.



I'll bet that among all the employees conserving coins at NCS, ICG, PCGS, and ANACS there MIGHT BE ONE formally trained conservation specialist. That's because there are many numismatist/dealers and collectors who through practice, experiments, and word of mouth have learned to "make metal pretty." Many of these people are called "coin doctors" by their peers.



Speaking of Mr. Hall, I'll bet he knows his stuff. Dave Camire is at NCS; I'll bet he knows his stuff. Mike Fazzari, one of the founders of NCS with Dave, is at ICG; I bet he knows his stuff. What I am trying to communicate is there are hundreds of other UNTRAINED numismatists who know their stuff.



I started this thread to learn if DAVID HALL did ALL the PCGS conservation. I don't think so as I cannot see Mr. Hall dipping SE and modern commemorative coins.