PCGS Restoration check?

SPalladino

I looked but did not find if there is a way, like cert verification, where one could ascertain whether a coin in a PCGS holder has been through its restoration service. Is there a "restoration check" on the website? If not, might the information be revealed with a phone call or email including the cert #?

craZ4coins

Dream on. They won't tell you which coins they doctored (oops, I mean restored).

"PCGS Restoration is a service designed to help Collectors address environmental problems with their coins.

Through various non-invasive and industry-accepted techniques, PCGS Restoration can safely restore and enhance the appearance of coins."

Sounds like doctoring to me. "If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck"

logger7

Acetone is not "doctoring"; neither is a thiourea type dip, it all depends on the coin and the issue. If you want butt ugly toned dollars that is your privilege. Personally I would give the grading services carte blanche to conserve any coin I sent in if it wasn't expensive and improved eye appeal.

ricko

Restoration is not doctoring.... doctoring is changing/enhancing a coin for profit through deceit. Restoration is removal of environmental detritus that negatively affects the coin. Cheers, RickO

BStrauss3

You say po-ta-to, I say poe-tat-toe.

But Rick's right, that's the party line. If THEY do it, it's restoration. If YOU do it, it's cleaning or doctoring.

craZ4coins

"If YOU do it, it's cleaning or doctoring."

Exactly! A distinction without a difference.

Reality is that the majority of collector coins have been subject to some form of "improvement" over the years.

The best affordable "pristine" coins are GSA dollars.

SPalladino

@craZ4coins said:
Dream on. They won't tell you which coins they doctored (oops, I mean restored).

Not dreaming, just asking for actual experiential facts I was assuming that the answer is 'no' to both of my questions going into to OP, but was hoping that someone on this robust forum might have an experiential answer.