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conservation of coins

zippcityzippcity Posts: 956 ✭✭✭✭

Can a coin still receive a straight grade after conservation or would it be slabbed as authentic or details , or would it be slabbed at all? How exactly is this determined. Anyone have pics of before and after would be appreciated.

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Comments

  • TomBTomB Posts: 21,213 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Conservation will not prohibit a coin from receiving a straight grade. Heck, PCGS and NGC offer conservation services for their clients prior to grading. Where one runs into trouble is conservation of a coin that should not be conserved (one with additional or hidden problems) and improper conservation (not knowing what one is doing or doing too much).

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  • ricmanricman Posts: 313 ✭✭✭

    Sure it can straight grade. I sent PCGS a 1923 S SLQ which exhibited some "whatever" on the obverse of coin. It was conserved and returned in a straight graded XF 45 holder. The coin looked great.

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @zippcity said:
    Can a coin still receive a straight grade after conservation or would it be slabbed as authentic or details , or would it be slabbed at all? How exactly is this determined. Anyone have pics of before and after would be appreciated.

    This is an on-going exercise; yet once you learn how to tell what "original" coins in all grades and conditions (including toned) look like...

    Cleaned: Some chemical or mechanical treatment altered that look.
    Conserved: No matter what/how coin was changed, it still looks original.

  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 13,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 12, 2017 8:01AM

    I had PCGS conserve this one and it graded 64FH, so yes :smile:

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  • CommemKingCommemKing Posts: 2,202 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I got a straight grade of MS62 after conservation of this Columbian Expo token at NGC.

  • JBKJBK Posts: 15,559 ✭✭✭✭✭

    ATS, they say up front that there is no guarantee that it will straight grade, but i think that is the goal so if they know that it won't then they won't go ahead with the conservation.

  • PTVETTERPTVETTER Posts: 5,937 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I paid to get a coin conserved and it came back looking the same.
    And I paid a lot of money to have this service, close to a grand, disappointed :/
    I could have done a better job myself!

    Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PTVETTER said:
    I paid to get a coin conserved and it came back looking the same.
    And I paid a lot of money to have this service, close to a grand, disappointed :/
    I could have done a better job myself!

    Sorry to hear that. What was the coin?

  • PTVETTERPTVETTER Posts: 5,937 ✭✭✭✭✭

    pm sent

    Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PTVETTER..... Wow.... that is very discouraging... It is the first time I have heard of this problem. Most have been very pleased with the results. Sorry this happened to you... would think it is a rarity. Cheers, RickO

  • AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 24,761 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I too paid to have a Morgan conserved that was hazy and cloudy. Straight graded MS63 (My scarface 88-o)

    bob

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  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,287 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The thought reminds me of a kid I saw licking a window, once. Don't ask me why. Breast augmentation is another story. Please don't get me going.

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TwoSides2aCoin said:
    The thought reminds me of a kid I saw licking a window, once. Don't ask me why. Breast augmentation is another story. Please don't get me going.

    ????

  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,287 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It just seems that toying with coins, for me and to me; should leave them NOT GRADEABLE . Despite what doctors are able to do, it's post mint. I'll just leave it at that.

  • morgandollar1878morgandollar1878 Posts: 4,006 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have used the conservation service a couple times and it worked out well. Will probably be sending a seated quarter in soon.

    Instagram: nomad_numismatics
  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TwoSides2aCoin said: "It just seems that toying with coins, for me and to me; should leave them NOT GRADEABLE . Despite what doctors are able to do, it's post mint. I'll just leave it at that. "

    You posted your opinion very well and NO ONE can disagree with your words; however, let me try to moderate the intensity of your opinion.

    Many of us "toy" with our coins. I am a clean freak when it comes to objects of any kind and any material. Using a stereomicroscope, I have been known to spend fifteen minutes to pick off tiny bits of dirt in the dentils of gold coins. The coin is not harmed in any way and there is not one person on this earth who can tell the coin has been toyed with. UNLESS, a tiny particle of grit puts an "invisible" hairline (at 30X) in the space between the ridges that can only be seen using an SEM set at 400X! Do you see the stupid point I'm making? When the surface of a coin is altered (mechanically or chemically) in any way that cannot be seen by 99% of the folks who view it in hand with magnification - it is "original" and deserves a straight grade.

    An entire new segment of our business was established due to that fact. It's called proper cleaning or conservation. :wink:

  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I had a buffalo nickel conserved.
    I was happy with the results.
    For the first 2 months that the spot didn't come right back. :#

  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,287 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Succinctly put, Insider. I'm not arguing the point, nor am I contentious with those who share the view of conservationism. It's a good thing, keeping things as they were. We all have a great desire for perfection (in general).
    It's what makes us all unique, that we can also discuss & celebrate those differences. Every coin has it's history and every person who holds it (them) for a time; usually appreciates them more than the rest of the family. Ours is a dysfunctional family, at worst. A great hobby we are all in, just the same.

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I've owned a gem type 1 1913 5c for thirty years. The same tiny spot keeps returning. Over the years I have "spot conserved" that coin several times. Just reminded me to check the bank as it is probably back again...LOL.

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TwoSides2aCoin said: "I'm not arguing the point, nor am I contentious with those who share the view of conservationism."

    I knew that as you clearly stated. I'm eating lunch and felt like twisting your pinky just a little. :wink:

  • dpooledpoole Posts: 5,940 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's an expensive service. A couple of mine were able to CAC after prior failures as a result of conservation, but same came back meh, and one has since shown streaks again after four years (though kept in a temperate environment and Intercept Shield).

    It's not a cure-all.

  • MICHAELDIXONMICHAELDIXON Posts: 6,500 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The last time I sent several coins ATS to be conserved and both came back as Improperly Cleaned. One V nickel had a spot of corrosion and came back looking like it had been scrubbed with a wire brush. The other was a Barber quarter that wasn't bad, but needed to be lightened up. It too came back looking stripped of all patina and being blast white. I would send any I have to PCGS and get their opinion.

    Thanksgiving National Battlefield Coin Show is November 29-30, 2024 at the Eisenhower Allstar Sportsplex, Gettysburg, PA. Tables are available. WWW.AmericasCoinShows.com
  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 8,206 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 13, 2017 11:41AM

    Sure it will receive a straight grade unless damage from the tarnish permanent - most coins need a dip every 3-5 yr or so.

    Coins & Currency
  • 3keepSECRETif2rDEAD3keepSECRETif2rDEAD Posts: 4,285 ✭✭✭✭✭

    ...crack, dip, properly rinse and submit...here is the first coin I ever conserved on my own ;)

    ms64

  • PTVETTERPTVETTER Posts: 5,937 ✭✭✭✭✭

    the old ANACS small holders seem to always be great buys!

    Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


  • RichieURichRichieURich Posts: 8,455 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If you buy a new Maserati and a bird does its business on the hood as you are leaving the dealership,
    do you leave the bird residue on the car or do you carefully clean it off? If you carefully clean it off,
    that is conservation. If you leave the residue on the car, that is "original", (and who would do this?)
    but it will eventually damage the car. In short, conservation involves removing surface contaminants
    without harming the underlying surface of the coin.

    An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @3keepSECRETif2rDEAD said:
    ...crack, dip, properly rinse and submit...here is the first coin I ever conserved on my own ;)

    ms64

    Nice job. This was a good coin to start on! Most of the brown, flowing stains (look around the stars) resulted from a dipped coin that was not neutralized properly. Once it was properly dipped, you fixed it. Best of all, the conservation was free. :)

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