what does mean when i coin come back from pcgs as altered surface

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lonn47
lonn47 Posts: 236 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

altered surface coin

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  • Hemispherical
    Hemispherical Posts: 9,370 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @lonn47

    Altered Surfaces
    Adding anything to the surface of the coin to either "improve" its appearance or to cover marks. Surface alteration methods include adding dental wax, putty, lacquer, nose grease, etc. "Thumbing" is the application of a putty-like material to fill in marks, scratches, and other defects or to haze over portions of the coin. Coatings (such as lacquer), while intended to protect coins, result in a No Grade because it is impossible to determine the quality of the underlying surfaces.

    https://www.pcgs.com/grades#grade94

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&t=2m25s&v=nzpruoHc3g4

  • lonn47
    lonn47 Posts: 236 ✭✭✭
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    thanks hemispherical.

  • Hemispherical
    Hemispherical Posts: 9,370 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @lonn47 said:
    thanks hemispherical.

    Your welcome. Please post a pic of the coin/slab.

  • lonn47
    lonn47 Posts: 236 ✭✭✭
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    cant upload now. but soon

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Altered surfaces can also mean 'metal movement', to change a date or add a mint mark for example.... Cheers, RickO

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,763 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ricko said:
    Altered surfaces can also mean 'metal movement', to change a date or add a mint mark for example.... Cheers, RickO

    I think they call that "tooling".

    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

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @PerryHall .... Correct terminology... though I have seen tooling (when only done to firm up details) referred to as altered surfaces.... Thanks for pointing that out though.... Cheers, RickO

  • Insider2
    Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 18, 2019 9:41AM
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    @ricko said:
    Altered surfaces can also mean 'metal movement', to change a date or add a mint mark for example.... Cheers, RickO

    Actually @ricko you are half correct. Sure, altered surface can refer to anything UNNATURAL that is done to a coin by the hand of man but a naturally corroded coin also has an "altered surface." Generally, natural occurring alterations have been given names such as toning and corrosion. PMD, cleaning, and scratches which also alter the surface have specific names to describe them also.

    EDIT: I forgot to add that changing the design on a coin (date, mint, etc.) is an "Alteration."

    Bottom line: As @Hemispherical posted, when a TPGS uses A/S it usually refers to adding anything to the surface of the coin to improve its appearance or hide something.

    @Hemispherical said:

    Altered Surfaces:
    Adding anything to the surface of the coin to either "improve" its appearance or to cover marks. Surface alteration methods include adding dental wax, putty, lacquer, nose grease, etc. "Thumbing" is the application of a putty-like material to fill in marks, scratches, and other defects or to haze over portions of the coin Coatings (such as lacquer), while intended to protect coins, result in a No Grade because it is impossible to determine the quality of the underlying surfaces.

    https://www.pcgs.com/grades#grade94

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&t=2m25s&v=nzpruoHc3g4

    This is NOT CORRECT: "Thumbing" is the application of a putty-like material to fill in marks, scratches, and other defects or to haze over portions of the coin.

    Actually it is the application of skin oils ONLY!

  • Indulger
    Indulger Posts: 139 ✭✭✭
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    Good to know..

  • lonn47
    lonn47 Posts: 236 ✭✭✭
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    thank you indulger.

  • Insider2
    Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thank you indulger.

  • lonn47
    lonn47 Posts: 236 ✭✭✭
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    thank you insder2.

  • Kkathyl
    Kkathyl Posts: 3,762 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    IT MEME YOU GOT CAUGHT

    Best place to buy !
    Bronze Associate member

  • DennisH
    DennisH Posts: 14,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    To me, "Altered Surface" is the most unspecific of all body bag terms. The few times I have received such rejections the coins were either immediately resubmitted as is, or given a quickie dip then resubmitted. All have come back in problem-free holders.

    When in doubt, don't.
  • Treashunt
    Treashunt Posts: 6,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    "what does mean when i coin come back from pcgs as altered surface"

    It means that you shouldn't have bought it.

    Frank

    BHNC #203

  • Insider2
    Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @DennisH said:
    To me, "Altered Surface" is the most unspecific of all body bag terms. The few times I have received such rejections the coins were either immediately resubmitted as is, or given a quickie dip then resubmitted. All have come back in problem-free holders.

    That's because a proper dip will remove many of the substances applied to a coin to alter its surface.

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Treashunt said:
    "what does mean when i coin come back from pcgs as altered surface"

    It means that you shouldn't have bought it.

    Disagree....somewhat. It means you should not have submitted it. There are very rare coins that are saleable with altered surfaces.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

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