PCGS Conservation Process
SilverEagle1974
Posts: 149 ✭✭✭
Hi All,
Just wondering what or if there is success with PCGS conservation service removing carbon spots off copper coins ?
Is it possible to remove carbon sports or is it detrimental to the coin, forever ?
Any help would be great.
Thanks,
Chris
0
Comments
No, carbon spots have eaten into the surface of the coin. Dark toning spots are not carbon spots. Carbon spots are raised black specks that are caused from spittle that didn't get rinsed off, or something that was in the surface of the coin, etc.
I will not buy a coin with carbon spots unless it is something I absolutely must have because it is in a Doily holder, etc.
Pix might help. Generally, I would agree that copper carbon spots are forever. There is no help.
Lance.
I heard that for copper coin conservation NGC do a better job than pcgs.
Thanks for the replies.
I don't know about copper coins but they did a nice job on 3 CC gold coins I had. One went up 1 grade.
Before and after. Tho it's not copper, I think they did a helluva job on my Peace dollar. It went up by a point from MS62 to MS63.
Am I the only one that likes the before coin better than the after coin 1921 Peace dollar?
@koynekwest How much did they charge you to dip your coin?
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
I see much improved surface appearance. Pvc removal was your primary victory. Is that a carbon spot in the rays crown? Peace Roy
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Where do you see PVC? I only see toning.
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
Isn't the green blobs at nostril and cheek hairline pvc?
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It's quite possible. Acetone could have removed those two spots without taking off any toning.
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
I see four of those green spots in the 'before' shot.... and all gone in the TruView... Judging by the change, I would say they used more than just acetone... Cheers, RickO
I sent it in to remove those tiny green spots. I can't remember what it cost (at any rate the cost of conservation was offset by the one point increase in grade) but I usually dip my own coins when necessary, which is almost never. I also sent a bronze MacNeil medal in for conservation. It, too had the green spot problem. I won't mess with copper on my own. I like both items much better after than before.
I've used the conservation service several times. But only once for copper and it was around 10 years ago. The below IHC had some small verdigris spots that I knew would continue to eat away at the coin.
PCGS did a good job treating the problem areas. But I had mixed feelings about the coin's change in appearance. Other conserved coins were silver and treated to remove PVC and the results were excellent. No noticeable change in appearance.
Copper is tricky and conservation can be risky.
Lance.
Before and after...
I understand your dismay about the color change. Obverse fared much better than reverse from the conservation treatment imo.> @koynekwest said:
That is a great job they did to improve the appearance of your Peace dollar. Really, I don't see how they could have done a better job. Vast improvement.
"I believe in intuitions and inspirations. I sometimes feel that I am right. I do not know that I am."
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)
This is a five year old thread you are posting on and @koynekwest has sadly passed away since then.
"This is a five year old thread you are posting on..."
Chew Morrisine out on this one. Don't be such a harsh puppy.
"I believe in intuitions and inspirations. I sometimes feel that I am right. I do not know that I am."
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)
Attempted to use restoration service on two different occasions. Once when a coin In a submission was recommended the sticker, due to a reverse grease stain (gold $). Other when I chose four coins out of my collection that I thought would benefit from having light haze or pvc removed.
The recommended Coin definitely came back with a grease stain was lighter, but sadly, the rich color and patina of the coin had been stripped off… It was as if it was just dipped, which is something I could’ve done myself without a full bath.
The four I had chosen were returned several months in the same exact condition, and full price charges for the grading tier and evaluation fee. Not to mention, one had a lopsided TV with different sizes for the obverse and reverse.
Naturally , I can’t say I intend to try it again in the future, I trust my judgement for minor conservation and don’t need to go through all the rigmarole for nothing .
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MS70 conditioner?
Sure looks like it, or some other detergent.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
I would not use MS70 on any of my Lincolns or Indians, other than pocket change. I have seen way too many examples of a color change that was quite obvious and would be certainly considered AT or perhaps cleaned. And in testing out Verdi-Care on pocket change it left obvious areas of that corrosion removed look where verdigris was that you do not want.
If I had to make the call on my 55 DDO, I would probably send it in to PCGS and cross my fingers.
Good luck on a difficult decision.
I have this 1878 7/8 tailfeather that I swear is DMPL.
It needs to be dipped. I believe the original owner who submitted the coin just left it as is without a dip which it most certainly needed. I have tossed and turned about sending it to PCGS for conservation or dipping it myself but im afraid of losing the +. It really just needs a quick dip to clear up the brownish toning.
Ive talked about it multiple times with board members using PM. Its been suggested to leave it be.
Bottom line is its one of my favorite coins and with that said I will just leave it be.
It still has tremendous eye appeal.
If I had to sell all of my Morgans this is one of two I own that I would keep.
This is a very early gold shield so there is no TV for it.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7 JWP BruceS bigjpst
H
If it didn't torment you, you wouldn't have posted. The next guy will meet the mail lady at the mailbox with the hammer and eZest. 🔨 Boom! DMPL
@Peasantry
I am 75% sure it would DMPL. The mirrors are right there behind a thin coat of brownish toning just waiting to be removed. You seldom see a cameo like this on a PL coin.
At least thats what I think.
Yes it torments me.
BTW there will be no next guy until I pass away.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7 JWP BruceS bigjpst
I'd recommend them for coins already in the holders where there is a clear-cut issue easily remedied with an acetone dip or quick EZest dip where "reading" the surface of the coin shows something that can be aesthetically benefitted with limited downside risk.
Put yourself in their shoes. You've marked up a form giving them full lattitude to do a job. The guy whose job is to do "something" in line with standard practices is almost all the time going to do "something" than leave the coin alone. It's like when you go to a doctor with some annoying health problem. They can easily say "...you wouldn't be here unless you needed our help". So doing something is often assumed even when leaving things alone would be far better.
I knew the guy who Invented MS 70 (later sold company). Was a PHD Chemist.
When I went to his Industral cleaning company building he'd sell wholesale coins from the back room.
He had GALLONS of MS70 stacked on the floor ready to ship out.
He was a certified NGC dealer. I presumed that's where they were going.
But ,he would not tell me. So there was some industrial or coin users out there.
He had a lot of well known dealer connections, and they would come and visit him to buy coins, as did I.
I read it on the internet that this works....