Slabbed coins method for identifying PVC
Morgan13
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I have no clue how to spot PVC from what I hear it can be obvious and it can be sneaky.
What are some methods you use to identify it?
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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Personally, I send mine to JA and he very kindly puts a red sticker on the slab with an arrow pointing to the PVC.
Tim
I wouldn’t focus on slabbed pieces, as that would greatly reduce the pool of coins with PVC that you could view.
Do a web search for “pictures of coins with PVC”.
Next time you’re at a coin shop or show, ask someone if they have any coins with PVC on them that you can look at.Tell them you’re trying to learn how to better identify it.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
@MFeld that's good advice and I will do as you suggested.
The green stuff is obvious.
I hear alot about CAC turning down slabbed coins with PVC on them.
This is the clear type of PVC found in older holders.
I did do more research and it appears that a cell phone light and looking at the coin in the slab carefully from many angles can spot it.
I guess any bright light source may work.
I did a practice run and didn't see anything on 3 OGH coins but I am going to look again several times as an excersize.
No point in wasting money on a CAC submission if a coin has PVC on it.
Ben the coin geek has a YouTube video of how to do it.
Sorry for the long response. Maybe someone else can use the information.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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It can REALLY be difficult to see if the PVC is clear. In the youtube recently posted, JA stated you need a totally dark room and a 75w light bulb.
Even after doing that, when coins come back from CAC, I can still miss finding the PVC,
To find PVC, it usually helps to view the surface at an extreme angle away from you, and of course using brilliant light.
Or just wait 50 years for the surface to turn green
Official PCGS account of:
www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com
On gold it's great way to get a coin heavily discounted.
I have little apprehension about purchasing a saint with what looks like mold on it.
(Hold the slab at an angle and it pops up pretty clearly)
I just factor in the cost of conservation.
PCGS has done a fantastic job for me twice but be aware that some of the toning will disappear.
My Saint Set
I saw that he also mentioned a color neutral light for PVC in particular on some YT video, which would mean a 5000K LED 75W equivalent bulb to me, and shallow angles with motion to see as the faint haze appears and disappears. Is that what others use?
Does anybody have a good reference to see what clear PVC would look like on a slabbed coin? The green stuff is obvious, but I've always wondered what the difference is between that and a slight toning haze.
Newbie collector of type and circulated Peace dollars, photographer of places and animals, player of instruments and builder of amplifiers, espresso industry professional, and a person distracted by shiny objects. https://mycollect.com/Rule556/sets
I have a really nice reverse toned Morgan dollar that I bought thinking it would be a solid MS63, but it turned out to have some PVC haze on the obverse. I took it outside to crack it out and in doing so realized that the sunlight showed the haze much more clearly than indoor lighting did. I would recommend that if you are having trouble identifying PVC.
Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
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It can be like a green gunk or sleazy tarnish. For successful RCI get coins that are brilliant, well struck, with super cartwheel luster. Tarnished coins will get worse over time. Invest in coins that have super, brilliant cartwheel luster. Many early gen coins submitted in pvc flips then down the line (say decades) watch out.
Everybody knows slabbed coins can possibly go bad in the holder. Then they will need to be cracked out, and dipped.
I have heard or read somewhere that clear PVC can be found on earlier slabs like rattlers or OGH.
I have three coins in OGH that have beautiful coins but that clear PVC scares me.
I believe the coins will easily sticker if as long as that clear PVC is not present.
I think I'm just going to have to go 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
JWP
Usually, if you hold the coin at an angle under a bright light that will show up similar to milk spots.
Basically put the light angled like you’re looking at a piece of currency, looking for folds (if that makes sense)
My YouTube Channel
Here I thought I was the only one getting special red stickers.
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