PROGRESS REPORT - I sort of regret buying this PCGS-certified coin, and could use slab doctor advice
TallahasseeCoinClub
Posts: 315 ✭✭✭
I paid full retail, and can't even claim to have bought "the coin and not the holder", because I cannot even see half the coin (obverse). Stupid me for trying to help out a fellow coin club member.... At least the reverse seems strong for XF-40
Is this fixable? Or what's the typical reholder process and cost?
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You can polish the slab. It takes time and effort. Alot of time in fact but many people have claimed to have success.
Others will chime in and let you know what they have used.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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Send it back to PCGS for reholdering.
I hope you were able to view the coin before buying it.
PlastX and elbow grease should work unless there's a really deep scratch.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I’d try the plastic polish you use on car headlights before I sent it in for a reholder. It’s both the less expensive and less time consuming option.
Reholder would cost $14 plus $27 return shipping and probably $10 handling fee. Much cheaper to use Meguiar’s PlastX or ScratchX.
- Bob -
MPL's - Lincolns of Color
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I am going to AutoZone this evening to pick up a bottle of whichever they have available. Results to follow!
Edited to add - I did not go to AutoZone after all, and instead ordered the small NOVUS kit online.
Official PCGS account of:
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Apparently, Brillo pads and Ajax don't work well.
PlastX works really good on PCGS basically useless on NGC. I made an NGC worse then I had to have it reholdered
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Looks like it has some deep scratches. You are going to have to start with wet sanding that one, then go to polish. It's not that hard and doesn't take too much time.
Collector, occasional seller
Chris beat me to it. Start with 800, 1500 then 3000 grit. Polish alone won't work on that deep of scratching.
get it reholdered. the scratches are too deep to polish
Step by step guide with photos:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/947337/restoring-scratched-slabs-version-2-1-new-improved
For now, I'd keep it as is.
And unless you plan to re-sell it anytime soon, why bother polishing or re-holdering now? Just wait for your next submission to PCGS and then decide.
FWIW, I've had some success polishing car headlight covers and would try that approach before submission.
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Please consider sharing your results as I suspect there are several folks here that are interested... myself included. Good Luck.
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Try polishing it and see how it looks. It can't get much worse than it looks at present.
Stop buying problems of any kind. You just made someone else's problem your problem.
If there is no improvement in the slab after some efforts to conserve, the coin would still be a welcome addition in a type set album
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I have used scratch doctor with good results.
The other products listed here may/should work very well also!
It does have a trueview:
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
If you want to attempt to restore the plastic to original looks I would do some research on how model builders (aircraft and cars modelers) repair scratches. Some of those builders are so talented. I’ve been a model builder for decades and it’s amazing how some modelers restore/repair canopies and windshields. Once you sand the scratches out you may cry a little but once the procedure is completed it should look pristine. As previously said , it will take time and many different grades of sandpaper..
Just curious, but aren’t you afraid that any wet method used might introduce moisture into the slab?
I deleted a post on another thread to use Novus as some are in spray bottles, only Novus 2 is a cream..
I'd just opt for reholdering it. To replace the slab with a perfectly new one is only $14. There is a $10 handling fee and a $4 shipping fee too. Of course you would need to spend some on postage on your end too.
Considering the spots I don’t see a very good future for it.
I did look at the TrueView before buying it and noticed the spots as well. In-hand, going by reverse ONLY, I thought there was enough luster to grade EF-45 and after seeing the TVs, figured the spots netted 5 points for a final EF-40 grade.
Official PCGS account of:
www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com
I'm pretty sure the new holders are sealed, and either way you are only using a drop or two at a time.
Collector, occasional seller
I bought the Novus plastic polishing kit recommended above. So far, I have gone, not one, not two, but three rounds of polishing on this sucker. The results are.... mixed. But then again, the scratches were REALLY BAD so I blame the damage, and not the kit, which seems to be very, very good overall. I have polished up some far less damaged slabs to great success.
Anyhow, I am going to go one more round on this one and will post final results. At the very least, the coin is now mostly visible, so that's a huge plus.
PICS! The closeup intentionally has some glare so you can see the depth of scratches still remaining.
Official PCGS account of:
www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com
WB-101, WB-2. R3.
Weird that a new gen holder got so scratched.
That's about 10% of the PCGS price guide value. After seeing the TV I think I'd try to sell it as is.