Ok who has used NCS? Did it really help?

poptopsRus · December 26, 2003 6:09AM

I gotta proof nickel (jefferson variety) that has haze and a spt on it. I can take care of the haze but I can't do anything with the spot. Has anybody tried NCS with spots? Did it help? This coin is currently in an ANACS PR64 holder but without the haze and spot it would likely be a PR66.

Russ · December 26, 2003 6:14AM

It depends on the nature of the spot. Some they can remove completely, but others they can only reduce. For example, glue spots they can make go away. Milk spots, the best you can hope for is a reduction.

If you are planning to send it to them, DO NOT remove the haze first. There is a very real chance that whatever you use may react with whatever they use and cause problems with the coin.

Russ, NCNE

braddick · December 26, 2003 6:15AM

I had a SEGS MS64FH Standing Liberty quarter with black, blotchy toning and it was conserved and holdered as NGC MS62FH.
I also in the same batch included a PR67DCAM 1962 Franklin with off gold (bad dip residue?) toning that was conserved and placed into an NGC PR68 UltraCam holder.

There is just something about the appearance of the coins once they're conserved. I don't know. It's difficult to place my finger on it but they look almost kind of fake to me. Like they're "pretend coins". They have a false bright oily look to them.
I've seen the same neutral appeal with gold coins as has been discussed here.

I'm not a big fan any longer but I'm sure they have a place- possibly with copper?

Lakesammman · December 26, 2003 6:34AM

The CN cents are getting a typical look - like you say, unnatural. Have not seen any bronze from them - anyone else??

poptopsRus · December 26, 2003 6:44AM

The spot on this coin is something on the surface of the coin that has gradually grown outward. It is a goober of some sort that got on it before it was slabbed.

Tonekiller · December 26, 2003 6:46AM

We have had very good luck with Buff 5c.

TBT

Fairlaneman · December 26, 2003 6:51AM

I will second what Braddick said. I had two Mercs conserved and they just did not look natural. Way to White/Bright. They did look better than when they went in. Market wise I would say. Now I would send a real ugly coin in but something that just needs a little improvment, no way.

Ken

wallstreetman · December 26, 2003 7:00AM

How many of these conserved coins would get body bagged for cleaning at PCGS?

islemangu · December 26, 2003 7:32AM

How many of these conserved coins would get body bagged for cleaning at PCGS?

very good question TTT

Has anyone ever put a NCS conserved coin into a PCGS slab? Because of the BB fear I bet 99.9% select the direct NGC submittal by NCS after conservation. I know I did with my own experience with 2 coins. Did it really help? The answer would widely vary I think depending on the initial conditions of the coins. Of my 2 coins, one it helped the other it didn't.

Russ · December 26, 2003 7:37AM

<< <i>How many of these conserved coins would get body bagged for cleaning at PCGS? >>

Out of a couple dozen submitted so far, zero.

Russ, NCNE

mgoodm3 · December 26, 2003 7:38AM

I would bet that they do better with gold and nickel because they are less chemically active thasn CU or Ag, and thus less likely to be significantly damaged by the cleaning process.

BigD5 · December 26, 2003 7:50AM

I've also had good luck with my limited experience with NCS. I feel what can happen is that a coin that has minor aesthetic problems, can benefit from NCS. Just like dipping certain silver coins can give them more appeal.
NCS can do the trick with nickel clad, as well as silver, and some with copper also, although my feeling is tha they probably turn away more copper coins than they actually do work on.
I've sent in a bunch of "hazy" buffalo nickels and they've all come back minus the haze, and I've been very happy with the results. One copper proof two cent piece was sent in, and honestly, didn't look like they were able to "help" the coin much, or at least enough for my eye to notice, but the coin did seem to have better luster after the fact.
Wallstreetman, Of the coins I have sent in, I don't think I would have a problem with pcgs slabbing the coins once they were done. I've only sent one buffalo nickel to pcgs after ngc had it. It slabbed.

Fairlaneman · December 26, 2003 7:51AM

Both of the conserved Mercs were in NGC holders to begin with so they stayed there. Both were sold and one was submitted by the new owner and went into a PCGS slab but at one point lower.

Right now I have a really ugly dime that is in a PCGS holder that should be conserved. My only question is will NGC cross the coin.

Ken

darktone · December 26, 2003 8:39AM

I agree with Braddick that they just don't look natural. I had them clean a copper indian cent that had a couple of spots and they dipped the whole coin losing the original look- it looked so bad I sold it right away because I could not stand to look at it any more. The silver and gold I had done was enough for me to call it quits with having them clean anymore. I had them remove PVC residue on one and I was happy with that but I can do the acetone thing my self. mike

stman · December 26, 2003 9:59AM

It's nice to hear these non-favorable reports coming in. Thanks!!!!

mintluster · December 26, 2003 11:01AM

I have seen some Buffalo nickels and Morgans that look absolutely gorgeous after being cleaned and slabbed by NCS. But of course my tastes are big in the bright white lusterous look of silver coins and I hate toning and black spots, so that me be subjective of me.
Either way I saw about 20 coins a buddy sent in and only 2 or 3 looked the same as when they were sent, the rest looked brand spanking new like they were minted yesterday.

merz2 · December 26, 2003 12:15PM

poptopsrus
I tried it with a spot on a Proof Lincoln.They did a great job.IMHO

MFH · December 26, 2003 12:28PM

I sent in a 1924-S Standing Liberty Quarter in an ANACS MS 64FH holder that had a pin dot spot on the reverse which was a PVC stain. The coin had a deep purple haze on the obverse as well. The coin came back as an NGC 64FH, with soft pink haze and the spot on the reverse was removed. The luster seemed magnified and generally improved the appearance dramacticlly. I was more than pleased with the results.

nankraut · December 26, 2003 12:48PM

WOW! this is a great thread. I am learning a lot of valuable stuff. I guess that's why I've started participating in the Forum discussions. And I thought I was too old to learn new stuff. Thank you all!

Nankraut

Dukie101 · December 26, 2003 1:36PM

I have had good experience with NCS on silver coins and a few gold coins. They have returned a few that they wouldn't conseve. All in all I am pleased with thier service.

BillJones · December 26, 2003 1:39PM

I had a $2.50 Indian done, which had a very unattractive copper spot on it. The spot was removed and the coin made it to an NGC MS-64 holder. The trouble is the coin had a fakey high gloss luster to it that I found unnatural and not overlly attractive. I wholesaled the coin to another dealer.

Bottomline: The coin's appearance was improved some, and I got more money for the coin than I would have otherwise.

BUT if I had a gold coin that just had an "old" appearance that could be "improved" with a bath to make it shinny, I would pass. Bright shine does not always mean better looking although it might get a higher grade and higher prices from those who don't quite know the score.

One positive thing. For $5 NCS will look at you coin and let you know if they can improve it. If they can't, they will send it back without any work (with payment for the cost of postage.) I have a customer who has used that service a number of times.

GOLDSAINT · December 26, 2003 9:42PM

Maybe I missed this but what does it cost to have NCS work on a coin? Can you asked that it be sent up to be slabbed in a NGC holder or do you have to crack it out and re-submit?

darktone · December 26, 2003 10:05PM

goldsaint, yes it does cost a minimum of $5 I believe and a percent of the coins value over a certain dollar amount. NCS and NGC are in the same building and I think for all practical purposes they are the same business- they even use the same employees. mike

GOLDSAINT · December 26, 2003 10:09PM

Thanks Mike

BillJones · December 27, 2003 7:00AM

I did it all in one fell swoop. I paid something like $35 to have the coin "fixed" and then paid the usual slab fee. The only risk was that the coin would get BB, but since I was pretty sure it would have graded with copper stain I figured it would grade after the copper stain was gone.

If it didn't WELL ?????

dpoole · December 27, 2003 7:16AM

I sent in a proof Lincoln for reholdering to NGC. It came back with moisture spots. They submitted the coin to have the spots removed at their cost, which they did, but the coin came back without the luster and the degree of cameo contrast it had had.

keets · December 27, 2003 7:24AM

i might sound like a broken record, oh well, but just as NCS is selective about what they work on, collectors need to be selective about what they submit for consideration. QDB had an article in CW a week or two ago about that same thought and i tried to start some discussion. it sank faster than a lead balloon which was silly since it spoke to this exact topic. he says that a collector should never buy a coin with the intention of cleaning it/having it conserved to improve it. better to just look for another coin. that sounds like good advice. maybe chances can be taken, but if the results turn out like this thread's responses, perhaps it's best only to use the service as a last resort or to try it at home yourself.

while the finished/conserved coins may look unnatural, how do you guys rate them vs. what was sent in, regardless of where they grade afterward?? would it have been better to have not conserved, hidhsight always being 20/20??

al h.

Ok who has used NCS? Did it really help?

Comments

Leave a Comment