Will NCS ever dip a coin? Really...

superpsychmd · February 13, 2012 9:01AM

I am acquiring a set of some silver coins which came from a silk or fabric presentation case. I am assuming there is tarnish as it is only on one side of the coins, other sides are mirror like. Would they dip or just leave it as is? I am assuming only a dip will work, not contaminants per se. Thoughts?

TheBigB · February 13, 2012 9:06AM

It depends, I would need to see pictures first to evaluate the toning.

astrorat · February 13, 2012 9:20AM

NCS is a conservation service, they will take the steps that they feel are best to conserve the coin. How they approach it will depend on how the person evaluates the coin. NCS does "dip" coins into various solutions, not just eZest.

Unknown · February 13, 2012 9:24AM

This content has been removed.

superpsychmd · February 13, 2012 9:30AM

You mean dip them myself or send them to ncs?

Shortgapbob · February 13, 2012 11:08AM

Makes me shutter to think of the gem 1893-S Morgan that went this route.

coinkat · February 13, 2012 11:13AM

What are the coins?

lkeigwin · February 13, 2012 11:38AM

<< NCS is a conservation service, they will take the steps that they feel are best to conserve the coin. How they approach it will depend on how the person evaluates the coin. NCS does "dip" coins into various solutions, not just eZest. >>

There's your answer. Perfect.
Lance.

AUandAG · February 13, 2012 11:41AM

Why the frick do yo want to doctor a coin? Or, have someone else do the deed for you?

I just don't understand. Because they charge you money to doctor it, it's good? That's
why our host gets a big thumbs up from me, they don't offer this "service".

bob

Useless thread without knowledge and pictures.

superpsychmd · February 13, 2012 9:22PM

The thread is hardly useless. First off, I don't have the coins in hand to take pics of them. Second, taking off toning that is ugly is not something which everyone is experienced enough to do, this without making a coin worse or dipped out or whatever. I sent a 1911 pr66 quarter to ncs years back which was ugly and it came back a 67dcam in a pcgs holder! They used to do good work, not sure anymore, but I couldn't do it and I wouldn't call it doctoring.

Manorcourtman · February 13, 2012 9:37PM

Why not call them? They'll most likely do as you wish. You'll get many varied attitudes/opinions on this board so take the stated opinions with a grain of salt!!

TAMU15 · February 13, 2012 11:03PM

Dipping coins is not doctoring by any stretch of the imagination. There is a time and a place for everything and there are plenty of coins ruined by dipping but also many that were helped.

B

AbesNeighbor · February 13, 2012 11:11PM

I agree with TAMU15. I bought a seated liberty half at a local coin club meeting a few years ago. it had so much crud and other stuff on it you couldn't read the date. after a soaking in MS70 and a couple of light dips in EZest it looked great. Even had substantial mint luster left under all that crud. I didn't have much in this coin so I was willing to take the risk. It is now in an MS61 graded holder. and is PQ for the grade.

ricko · February 13, 2012 11:54PM

Dipping is an accepted practice - to all except the fanatical purists. Do as you wish with your coin. Cheers, RickO

steveben · February 14, 2012 12:14AM

WWKFD?

(what would king farouk do?)

RichR · February 14, 2012 2:05AM

I don't consider myself an old fossil by any means, but it wan't that long ago that dealers would whip out a can of E-Zest (or something similar) and openly dip BU (and proof) coins if you didn't like the type or amount of toning present.

And I still have a couple of cans handy for my own collection...because sometimes dark purple and black just isn't that attractive. And I dare anyone to tell me that 90% of slabbed white BU coins just happened to naturally remain that way over the decades/centuries, without any type of chemical assistance.

And a PS...a couple of years ago, I decided to buy a Capital multi-set frame for my son...and populated it with 50s and 60s silver proofs...and for the coins that were exceptionally dark, into the dip they went. And now they can all (re)tone evenly over time.

lordmarcovan · February 14, 2012 2:12AM

<< Why the frick do yo want to doctor a coin? >>

Well, because it might be ugly. To improve its appearance. Elementary, my dear Watson.

<< Or, have someone else do the deed for you? >>

I confess this question would arise in my own mind. I'd rather do the deed myself if I deemed it necessary, unless I thought the conservation was beyond my skill set, like this recent Darkside example would be.

<< I just don't understand. Because they charge you money to doctor it, it's good? That's
why our host gets a big thumbs up from me, they don't offer this "service". >>

I don't entirely agree with this, but I do semi-agree and see where you're comin' from. I do think conservation has its place. I also realize that second-party conservation requires a leap of faith on the paying customer's part, and there are bound to be controversies from many different angles of the issue. But such is the nature of the beast (and many other beasties in the numismatic hobby and marketplace).

TheBigB · February 14, 2012 2:13AM

<< it wasn't that long ago that dealers would whip out a can of E-Zest (or something similar) and openly dip BU (and proof) coins if you didn't like the type or amount of toning present. >>

I had my local dealer do that to his Pilgrim Commemorative that was an odd shade of violet prior to purchase, came out great. It went on to PCGS and came back MS63.

RichR · February 14, 2012 2:18AM

For the proper coins (but not necessarily copper, which IS tricky), a light dip +20-30 years of marinating in a Dansco album...and nobody will know the difference!

I know that most of my first tier raw collection was white went they went into the albums back in the early 80s and now many of the coins have a slight "halo" around the rim...which is actually quite natural looking and doesn't disturb me.

jessewvu · February 14, 2012 2:33AM

<< Why the frick do yo want to doctor a coin? Or, have someone else do the deed for you?

I just don't understand. Because they charge you money to doctor it, it's good? That's
why our host gets a big thumbs up from me, they don't offer this "service".

bob

>>

I believe PCGS DOES "correct" coins, call it whatever you want. Have you ever sent a coin in for spot review an wonder how they "took care" of the problem on the coin?

RichR · February 14, 2012 3:49AM

<<Have you ever sent a coin in for spot review an wonder how they "took care" of the problem on the coin? >>

They probably send it across the street to Those Who Shall Remain Nameless...and then charge a surcharge for the "service"!

chipper10 · February 14, 2012 6:02AM

<< 

I just don't understand. Because they charge you money to doctor it, it's good? That's
why our host gets a big thumbs up from me, they don't offer this "service".

>>

Just because they don't offer it as a service doesn't mean they don't do it or don't condone it. They did slab all those SS Central America coins and as already pointed out, how do you think they handle "spot review" coins? I wouldn't get all sentimental with that thumbs up.

baccaruda · February 14, 2012 7:27AM

Dipping is an accepted practice - to all except the fanatical purists. Do as you wish with your coin. Cheers, RickO

Agreed. A 2-second dip to remove ugly tone is not "doctoring" regardless of who does it.

baccaruda · February 14, 2012 7:29AM

Of course, to me, I'd much rather have the pleasing or even marginal tone.

Will NCS ever dip a coin? Really...

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