PVC in slab - How to proceed? * Photos up *

BryceM · March 1, 2012 10:14AM

I have a coin that is part of my core collection of Peace Dollars. I purchased this from a dealer in a newish PCGS holder with a plus grade. It's value is around $600. It has some gorgeous toning and it's always been one of my favorites in the set. I submitted a group of coins for review by the sticker company. Some came back with green stickers.

Some didn't.

This one came back with a large, round, red sticker with a handwriten "PVC" label.

Hmmmmm. Not the result I was looking for. On inspection with a loupe I can without question see an area near "IN GOD WE" that has some small but definite bright green spotting. It is not visible without a loupe. On the reverse there is a larger area of coloration that I would normally attribute to an attractive patina, but it also has a slight greenish cast to it. This is much more subtle than the small but intense spots of goo on the obverse.

I suppose the right answer is to resubmit to PCGS for a spot reveiw. I've never had to do this before and I'm wondering what the procedure is and what the likely remedy will be. Will they attempt to conserve this? Will I just get a buyback offer? I really do like the coin and would love to have it back if it can be cleaned without hurting the surfaces or the toning too much.

I'll try to post some photos when I get a mintue.

lasvegasteddy · March 1, 2012 10:18AM

sorry to hear...sorry no help in how to proceed either
i'm sure they'll make you a happy camper in final result

LindeDad · March 1, 2012 10:19AM

Sounds like you need to get Mr. Hall to look at it.

lkeigwin · March 1, 2012 10:49AM

You can send it in for a spot review. PCGS will likely try to conserve it. They are very good at this.

What PCGS does won't hurt the surfaces, though it could reveal damage. It doesn't sound like the PVC is very extensive, so I wouldn't be concerned about that. Any toning that is the result of PVC or an organic agent will be removed.

If there is damage from the PVC, or if it cannot be conserved, or if the treatment is a failure then PCGS will offer to buy back the coin and will make a reasonable wholesale offer. (Forget what the price guide says.) If it can grade cleanly but at a lower grade for some reason then you choose between a payment and no coin or the coin in a lower grade slab and a smaller payment.

The procedure is simple. Check the "other" box, enter "spot review", and write "PVC damage" in very large letters under the coin entry info, then submit it.

PCGS has never charged me for this but I heard from another non-member that PCGS asked for payment. Perhaps because he wasn't a member? Dunno.

Good luck! I think you won't be disappointed.
Lance.

BryceM · March 1, 2012 11:52AM

OK. Here's the photos. I like the fact that the toning in the obverse fields almost gives this area a marbled appearance. The devices are a little frosty compared to the fields with a subtle cameo-like effect. This isn't terribly evident in the photos but is nice in-hand.

keets · March 1, 2012 11:54AM

based solely on my brief stint of working in a small, local Coin Shop and what i saw over the course of a year i deduced that Peace Dollars are the coin i'd expect to suffer the most from PVC damage. on a percentage of number struck i still believe it.

MsMorrisine · March 1, 2012 11:59AM

spot review?

lkeigwin · March 1, 2012 12:03PM

Shoot...that's nothing. I'd send it in in a heartbeat. I wouldn't worry about a big change in appearance. And if it bags you're covered.
Lance.

secondrepublic · March 1, 2012 12:03PM

the spot next to the top area may be PVC, but it's so tiny it's not worth bothering with (in my opinion). more likely you'd end up with a coin looking worse.

the bottom arrow just seems to be toning.

kaz · March 1, 2012 12:07PM

If it's important to you to keep the coin in a slab, by all means use the spot review option. I have a Lynchburg commem in pcgs 65 that I discovered had pvc. I cracked it out and soaked it in acetone. PVC gone, coin in a flip.

raycyca · March 1, 2012 12:13PM

I've sent several in for spot review with spots, milk spots, haze, etc. EVERY single coin came back. I called PCGS and they said Mr. Hall deemed the coin haze, etc as not detremental to the grade. BUT, when I submitted the same EXACT coin with said haze/spots, they came back in a lower grade. How can you figure it out? Secret handshake?

lcoopie · March 1, 2012 12:26PM

good idea, getting the check up.

MsMorrisine · March 1, 2012 12:29PM

just call cust. serv. tomorrow

BryceM · March 3, 2012 1:39AM

Thanks y'all. I'll give PCGS a call on Monday.

Moldnut · March 3, 2012 1:43AM

Thats a newly graded coin. Looks like it could be just toning.

crypto79 · March 3, 2012 1:56AM

Be prepared to have the coin under review for several months but PCGS has a strong comment to collector that they are famous for

mozin · March 3, 2012 6:50AM

CAC rejects a good number of coins for PVC haze.

oreville · March 3, 2012 5:15PM

In a silver coin such as this where the area of PVC is very small PCGS was successful in removing in removing the PVC under the "spot review."

Also the toning spot in the center of the obverse looks to be a negative eye appeal issue as well.

I have submitted CAC PVC rejected silver and gold coins to PCGS under the spot review and the coins came back from PCGS looking awesome and CAC then stickered them.

There are two or three very old NGC slabs in which removing the PVC (one of them is a spectacular looking PVC) would give me a better gradeable coin but then I would lose the black or very old all white NGC slab.

ricko · March 4, 2012 12:24AM

Best to submit it and have it removed before serious damage occurs. Cheers, RickO

braddick · March 4, 2012 12:28AM

<< <i>Best to submit it and have it removed before serious damage occurs. Cheers, RickO >>

I've yet to see PVC removed that didn't leave a remnant of its former self.
I think the results would still not be satisfying and I'd send the coin back under grade guarantee vs spot removal.

I don't even think PCGS will holder a coin- even under the Genuine service, with active PVC.

BryceM · March 4, 2012 12:36AM

All of the input here is great. Thanks. To summarize, yes I want this coin to remain in a slab. It is part of my primary set and is potentially subject to upgrade - and therefore sale. That can only really happen if it lives in a slab. I happen to really like this coin. In-hand it has character and great eye appeal. I would rank it as my 7th or 8th personal favorite of the set of 24 coins.

If I had some assurance that PVC was only in the very limitted area shown in the photos I probably wouldn't bother with a review. I remain concerned about the potential for hazing or surface damage over a larger area. I suppose I'll send it in for spot review. In all likelihood it won't ever make the trip to NJ again and it will reside in my collection for the forseeable future. I really don't like thought of it languishing in California for several months though.

BUFFNIXX · March 4, 2012 4:03AM

You could just try to get pcgs to buy this coin from you since they must have missed the pvc then buy another one you get with the money from pcgs

PQpeace · March 4, 2012 4:12AM

PCGS will fix it,but it will take about 60 days..
Call me if you need more help,
Larry

etexmike · March 10, 2012 9:07AM

Maybe if PCGS can get rid of the PVC on the coin they might can do something with that black dot in Miss Libertys hair. Bit of a distraction.

Good luck with the dollar.

Mike

mozin · March 10, 2012 1:15PM

PCGS might attempt to get rid of the PVC damage, but I can assure you, that CAC may well not sticker the coin afterwards. No question about that at all.

magikbilly · March 10, 2012 1:33PM

<< <i>I've sent several in for spot review with spots, milk spots, haze, etc. EVERY single coin came back. I called PCGS and they said Mr. Hall deemed the coin haze, etc as not detremental to the grade. BUT, when I submitted the same EXACT coin with said haze/spots, they came back in a lower grade. How can you figure it out? Secret handshake? >>

Ir's rocket science!!!!!

Eric

BryceM · March 10, 2012 3:55PM

<< <i>PCGS might attempt to get rid of the PVC damage, but I can assure you, that CAC may well not sticker the coin afterwards. No question about that at all. >>

Oh, no worries about that. I doubt I'll even bother sending it in again even if it does come back looking great.

PVC in slab - How to proceed? * Photos up *

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PVC in slab - How to proceed? *** Photos up ***

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PVC in slab - How to proceed? * Photos up *