Pre-submission preparation?

Before someone sends a coin into a TPG, do you think they should do anything to it 1st?

I was thinking from now on, giving my coins a acetone bath before submitting. This would remove some of the oils from skin, loose dirt, and other nasties, without harming the coin.

Only thing is, while I've read where acetone is 100% safe, I've seen it make old copper look "dried out".

 

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IMO, if you are worried enough to dip it in acetone it shouldn't be going to a grading company in the first place.

 

I don't like the practice of using acetone prior to a submission and attempt to avoid coins that might have had this done to them first.

 

I would not use acetone, I know others do, but I wouldn't. I just don't think it helps that much. Just my opinion.

 

This link at PCGS is a good read.
http://www.collectorscorner.com/marketnews/?name=coinsmarketnews68

 

The PCGS EDX machine might be able to sniff acetone if it was on the coin, but there should be no acetone there at all, if pure acetone was used and if the coin was dry. Perhaps they tested it by dipping it in acetone and then sniffing it.

GSR ( gunshot residue testing) is often done by EDX, and guess the solvent commonly used to dissolve possible residue before testing ~ acetone..because it evaporates completely in a normal environment. To me it seems like a "scare tactic" to keep people from treating their coins before submitting.

I wonder if they prohibit Diabetics from grading coins at PCGS as Diabetics can produce enough acetone in their breath for even the poor human smell to detect as a "fruity" smell. Sorry I don't buy their comment.IMO.

 

Since when is acetone a plastic resin? I think the graders at PCGS are "sniffing" something besides coins. Their grading lately stinks.

 

I've stated this before but I know of & have seen 1000's of coins go through service that have had an acetone service before hand & get certified problem free. I have also had PCGS call me & ask if they could dip & coins in a bulk package prior to going to the graders. It is accepted & practiced by more dealers & hobbiest than any would care to admit.

 

If it's worth slabbing, then it's probably worth conserving - consider investing in NCS, who will then automatically send it off to the TPG for you.

 

Thanks for the article - interesting, up until, as others have noted, the 'acetone' comment.

 

Why pay NCS to dip it in acetone when you can do it yourself?

 

but didnt you say that acetone doesnt do anything to the coin itself so how is it messing?

 

One way this can be screwing with the coin is that if there is retained dirt, debris or gunk on the piece and then it is washed away by the acetone treatment it may leave a shadow behind that can be quite distracting. The dirt, debris or gunk need not be disolved by acetone, it can be simply mechanically loosened and removed by the treatment. In cases such as this, and on coinage that is not new, one can be left with spots of different colors or textures where the surfaces have been disturbed. This can make a coin nasty.

 

acetone bath=cleaning the coin??? now i am confused we are talking 100% acetone right

 

Doug uses the term "cleaning" for everything ranging from an acetone bath to rubbing with a brillo pad. I would say that is NOT the general consensus of the use of the term "cleaning" in the hobby, but you won't win this fight with Doug. Best to just move on....

 

Let's give Doug a break on his post above. I have seen many coins where acetone was used to conserve it and in the process removed 'gunk' that had a surface colored differently than the rest of the coin beneath and only exposed because of the acetone. It was probably more liked with the gunk than 'conserved ' with the acetone. Doug and I disagree on the reactivity of acetone, but he is correct on this.

 

I've personally used both Verdicare and acetone to remove some verdigris from a coin that was later slabbed by PCGS as AU58. (There was a small pit mark under the verdigris, unfortunately.)