I think we've all seen copper discoloration on some $20 coins, but these appear to have turned to verdigis as well. I'm assuming the copper spots were exposed to air for a long period of time. Or something worse. In any event, is this worth having 'restored' by PCGS or NGC? It's probably the most common date out there. They are barely visible to the naked eye. Thanks for any replies.
Well, the green spots are there, no getting around that. But as long as you store the coin properly they shouldn't get any worse. Verdigris requires moisture to grow, and proper storage eliminates moisture. Now that may, or may not, be of any consolation to you. But if you are like me and I think most other people, then once discovered those spots will tend to bug you. My advice in that situation is always the same - sell the coin and buy another that you like to replace it. And with that coin that should be easy enough to do. One thing though, and others should pay attention to this part, when you buy a coin and then discover something like that - tiny spots of verdigris - that's one problem. But when you have owned a coin for a while, and it previously had no verdigris spots on it at all, but it does now - that's an entirely different problem. That tells you that you are not storing your coins properly and that you need to change things in how you store coins. The thing you need to change is your effort to control moisture. There are basically 2 things in proper coin storage that allow you to control moisture. 1 - using a sealed container of some kind. And 2 - silica gel packs. So if you are not using a sealed container, then change your methods and do so. And if you are not using silica gel packs, then change and do so. And you also have to change and/or re-charge those silica gel packs on a regular basis in order for them to be effective. So the sudden appearance of verdigris indicates you are not changing them often enough, or not following 1 and/or 2. Both are easily fixed. And remember, the same can be said when you notice toning appearing or changing on your coins. No, toning can never be stopped completely. But if you actually notice it, then you are doing something wrong in your storage methods. Because if you were using proper storage methods the toning would occur so slowly that you wouldn't be able to notice it. So remember that.
Those don't look like copper spots to me, they look like PVC. Regardless of what they are, the good news is that gold tends to clean up well. A quick dip by an expert should remove them, and I would not expect any lasting damage or evidence of their removal.
It's possible the spots were caused by PVC, but I think it improbable. The coin looks to be in a PCGS slab, and usually they are pretty good at recognizing coins with PVC on them. And they won't slab them when they do.
I agree with Doug, the spots look like simple verdigris. They are tiny, I wouldn't worry about them. As Doug said, just store your coins properly and they will stay in check......or sell it and buy a replacement.
Shouldn't do that unless the coin is a problem coin to begin with. Because after the Biox, it will be.
I think the dear doctor was referring to botox........which would make him appear younger indeed.......:devil:
I hear you, and I think you make a good argument, but I've given up long ago relying on the TPGs to make any determination for me. I'm sure you'd say the same. Let me ask you a pointed question which gets at why I answered the way I did: Have you ever seen green verdigris on gold like that? I haven't, but admittedly I don't look at a lot of gold either. And it has that same hue of green I've seen on PVC. Thus my questions and comments...Mike
That's much more typical of the copper-spotted gold I've seen.... ...and I note a complete lack of green hue....Mike
Amen brother Yes I have, and many times. But then I specialized in gold for quite a while so I looked at, and still do, a lot of it. That said, verdigris is found on all coins, well, copper, silver and gold anyway. I've never seen it on aluminum coins and I suppose there are some other alloys out there as well. But admittedly it is seen on silver & gold coins far less often than it is seen on copper. But often enough that it is certainly not uncommon.
problem coin according to whom? ngc pcgs dont seem to think so, they seem to slab just fine. for steel, copper nickel, brass, silver, and gold biox works just fine. gets rid of verdi. in my own experience i have conserved hundreds of coins for people using biox. just my 2 cents.
This is indeed slabbed by PCGS as M64. If I send it thru their restoration process I'm out about $100, but it's guaranteed not to downgrade. If I bust it out myself and attempt to do something to it, which I'm really reluctant to do (OK, WON'T do) with a gold coin, then the grade could become less, or even attain the dreaded 'genuine' status. I think my only options are to (a) sell it and risk it coming back because the buyer doesn't like the green pimples, or (b) have a professional restore it. I thank you all for your replies!
