The Problem With Toning

This Type I was graded MS65 by NGC. For all the magnificent toned coins I see in these threads, this piece is very unappealing and to my eyes is getting progressively worse. The black film that is the toning on this piece appears much like a growing black mold. If ever there were a candidate for dipping, this would be it. I know a nice coin lies under this growth. I have seen it. Is it unethical to break it free, dip it to kill this ugly growth and have it re-graded?

 

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Wow, what a can of worms. I don't think it would be unethical, but what do I know. The only caveat I would bring up is that if you did the "conservation" yourself, you might mess it up and it not grade cleanly. Possibly a candidate for conservation at NGC.

 

I hadn’t even thought about that. In fact I didn’t know it was even an option. So then NGC has a conservation service?

 

The Dark on @Beefer518 Franklin isn't even a candidate, only a reference.
It is lustrous and doesn't show the same film as your coin shows. I would be afraid to do anything to this coin but chalk it up for a bad buy! I would think that it is very porous under the black represented here.

 

Toning this dark often doesn't dip well. An expert needs to look at it, and even if he feels OK with it, there is still risk. NGC's conservation service might be a good option.

 

https://www.ngccoin.com/ncs-conservation/
https://www.ngccoin.com/submit/services-fees/ncs/
https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/5995/NCS-conservation/
http://coinauctionshelp.com/NCS_TPGS.html

What NCS conservation can do
Prolonged exposure to an unstable environment can cause coins of all types to develop haze, spots, encrustation, verdigris, corrosion and tarnish. NCS specializes in the removal of these harmful surface contaminants and the stabilization of a coin’s surfaces. Read more >


Before After
Unattractive tarnish / toning
Virtually all metal types develop toning naturally over time. In some cases, toning can be quite attractive and desirable. In others, however, it can severely diminish eye appeal. In many cases, NCS can safely remove or minimize unattractive toning.

Here is just an excerpt from https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/5995/NCS-conservation/
That that would be useful

 

They all do. PCGS/NGC are the most well known but all of the top four grading services do conservation.

As far as the coin itself, it would not be unethical BUT there is a very good chance you would just make the coin worse and lower the grade or turn it into a details coin.

 

I am happy I created this thread. Studied the links @lovecoinswalkingliberty offered. Found out my favorite and most trusted dealer was an intermediary for this service. Traded two emails and will be toting this homely Type I to him Monday to see if she is a candidate for a bit of freshening up. Thanks much for the good info. All my years collecting old coins and I never knew the TPG’s offered conservation. I love learning stuff here.

 

What I didn't see in this thread is the question, "Why is it toning so quickly?"
It would be a BIG waste of money if the OP got it conserved just to see it start toning quickly again.

 

it would have to cost worthy. how much is this coin as is ? how much does the conservation cost ?

 

I wish I had the answer to that. It is stored the same as all my coins. I believe this odd toning had a small foothold when it was encapsulated. It’s a mystery to me why it seems to be so aggressive. The entire rim of the piece looks as though it was burned in a fire. All my hundreds of other pieces that reside in the same safe are just fine. This particular piece just has some unstable quality to it that has just robbed the piece of an semblance of its former beauty.

 

maybe an upgrade is in order ? only you can answer that.

 

It’s a several hundred dollar coin. Ngc charges something like 4 percent with a 25 dollar minimum, PCGS is 2 percent with a 30 minimum I believe and then add the grading fee to grade it again for both

 

Well... At MS 65 it should be a $500.00 plus coin. NGC has the value at $800.00 and according to their website conservation costs 4% of their listed value. A perfectly reasonable investment to me. Heck I want to be able to enjoy the piece again.

 

To me the toning has nothing to do with the grade of the coin. It just changes its eye appeal. Dipping and conservation ar two different animals. If dipped how long before it refines again?

 

Well, I have a couple of Type I’s. This is my highest graded. And most unappealing to look at. I would sacrifice a few points to have something I could enjoy again.

 

I think it must have been dipped and improperly rinsed. Or contaminated with something shortly before grading. I’m the last one to usually recommend dipping etc but that’s seriously fugly especially at a 65. Would be hard to find a buyer even at slab money as it has no eye appeal

 

If there were an award for homeliest MS65, I would enter this and probably win.

 

I have had this coin close to two years. One of my few unseen purchases. I wasn’t 100% pleased when I received it, but kept it anyway. It has grown very visibly worse since I had it.

Storage.... Well until about a month ago it was stored in a firearms safe along with all my coins that aren’t in a safe deposit box. I believe you showed me the error of my ways. Now it resides in a small dedicated coin safe with small desiccant packs. Room temperature in my home is usually 67-69 degrees. I do live in the south where we experience high humidity in the summer months.