PCGS restoration. Yuck.

So here's my second coin sent to PCGS restoration service. The obverse was perfect. It had lustrous centers and some light album tone around the rims. But the reverse was flat gray and spotted. (Will post before pics later if possible). The coin looked like it had laid face up on a surface for decades, thus toning it only on the reverse side. Anyway, I put on the forms to "remove reverse spotting/tone," but they dipped out the entire coin badly. Still in a holder. llll Edge AU55.

 

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The coin is actually bright white in hand. Clearly cleaned. It was inconsistent before, at least now both sides match. Still, I'm disappointed that they messed with the obverse at all. Looks like I'll be restoring my own coins from now on.

 

looks good to me

 

Sorry to hear that your coin became worse after the restoration. Can't really tell how badly the luster became impaired from this activity. Pictures make it appear dull, but they're only pictures. It could be much different in hand. Again, my condolences.

 

The image above is not what the coin looks like?

 

Should have saved the money and used a brillo pad & comet for better results.

 

No. In hand it's blast white. Clearly over dipped and the obverse is very flat. The reverse, which was originally spotty and gray actually shows decent luster and looks better, but the obverse screams, "cleaned."

 

First, there is no sure-fire guarantee that conservation will make the coin look like what you think it should. It doesn't matter if it was done by PCGS or NCS. Still, it would be difficult for anyone to assess the results without seeing before and after photos. The coin looks okay to me.

Chris

 

Do you have the 'before' pictures?

 

Are there any pictures previous to restoration?

 

Here's what it looks like in-hand... or as close as I can get to showing you with my camera. I've tried finding the original listing. It was an old white ANACS holder AU55 sold by TECC, but the listing was from May or June and I can't find it anymore. (I know I'm complaining and shouldn't be. Bought the coin for $970, and now someone will "buy the holder" and I'll still profit big, but the coin went from being uneven and having an ugly reverse, to being flat and overdipped).

 

Ok. I guess I was just hoping they could leave the obverse alone and somehow only let the dip touch the reverse. But lesson learned. Now I know.

 

I tried to find the original listing from The Executive Coin Company, but it's apparently been too long ago, as I can't seem to dig it up.

 

Hmmmm.. Just wonderring out loud, but if one were to apply a coating of petroleum jelly to one side before dipping would that cause only one side to be dipped, or would that e-z-est boil the vaseline right off the coin?

 

FWIW, to me, it does look dipped, but still looks attractive.
I like the coin, but then again, I like bust halves in general.

 

Yeah, you'd think there would be some sort of protective, inert coating you could add to one side of the coin before dipping it. I suppose that then getting that coating off might pose some additional difficulties.

 

Yeah, you can definitely do one side of a coin. I guess I'd like to see before pics before I comment on how if handle it.

 

The obvious answer is that "dipping" the entire coin was not needed. A Q-Tip, dipped in solution then lightly rolled over the surface of the coin while holding it followed by a rinse may have done the trick. However it takes a skilled hand and some experience. Too much dip on the Q Tip and it would flow over onto the other side.

I think that if you were really adamant that they only restore one side of the coin that you should have expressed that in VERY large letters on the submission form.
Outlining specifically that if they felt it could not be done to just return the coin to you along with any charges.

The more I read your original description of the coin, : The obverse was perfect. It had lustrous centers and some light album tone around the rims. But the reverse was flat gray and spotted.", the more I think you probably should have left well enough alone.