Hi all, I have this Probus (RIC V-2 Antioch 922, H) that looks to be high grade but needs a little bit of encrustation taken off. Thinking about sending it into NCS for conservation (subsequently to NGC for a grade). Had plenty of ancients graded by NGC, not really concerned about the price but does anyone have experience submitting ancients to NCS? Thanks!
I started NCS with another fellow. We did not do ancients. I have been gone for 12 years. I would be shocked to find out that they conserve ancients now! What you need to do tomorrow during working hours is call NGC and ask to speak with Dave or Barry. That's the fast way to get your question answered.
My understanding is that a coin is submitted to NGC and then, if conservation work is needed, it is sent to NCS. I've never submitted a coin directly to NCS, but then I hardly send any coins for slabbing. It seems that the earthy deposits on the coin's surfaces could be mostly removed with a long soak in distilled water, but if you feel uncomfortable doing that, then NCS might be able to help.
In my opinion, that coin is not worth professionally conserving. You could probably buy one like it that did not need conservation for the price of professionally conserving this one. I recommend you play with trying to get the encrustations off of that one yourself, and rack it up to experience if it doesn't work well.
Save the money and do it yourself, as @Valentinian said. If you are still unsure about the deposits on the coins you have been posting, i strongly urge you to go and check out the latest Numismatik Naumann auction. Go to the Provincial list and feast your eyes, not sure whether it is the agents ( A & Z ) dumping stock or collectors getting rid of bad buys. There are other auction houses too but, Naumanns Provincial list is the best example. Make sure you zoom in on the coins, it wont take you long to figure it out.
Concerning ancients, we don’t do bronzes. We will conserve gold and occasionally silver. Barry Murphy
