A cautionary tale

What is important to realize is that these sellers are not going to sell a coin for less than its true worth.(but often for a lot more than it's worth!) In other words, there are no bargains. I just imaged a 1938-d Walker in AU that I really like, and as I examined it under good light realized that it had been cleaned, then retoned! Another "slum pisa" buy from several years ago. And an 1886 V nickel, purchased from the same seller, as "BU," which has been cleaned (although not too obviously.) They have a no-questions-asked returns policy because they know that most people aren't going to return the coins, and they don't want trouble from those that do return them. They depend on new collectors for a steady stream of new sheep to shear. It would be interesting to try to sell one of these characters some of the coins purchased from them as "BU" and see what they offer.

Here is an image of the 1883 nickel previously noted to have PVC, post acetone. A big improvement, and a decent MS coin!

 

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Sparrow:

I agree it's an improvement. However, maybe it's just the angle of the light, but the acetone bath, while it got rid of the PVC, seems to have enhanced a few marks on Liberty's neck.

 

Good eye, Breakdown! The light angle was a bit higher on the "after" shots; more honest if not very flattering!

 

"BBd" coin? Thanks

 

BB'd="Body Bagged," slang for the flips your coins are returned in if the grading service refuses to grade them for one problem or other. Starting to become a thing of the past, with the new PCGS "Genuine" slabs and NCS slabs from NGC.

 

Another purchase, several years ago from "slum pisa," was a 32-s quarter. I also bought a 32-d at the same time, both advertised as "BU" for "AU" money. Where could I go wrong?
I sent both coins to ICG to be sure they were authentic (the old ICG, in Colo., when they would BB 'problem' coins), and the 32-s was graded AU53, the 32-d AU55. And so I learned about "sliders," ubiquitous in the early Washies. What I did not count on was finding the following when I recently brought home the 32-s for imaging:




The obverse had a bunch of splotches of grayish haze- not there when purchased or graded!
After asking around, and worrying, I broke open the slab and soaked the coin overnight in acetone. This is how it looks now:


It could have been pvc, residue from a dip (the seller dips everything, I think!) but now I believe in giving an acetone soak to any raw silver coin of value (others have recommended this before on this forum), and periodically checking on the condition of my coins in the sdb! Another lesson learned.