What is your experience? Also, how do they service the coins without damaging it and making it only grade genuine?
When NGC first started NCS I had two clients ask me to use their services for them. One group of coins I thought was conserved rather aggressively and I mentioned this to NGC/NCS. The second group was conserved much less aggressively and the coins looked fine. Additionally, they refused to work on a few coins in the second group because they said they could not help the coins or that they would damage the eye appeal if they worked on the pieces.
I have used them a few times with pretty good results, but they will refuse to work on some coins as Tom has mentioned. One coin, an 1881 three cent nickle, was an NGC PR-64 but had a few ugly carbon spots. When I got it back, the carbon spots were gone and it was a NGC PR-67.
I'm not sure that I would take the risk on sending in a copper like that. I usually only send in coppers for PVC damage. Every other copper stays like it is. I have just seen some coppers really look unnatural coming from NCS.
I've had some good results sending in some world silver - but haven't tried anything copper yet. They did a GREAT job on a 1954 South Africa 5 shillings - had lots of green PVC spots, looked like a regular MS coin...when I got it back, it looked perfect and came back PR65 Prooflike (a much lower mintage than the regular business strike, so a bonus!) Getting ready to send a couple 1896 Puerto Rican coins in that definitely need some conservation. Also, I found that NCS submitted coins came back a lot sooner than a similar group of NGC submitted coins...but that could just be a one time thing.
I'm not quite sure that I understand what you are asking. Do you mean, "Can it happen that the act of conservation may cause a coin to receive a 'Details' grade?" No! Sometimes, the conservation can uncover a problem that was hidden by the surface contaminants that were removed. In cases like this, NCS has no way of knowing about the underlying problem, and naturally, NGC would have no alternative but to assign a Details grade. However, the mere act of conservation cannot be responsible for a Details grade. One more thing! Some people are under the false impression that conservation will restore a coin or medal to its original state. This isn't always the case. Sure, they can do their best, but they are not miracle workers. A good example of this is the 1978 Silver Valley Forge Bicentennial medal below. When I bought this in a bulk lot, the original owner had stored it in his garage (IN SOUTH FLORIDA!) and the heat and humidity had taken its toll. If I had merely tried to submit it "as is" for grading, it would have received a Details grade for environmental damage, but after conservation, it graded PF66 UCAM. Yes, you can still see the effects of the contaminants, but it is far better than it was. Chris
After my experience with NCS with a US cent, I would probably never send a copper coin for quote/unquote conservation by them again. Too much risk of problems. I've heard they do well with silver, but have no experience with a coin of mine in that metal with them.
I have sent two coins into NCS. One was a 1798 Mexican Reale. Nothing was done, but the coin was slabbed as authentic. No reason was given as to why nothing was done. It had a touch of evironmental damage on the coin with blobs of dirt or something that I felt could be removed quite easily without much damage to the coin. The second coin was a silver crown that was sent in to NGC in pristine condition, but came back all clouded and milky white. It was graded PR66UCAM. I complained to NGC and sent them my pics of how the coin looked before I sent it to them. They advised me to send it to NCS for evaluation. The coin came back stunning graded now at PR69UCAM and a top pop for that coin and only one graded that high. Funny how things work.
I've used them for 5 coins: 1 -- A 1967 10 Lirot Israeli Victory Coin. These were distributed in a PVC-laden plastic holder. This coin had far more sentimental value than monetary value -- it was the last coin given to me by my grandfather. Result: PVC removed, MS67 NGC slab. $36+shipping paid to save a $15 coin. 2 -- A Gettysburg Commemorative. PVC damage again. Result: PVC removed, MS62 NGC slab. Odd note: This coin was returned to me a week before 2 other coins I had sent in the same box to NGC for Economy Service, even though I also paid for Economy Service slabbing on this one. 3 -- An 1875 S/S 20 cent piece. Was in an ANACS AU details NET AU-50 slab. Artificially toned to cover cleaning. I had the AT removed to make it an honest cleaned coin. Result: NGC AU Details, Cleaned Slab. 4 -- An 1851-O NGC AU55 3CS. Originally, I sent this to NGC for a possible regrade or refund, since it appeared that multiple tarnish spots had developed after slabbing. NGC disagreed, so it went off to NCS get it out of the potentially contaminated holder and see if the damage could be fixed. Result: NGC AU55 slab, some remaining toning.5 -- A Lafayette Commemorative Dollar, NGC MS63. I was convinced that this coin had been market graded down a step due to unattractive (but natural) toning. I literally spent years dithering on this one -- I bought it in late 2003. Result: NGC MS64 slab. As for how they do it, not to be too cynical, but suffice it to say that the same organization determines what's "market acceptable" treatment as actually does the treatment. From what I can tell, they mainly use chemical treatments.
