Curiosity Question - Lacquered Coins and TPG's

I know there was a time collectors painted coins with lacquer to preserve them as blast white.
Does lacquering a coin harm it? (I suspect not.)
And I suspect removing lacquer is relatively easy (acetone?) AND doesn't damage the coin.

If a lacquered coin were shipped to a TPG would it get a DETAILS label?
How about to NGC via NCS?

Like I said, just a curiosity question.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Wow, great question...add to it Renaissance Wax

 

It depends on the lacquer. Old lacquer was very organic and acetone or even strong alcohol spilled on a lacquered woodwork would ruin the finish. Modern concoctions such as at Lowe's , etc. can resist those chemicals, and some have epoxy components to it , and do not remove .

 

My uneducated SWAG would be that a coin with lacquer would get a details grade, as you are no longer looking at the original surface.

As for removing it, as long as it was only soaked, and not rubbed, you would straight grade. But again, I have no idea.

 

This NGC blog addresses your questions with regards to lacquered coins:
https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/5789/NCS-coin-conservation-lacquer/

NGC = details grade
NCS = they would conserve it

 

Self serving pukes..........I'd try some acetone on my own first.

 

PCGS no grades those I believe as they say it is impossible to determine the surface quality under it.

 

I think I remember posts from members that had coins embedded in plastic forms, including a toilet seat...the ultimate lacquering.

 

Kripes Ken......that's acrylicing

 

I submitted a lacquered coin to NCS a couple years ago. They removed the lacquer successfully, and afterwards it straight graded, though the surfaces were a bit dulled.

I've also submitted to NGC some Hungarian Artex restrike minors that were as issued with lacquer and they were graded. I spoke to them about the coins prior to submission though.

 

Also, for copper there is @BadThad product VerdiCare that he says leaves a protective layer that is not detectable by the "sniffer".

 

If they are submitted for grading they will detail or possibly be bodybagged. If submitted for conservation and they can remove the lacquer and there is no damage beneath it they should straight grade.

 

I believe it was the other way around, the original Verdi-gone was detectable, the current VerdiCare is not.

 

I think it's more that it's been deemed "acceptable" than "undetectable." I'm aware of a number of treated coins in "righteous" slabs.

 

I think the idea is that the "protective" layer left is so thin that it cannot be detected by the FTIR "sniffer", perhaps @BadThad will illuminate us

 

My understanding was that the layer was very thin ( one or couple of molecules) and was attracted to the surface of the metal and thus would not vaporize or release enough to be detected, but could be removed with organic solvents if the owner later desired.