Does professional coin conservation alter the value of a coin?

Anyone have any thoughts about this? I'm thinking about submitting several coins to NCS, and I'm wondering if it's advisable.

 

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Me too, would like to know the experiences with the cleaning and preservation service

 

I've sent them silver coins that were toned "ugly" and they came back quite nice and NGC graded. Once, one of my medals was downgraded after conservation attempts but it was already NGC slabbed so I got a partial rebate (I had sent it to NGC for "Appearance Review" because of spots). I think copper is the trickier thing to fix; at least it keeps it from getting worse, theoretically.

 

The condition, is the condition . Conservation only prevents somethings progressing to greater deterioration. Before you all run off and start sending all your coin goodies to NCS, Call them and request their brochure and process services. These are not inexpensive services, and most coins simply do not justify the costs.

 

You meant "do NOT justify the costs," right?! That is true. (That's true of slabbing in general.) The NCS website has all the costs, it's based on a percentage of declared value.

As far a "fixing" goes, the ugly toning on my coins was "fixed." Of course there's a risk and, as a fan of toning, it has to be truly ugly to warrant it. Why don't you post a pic?

 

It depends on the coin, the problem, and how much it is going to cost to be conserved.

For cheap coins, generally the answer is no. For more expensive coins with "conservable" problems, the answer is often yes.

Post pics of the coins and we can give you a more educated opinion...Mike

 

Also keep in mind they have the right to refuse service. They are not magicians, there's only so much they can do. If a coin is heavily corroded and damaged, there's nothing that can be done. I've seen many collectors get a "wild hair" and decide corrosion must be removed at any cost. They simply end up with a damaged coin in the end. NCS (and skilled conservationists) know when that will turn out to be the end result.

 

Conservation on this coin?

I'm attaching a pic of a 1756 Basel Thaler. It's almost uncirculated, but there is some staining. What do you think?

 

i looks like ncs should be able to fix that, i have some stained coins as well, haven't tried to send it to ncs yet...

 

Doesn't the coin itself say Conserva...NOS !?
I think NCS could help but it depends on what the stain is. As I understand it, when NCS evaluates a coin, they first decide if it is a good candidate to be helped. (Kinda like a Dr, first do no harm.) I recommend that you peruse their website galleries and figure out the price it would cost you first, based on the coin's value.

 

One experience I had with NCS/NGC conservation definitely improved the value of the coin:

Before:



After:





The coin was initially in an NGC MS64 holder... was sent in for conservation under the NGC grading guarantee, the obverse was cleaned up and it came back in a newer NGC MS64 holder. NGC covered all of the expenses.

 

Wow! That is nice!

 

I am assuming it is silver based coin. If so, I think the "staining" is really toning/tarnish and the way it would be treated is most likely with a dip and returned as a brighter coin. I would hope they would use weaker acidic solutions, so some of the original patina would be preserved. A coin that old should have a nice patina, IMO.

Jim

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Nice!

 

They did a great job on that FEC but it looks it could use some AT work. I usually do my own coin conservation but have tried them on a couple of occasions (expensive material) and the coins graded higher than before. One coin went from a $2500 coin to a $4500 coin and I sold it in that $4500 range a couple weeks after getting it back.

I like to dip coins in Jewel Luster and work any spots with a Q Tip soaked in Dip (a sort of tap tap tap) which eventually will get the spot off as the dip eventually eats away that layer of metal. Sort of like a Dermatologist treating a basal cell area with a scrape and burn. I bet they had to really work on that FEC, what a joke it was with the spots in the 64 holder - I grade coins like that MS 60 and value them at zero in the appraisal / offer calculation TPG cert or not.

 

It needs a dip for sure.

 

The Lafayette Dollar I sent to them was in an NGC MS-63 slab and came back in an NGC MS-64 slab. That one point is about an $800-$1000 difference. I also salvaged/saved a Gettysburg which had PVC damage and came back in an NGC-62 slab.

Then again, when I sent them a 1967 10 Lirot Israeli Victory coin for PVC removal, it was with absolute knowledge that it was a waste financially. However, it was the last coin my Grandfather ever gave me and I wanted to preserve it. My money, my choice.

 

For cheap coins, generally the answer is no. Mike[/QUOTE]

Very wisely said Leadfoot! Cheap stuff is not worthy of the slabbing Gods. If you have common stuff where the value is still little do not bother cleaning them with a professional service.

 

I'm curious; if you don't mind my asking: what kind of coin was it? What was done to the surfaces?

 

nice coin