Green Gunk on Silver Coins (1921 SLQ) - What to Do?

We still dont know if the "green stuff" was on the coin when it was slabbed or developed post-slabbing. Was it there when @MIGuy bought the coin?

Whatever, it cannot be addressed while in the slab. Either he cracks it or a trusted friend does or a conservation service does or he does nothing.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Yeah, I'd think that if they received a coin in their own slab, cracked it, conserved it, and found it non-gradeable, they'd be on the hook for their grading guarantee. Of course, I've never tried to use a grading guarantee.

 

I would also ask for a possible discount if you send it back to NGC/NCS for coin conservation, maybe they'll give you a discount, you'll never know until you ask. Lastly old PVC damage is supposed to be one of the things they are known for as far as getting great results, without dipping.

 

I think it should go back to NGC becaue:

IF it's PVC, then they originally slabbed it straight-graded and missed it. I would think the OP has some sort of claim at that point, even if it might not be contractually enforceable.

But,

If it's NOT PVC but something else that NGC cannot be held responsible for, then the OP will be able to consult with NGC about options.

The coin has a potential value of $500 to $600 so it's probably worth trying to reclaim its value even if there's a chance it might wind up details for reasons that may or may not be the responsibility of NGC. You just won't know unless you try.

But right now, with the "green gunk", does the coin possess it's full straight

 

Post Script - I didn't buy it - I found a VF20 with a green bean in a PCGS slab that was cheaper that didn't have any issues and went with that. I am relieved and thank you all for your comments and insight - seller was asking $559 on this one, discounted from $589.

 

Ah, I see now. The OP never owned this coin and was using us to determine if he should buy it while misleading us to believe that he needed options on what to do about his ownership. There have been others on the site who have chosen to use us in a deceptive manner also. I can think of one who made a habit of posting coins they didn't own for a GTG without stating that fact. I don't respond to that member any more and I probably won't respond to the OPs future posts either.

Have a nice day.

 

Goodness Gracious, Please reread my original post, I did not ever represent I owned the coin - I was seriously considering buying it, was negotiating with the seller and was concerned about the green stuff, so I wound up going with a different 1921 instead. I appreciate all of the input I got, it helped me decide. Here's what I said, "I'm a bit concerned about this green stuff, please observe the date - the top of the 9 and the 2 on this 1921 Standing Liberty Quarter. Is it old PVC damage, alien mold, or am I imagining things? This coin is already slabbed and has a grade I like, but I'm wondering if it wouldn't benefit from Conservation (I still don't know exactly what those wizards do - or what they might not be willing to do). Anyone have any ideas what this is and what the best course of action might be?"

 

@MIGuy there are a few things to consider:

(1) the coin has a current NGC value of about $650; if you, or any other service other than NCS/NGC breaks it out to clean it--say using Acetone--you will loose that Grade/Cert and have to take your chances with whomever you may send it to in the future.

BTW dipping it in what is usually used to remove tarnish from silver coins will not remove the greenish residue if it is indeed PVC, but it will remove or lighten some of the toning that is present, but not all of it. Why? There is some very dark toning in the recesses where there are dings from circulation, and around the protected areas of the Detail, and this concentrated, dark toning--oftentimes combined with crud from handling--is not going to be removed by a typical dip and rinse.
Also, if it is PVC residue (usually greenish) or any other residue that has been in place for a long time and if removing it is successful, you may find that the area that was covered is a different tone (usually lighter) and/or reflectivity, and can also disclose pitting that may be present that was hidden by that toning or residue.

(2) suppose you don't want to risk breaking it out yourself and you decide to send it in to NCS/NGC for Conservation/re-Grading (same as Standard Tier Grading). The approximate cost to you would be $89 + 2-way shipping + Insurance.

(3) you've shown only the Obverse and not the full slab and as @Publius2 remarked it was not likely slabbed with PVC residue showing, so one could speculate that it acquired the greenish tinge that you're observing during the time that it was slabbed. I don't see a heavy accumulation of "that" residue. For comparison purposes, the image below is from a Heritage Auction of an SLQ in 2005 that was in an original white ANACS Slab (Cleaned AU50 NET Grade) that also has green PVC residue at at least one place on the Reverse (Heritage almost always does a very thorough job of describing the coin in addition to what the Slab Label says):



Heritage states in the Description "...and a pinpoint speck of possible PVC residue is near the N in UNITED. Even with their IMO "less-than-great" photos back then, I can see the green residue (blobish) on the base of the Leg on the 'N', and also on the tip of curved descender of the 'Q' in QUARTER. If you're a HA member, you can log in and expand the reverse image where those two areas are larger and the green color is more pronounced--that is, in my experience, PVC residue. NOTE that the above coin had been cleaned so the fields show much more of a contrast with the purported PVC residue, and in your SLQ that contrast is much less, but I still don't think that you have an issue that needs to be addressed.

 

PVC damage needs PVC plastic or the formed chemicals to spread. It is not alive. It can't grow, and creep and crawl. If PVC is really on a sealed coin holder's coin, it is almost 99% certain it was close to that amount when encased. Some people put PVC items in their safe along with their coins and not think anything about it. IMO, Jim

 

eddiespin, posted: "... I've seen many that look crappy after the service. Mostly PCGS ones, as NGC came later to the service. But I've not seen one, ever, go straight-graded, to conservation service, then details-graded, by the same TPG. Still waiting to see that one..."

NGC was NOT the first grading service to conserve coins. However, AFAIK NGC was the first to officially declare NCS as a conservation service for collectors - well ahead of PCGS.

Anyone wish to dispute anything in this post with me?

 

Sell it and buy a better example. Don't waste your time or money

 

Post #2
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/has-anyone-ever-used-ncs-what-were-your-results.190343/

 

Yeah, I somewhat remember that. Angie's coin had a little spot on it. It was graded by NGC, but then the spot "grew." He sent the coin back to NGC because the growth of the spot negatively affected the market grade. What were they supposed to do with the coin, sit there and look at it? They sent it off to NCS to be restored to the grade because the grade changed in the slab and that's what they thought he was requesting by sending it back to them. NCS tried but couldn't remove the spot or get it back to what it was when the coin was graded. In that restoration effort, latent defects turned up, necessitating the details grade.

If a conservation reveals latent defects inimical to a grade the grade could detail. I'm with you on that. You're right.

 

I did a google search and found several right here on CT.

 

I use Brave, not Google.

 

Never heard of it but thats because I'm not up on tech. I'll try that next time.

 

Take a look, it's private and free.

 

Will do. Thanks!

 

Great pictures of a coin in a slab; very clear. Good, sharp photography, whatever issues the pictured coin may or may not have.

 

You can use warm/hot water with baking soda in a glass bowl. Also, get some aluminum foil and sand some of it to clear off to just the metal. Next, place the coin [sliver only or silver jewelry to remove tarnish] just touching the aluminum foil. Afterward, only air dry or just pat the coin/item dry. DO NOT RUB IT. Good luck. Do this several times if the tarnish is still showing.