I have an G$1 dollar that appears to be proof or proof-like but came back as having "altered surfaces" after a standard submission to PCGS. I have looked at the surfaces very carefully and to me it does not appear to have been altered but I am certainly not a professional. I was wondering if it could be beneficial to submit it under the secure plus service which from my understanding detects all kinds of ways a coins surface can be altered. I was also wondering if in fact the machine determines the coin to have unaltered surfaces, will the graders honor this and not grade it as an altered surface coin. Thank you in advance for your help.
If I know people here, they will want pics of the coin in question before they can help you make a decision on sending in back to PCGS.
Yes, before you spend more money, it would be best to let the very experienced people here at cointalk help you.
No, that is not what the machine does. What it does it to detect foreign substances on the surface of the coin. It does not detect if the surfaces have been altered or not. You can alter the surfaces by dipping, whizzing, by rubbing with a cloth, a brush, your fingers, almost anything. Think of it this way and it might be a little easier to understand - a coin with altered surfaces does not have original mint luster.
Altered surfaces could also be things like artificial toning from the application of foreign substances, or something like puttying or addin oils to hide hairlines. In those cases the machine would detect them. But Doug is right, just because it passes the machine doesn't mean the surfaces have not been altered. So it could pass the machine and still not get graded.
