THE DIRT ON COIN CONSEVATION, A FOLLOW UP!

By: Bryon Crowder

As a follow up to my presentation on coin conservation/cleaning, I am going to add an article to the newsletter. This will be an ongoing feature in the newsletter entitled: THE DIRTON COIN CONSERVATION. Anybody that has collected coins for at least the last 10 years is probably aware of the double standard for conserving/cleaning coins. The grading services tell us we should not clean our coins, but it is okay if they do it. And of course, they charge an additional fee for the service. To research this double standard, I researched what ANACS has to say on their website. What follows is copied from their website, and I have injected some of my own comments.

ANACS CONSERVATION:

Question #1: What kinds of conservation do you do?

Answer#1: ANACS will remove PVC, debris, glue, stains, hazing, and other easily removed or distracting flaws from submitted coins.

Bryon’s comment: Note the key words ‘easily removed’. To me, this implies that the process they use is fairly easy. Acetone will usually remove all their listed flaws, except glue.

Question #2: Whatever happened to the rule that you should never clean coins?

Over the years, many collectable coins have suffered from attempts at cleaning that alter the surfaces and decrease their numismatic value. As a result, most coin experts advise collectors to never clean their coins. ANACS conservation service employs techniques that are designed to preserve the coins surface, while removing substances that can deter from a coin’s appearance and value.

Question #3:What if it is not possible to conserve a coin?

ANACS conservation service is not a restoration service, and as such, there will be coins that are not (cannot) be covered by this service. Environmental damage, such as active corrosion typically cannot be conserved. Also, spotting on proof coins is unlikely to be reversed, especially the spotting that occurs on proof silver eagles.

Question #4: What about copper?

Copper coins are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Since copper is a very active (reactive) metal, there are many copper coins that we cannot treat (or improve). Red or red-brown copper will always look worse after conservation attempts, so we will not treat those. Brown copper can sometimes see improvement.

Question#5: Will my ‘conserved’ coin be graded ‘cleaned’?

Only if your coin was cleaned prior to its submission. It is not uncommon for the removal of PVC to uncover prior cleaning of coins. However, the services that we perform will not cause this condition, only potentially expose it.

Question #6: Pricing: ANACS $59. For up to 10 coins. $89 for up to 20 coins.

Bryon’s comments: So this is not an endorsement of ANACS, I just used them as a convenient example.

Artificial toning is sometimes used to conceal overly aggressive cleaning efforts. Whenever you purchase toned coins, look for what is underneath the toning. If you try to remove toning with ‘dip’ or ‘MS-70’, remember, you may reveal whizzing or other cleaning efforts.

I have to brag a little; I curated a $5 gold coin and a Morgan Dollar, and neither coin came back marked ‘cleaned’ on the holder.