| Author |
 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,711 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6389 Posts |
Hello all, I have an Alexander tetradrachm that I bought from CNG a couple years ago. I sent it out for grading to ICG and they slabbed it with a grade of AU-50. I wasn't sure it would even fit in the holder since this is a very high relief coin. I now see what looks like discoloration at the highest point of the protrait (over Heracles' ear) where apparently the coin presses against the plastic. A small crack has also developed in the holder at that point. Should I be concerned that my coin is suffering damage from the encapsulation? I've attached photos of obverse and reverse, plus a closeup of the suspicious area. I would appreciate any comments!    |
|
|
|
Forum Mom
 United States
5877 Posts |
My first thought is that your coin should be reholdered. I would also push for ICG to do it for free. It looks like they may have forced your coin into a holder that is too shallow. I'm not sure what your recourse would be, but I would think that the same thing will happen again if it's put in a similar holder.
I would definitely contact ICG about this, though.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
905 Posts |
I would remove it from the slab. Ancient coins do not belong in slabs--they made it this far without being slabbed! The grading method used for slabbed coins does not really work for ancients, either.
Remove all ancients from slabs!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
751 Posts |
I wouldn't remove it until after you have established that ICG did not damage your coin. Once it's out, you can't expect any compensation.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4589 Posts |
|
|
New Member
United States
12 Posts |
ICG holders are tight. I have 2 Lysimachus coins with cracks near Alexanders ear.
I will try to find the pics.
-1
|
|
New Member
United States
12 Posts |
Found them. On the first one you can see how the horn is pressed tight in the holder. Both have hair line cracks near the ear that are hard to see in the pics...   This one is my favorite and the better coin of the two...   I think that this is a problem that ICG has had for some time now. For me it is not that big of deal. -1 |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
6389 Posts |
Hi Negative1,
Thanks for sharing your coins; they are beautiful, especially the AU53 example. What a knockout!
My concern is that it looks like my Alexander tetradrachm is becoming discolored at the point of contact with the holder. Your coins don't seem to have any sign of color change.
I have been in touch with ICG and at their request I have sent in the coin so they could examine it. They specifically told me not to include any payment so it sounds like they are taking responsibility for the problem. Once they tell me how they want to handle it I'll post the information.
|
|
New Member
United States
12 Posts |
I really hope that the color difference on your coin is in the plastic and not damage to the coins.
It's funny a lot of people like the AU53 Lysimachus better than the EF45. The EF45 is actually worth more because of the higher art. Just compare the two reverses. The Athena on the EF45 is the best that I have seen.
I am happy to see that ICG is going to look at your coin for you. I hope that they come up with a new holder soon. I have more that need to go in.
-1
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6389 Posts |
Greetings, ICG finally got around to inspecting my tetradrachm and they decided it was just too thick to be properly slabbed. At my request they removed it from the holder and fortunately it doesn't appear to have suffered any damage. The discoloration apparently affected the slab plastic only, not the coin metal. ICG sent me some free grading vouchers by way of apology for the inconvenience. I'd have to say they've done a good job of responding to my concerns. Here's my coin, now out of the holder. All's well that ends well!   |
|
Member
United States
3242 Posts |
First thing wrong ICG 2nd Very old coinage
|
|
Forum Mom
United States
5877 Posts |
I'm so glad that the coin wasn't damaged and that they handled your problem so nicely.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2703 Posts |
Since you bought it from CNG, you can always refer a potential buyer to the CNG archives. Therefore the coin is, in effect, already authenticated by CNG. IMHO, you should keep ancients out of plastic coffins.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
103 Posts |
Jaobler that is a superb reverse! wow
|
|
Valued Member
United States
167 Posts |
I absolutely agree with Victor -- IMO ancient coins do not belong in plastic coffins! I also think it is ludicrous to ascribe an arbitrary grade to ancient coins -- there are simply too many variables and opinions.
James
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1454 Posts |
I agree with the others who are saying that ancients should not be slabbed. There should be a way to protect them so they can be preserved for the future but I don't think slabbing is the answer. My wife has started getting into collecting ancients and I watch her peruse through ebay and there are so many different ones and the ones that are even the same are different. Assigning grades to ancients is just another way for the grading companies to take more of your coin collecting dollars. |
| |
Replies: 15 / Views: 2,711 |
|
Posted 02/16/2007 11:43 am
