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 Replies: 24 / Views: 4,810 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2368 Posts |
Hey CCF, I have a story to share. So I was examining one of my coins under my loupe, with 10x magnification. It's my 1882-S Morgan dollar, graded by MS-64 by NGC. I seem to talk about this coin a lot haha... Here it is:  So anyway, the point of the story! Between the B and U of PLURIBUS, I noticed a spot of green PVC corrosion, in its unmistakable greenish blue color. The spot cannot be seen without magnification, and there are no other green spots I have found yet. There is some hazy splotches, which may or may not be PVC. So, I've decided that I'm going to crack it out and acetone it. I've realized that TPGs are not infallible, and I'm going to be more skeptical towards slabs from now on. Does anyone else have any similar stories? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
I still cannot for the life of me understand "Questionable Color" that the TPG use on some really beautiful coins.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
I saw a video once showing the process of grading coins and I was amazed at how quickly they look over each coin before giving it a grade. I'm not sure if the video was accurate for everyday grading but it doesn't surprise me to see them make mistakes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7618 Posts |
If there is any doubt as to "originality" when it comes color, the TPG's will use the term "questionable color". I think they do this to protect themselves from any future liability. If you like the coin and like the color then it doesn't really matter what the TPG company thinks. It is your coin. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
If that 1849 is Questionable Color then I'm a buyer of Questionable Color.  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
I have encountered PVC contamination in TPG slabs in the past. You are doing the right thing, crack it and give it an acetone bath. PVC does not sit still, it will keep growing, just watch the latest Night at the Museum movie.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
Even the best TPG's don't do first looks at coins through loupes more than 3x. Higher (5x) if something looks funny or they are doing variation attributions. OR The PVC production may not advanced when the coin was examined. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Heck, 5x is what I'd use to grade a 70. I don't know how long it takes for a PVC infestation to go from colorless and undetectable to green, but a couple years in a slab should certainly be enough.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2368 Posts |
Quote:
PVC does not sit still, it will keep growing, just watch the latest Night at the Museum movie. Haha I just saw that! It was funny, they were saying that the tablet was turning green because it was losing its magic, and I was just sitting there thinking "I hate to be a buzz kill, but maybe you're just storing it improperly..."  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Yeah, I was thinking it just needed a good soak in acetone. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2368 Posts |
Crack out was successful! I'll post more updates when I can...  Edit: Wow NGC is getting pretty sloppy alright...  Edited by wheatchaser140
01/06/2015 2:17 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Looks like it was a clean break (out) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2368 Posts |
Alright, I gave it a five minute acetone dip, and then a one minute acetone rinse. The green spot looks exactly the same, no change whatsoever under 10x magnification. Why didn't that work? I'm a little frustrated...  Edited by wheatchaser140
01/06/2015 3:18 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Quote:
I saw a video once showing the process of grading coins and I was amazed at how quickly they look over each coin before giving it a grade. As someone that has been on the grading floor at a couple of Top tier TPGs, I can say most graders use no loupe when grading and spend less than 3-4 seconds on each side of a Morgan dollar or other common coin, unless they are looking for variety diagnostics or the coin is questionable in authenticity. When grading smaller coins like 3 cent silver, dimes, etc. some grader (but less than 50%) use any sort of magnification. I've never seen them wear gloves, other than handling a great known rarity in Proof. The PCGS video on grading is a very accurate showing of the grading room (at least in the early to mid 1990's when I visited several of them, ANACS, ICG, SEGS. I'm also very good friends with several ex-PCGS and NGC graders, so speaking from my own knowledge and from discussions I've had with their experiences in grading rooms. "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
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Alright, I gave it a five minute acetone dip, and then a one minute acetone rinse. Because that soak might take 5 days, not 5 minutes. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2368 Posts |
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Because that soak might take 5 days, not 5 minutes. Thanks Dave! OK, here's a picture of the trouble spot. Note the hazy circle between the B and the U, with a green speck of PVC in the center of it.  |
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Replies: 24 / Views: 4,810 |
Posted 01/05/2015 2:41 pm
