Conservation Showcase: 1913 Type 1 Buffalo 5 Cent

BEFORE CONSERVATION
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AFTER CONSERVATION
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Nearly every experienced numismatist has a horror story about coins and PVC. PVC plasticizer is a chemical used in the production of the plastic of some coin holders most notably the so-called soft flips. With the right temperature and humidity this chemical can leach out of the plastic and deposit onto the surface of a coin. With time this residue can cause irreversible environmental damage.

This 1913 Type 1 Buffalo 5 Cent coin was submitted to NCS after spending time in a coin holder containing the plasticizer PVC. The tell tale result is a coin covered in an even green sludge. Typically coins with PVC residue this extensive have certain irreversible damage. Luckily for this buffalo nickel the PVC residue only caused minimal damage to the coin surface. Following careful removal of the residue by the professionals at NCS this coins was able to grade numerically with NGC.