NCS Conservation

Numismatic Conservation Services (NCS) uses a variety of proprietary techniques to remove harmful surface contaminants, stabilize and protect a coin's surfaces and, in may cases, improve a coin's eye appeal. After coins are conserved by NCS they are seamlessly transferred to Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), an independent affiliate of NCS, for grading and encapsulation.

Below are a few highlights of coins that were conserved by NCS and graded by NGC last month.

This Costa Rica 1970 Gold Commemorative Proof 500 Colones issued in honor of 100 years of public education was submitted to NCS with thick hazy residues hiding the mirrored fields and some significant discoloration on the devices. Both ailments were alleviated without damaging the original surface of the coin. It should be noted that this is a sizeable coin with a 55 mm diameter.

Costa Rica 1970 Gold Commemorative Proof 500 Colones Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

Costa Rica 1970 Gold Commemorative Proof 500 Colones After conservation Click images to enlarge.

This China 1980 Silver Commemorative Proof 30 Yuan issued in honor of that year's Olympic games was in need of conservation to remove an overall yellow tinge and a buildup of white residue particularly around the football players. Removal of the offending residues was accomplished without damage to the surfaces underneath. This particular example is free from some of the typical damage due to long periods of poor storage common on older modern commemoratives.

China 1980 Silver Commemorative Proof 30 Yuan Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

China 1980 Silver Commemorative Proof 30 Yuan After conservation Click images to enlarge.

This France 1954 100 Francs Essai Piefort came to NCS in need of help. Many years in poor storage caused an opaque residue to form over the surfaces in a very mottled fashion. An essai piefort is a specially produced coin, in this case of a circulation type, on an extra thick planchet specifically for collectors or presentation purposes. Removal of the thick residues on this coin revealed the original mirrored fields and the beauty of this French coin.

France 1954 100 Francs Essai Piefort Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

France 1954 100 Francs Essai Piefort After conservation Click images to enlarge.

For more information about NCS, visit www.NGCcoin.com/NCS.