NCS Conservation: October Highlights

Numismatic Conservation Services (NCS) uses a variety of proprietary techniques to remove harmful surface contaminants, stabilize and protect a coin's surfaces and, in many 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 recently.

Not every important coin has been treated as importantly as it should throughout its history. This large silver 1833 Greece 5 Drachma suffered neglect due to many years in poor storage. The result was the development of heavy reddish residues rather evenly across the entire surface. Reddish residues such as this are frequently found on silver coins and can lead to permanent corrosion to the metal underneath. Luckily, conservation was able to remove the ugly residue from this important Greek piece, revealing a coin with little resulting damage. After careful conservation, this coin was able to grade well with NGC.

1833 Greece 5 Drachma Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

1833 Greece 5 Drachma After conservation Click images to enlarge.

Modern silver coins can develop residues that are both unattractive and potentially damaging. This 1993 Russia silver 3 Rouble Proof strike coin commemorates the voyage of Nadezhda and Neva as the first Russian ships to circumnavigate the globe. Most likely, years of storage in original mint packaging led to the development of this distracting hazy blue residue on the surface. Residues such as this frequently cause damage to the surface underneath if left untreated. Conservation was able to remove the thick layer of residue, revealing a significantly brighter coin underneath. After conservation this coin was able to grade with NGC.

1993 Russia Silver 3 Rouble Proof Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

1993 Russia Silver 3 Rouble Proof After conservation Click images to enlarge.

Sometimes, more subtle forms of professional conservation can make a big difference. This 1912 silver Belgium 1 Franc with legends in French has some spectacularly beautiful natural toning. Unfortunately, poor storage left its mark on this coin in the form of some hazy white and pale green residues. These types of residues are frequently indicative of PVC and will cause a coin to not grade at all with NGC, as was the case with this Belgian piece. The professional conservators at NCS were left with a challenge to leave this beautiful toning intact while removing the potentially damaging residue. Careful conservation was performed to remove all harmful residues. The dramatic toning was able to remain. With a lack of any residues, design details are seen clearer — something that can be particularly important when a coin has more shallow relief, such as on this classic design. Following professional conservation, this coin was able to grade very well with NGC.

1912 Belgium Silver 1 Franc Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

1912 Belgium Silver 1 Franc After conservation Click images to enlarge.

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