NCS Conservation: May 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 recently conserved by NCS and graded by NGC.

This gold Thailand 3000 Baht recently came to NCS to remove some very unattractive residues and slight discolorations on the surface. This gold commemorative is dated BE2539 (1996) and was issued in honor of his majesty's ascension to the throne 50 years prior. Skilled conservation must be performed to remove the dark yellow discoloration and hazy residues without damaging the surface underneath. Following conservation, this Thai coin is once again a fitting tribute to his majesty's reign and was able to grade very well with NGC.

Thailand 1996 3000 Baht Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

Thailand 1996 3000 Baht After conservation Click images to enlarge.

Covered in a thick multicolored hazy residue, this 1973 British Virgin Islands Proof Dollar was recently submitted to NCS in need of professional conservation. As an interesting side note, the FM mintmark on this piece signifies production in the private Franklin Mint outside of Philadelphia while the GR monogram below the birds is for former US Mint Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts, who famously designed the obverse of the Kennedy Half Dollar.

The residues, however, are likely caused by improper storage in original mint packaging. Careful conservation work is required to remove ugly and potentially damaging residues from the surface without causing irreversible damage to the surface metal. When the residues were professionally removed from this coin, a bright and mirrored coin was revealed that was able to grade well with NGC.

British Virgin Islands 1973 Proof Dollar Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

British Virgin Islands 1973 Proof Dollar After conservation Click images to enlarge.

Many years of improper long-term storage left this South Korea Silver 10,000 Won commemorative coin covered with an even opaque bluish residue. Issued in honor of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Korea, this coin also features a colorized detail in the center of the obverse. When conserving a coin with colorization such as this, particular attention needs to be paid to the colorized portion in addition to the general fields so as to not damage either surface when removing hazing residues. After successfully completing residue removal by the professional conservators at NCS, the coin was able to grade very well with NGC.

South Korea 1998 10,000 Won commemorative Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

South Korea 1998 10,000 Won commemorative After conservation Click images to enlarge.

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