NCS Conservation: Removal of Blemishes and Haze Reveals Gleaming Gold Coins

Numismatic Conservation Services™ (NCS®) uses a variety of proprietary techniques to remove harmful 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 Company™ (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.

Even very modern coins can develop detriments that require careful conservation to remedy. This 2016 24 Karat Gold Winged Liberty (or Mercury) Dime had developed several red spots on the reverse. Red spots such as these do develop on the surface of many gold coins quite often in very visually unappealing ways. The conservators at NCS have developed techniques to remove such red spots from the surface of gold coins without creating any permanent irreversible damage. Once the offending spots were removed, this modern gold coin was able to grade very well with NGC.

2016 24 Karat Gold Winged Liberty Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

2016 24 Karat Gold Winged Liberty After conservation Click images to enlarge.

Poor long-term storage conditions often lead to the development of residues on both classic and modern coins. This gold France 1975 50 Franc piedfort had developed a distracting hazy residue on predominantly the reverse. Heavy residues can lead to permanent damage to the surface of a coin making it important to remove in more ways than just for the immediate visual impact. Being a piedfort, this coin is doubly thick making for a substantial heavy gold piece. The extra weight, however, does not pose a problem for the removal of the opaque residue. Following careful conservation, this special French coin was able to grade well with NGC.

France 1975 50 Franc Piedfort Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

France 1975 50 Franc Piedfort After conservation Click images to enlarge.

Red spots can develop on gold coins regardless of their nation of origin. This 1999 China commemorative gold 500 Yuan honoring 50 years of the People’s Republic was submitted to NCS to address the numerous small red spots that had developed on both sides. The rectangular shape of this commemorative gold does not preclude this piece from the development of red spots, nor does that hinder the conservation process. NCS conservators were able to carefully remove the gold spots from the surface of this coin, revealing a bright gold coin that graded well with NGC.

1999 China 1999 Commemorative Gold 500 Yuan Before conservation Click images to enlarge.

China 1999 Commemorative Gold 500 Yuan After conservation Click images to enlarge.

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