NGC Conservation: Breathing New Life into Classic Gold, Silver, and Copper

NGC 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, they are seamlessly transferred for professional grading and encapsulation.

Below are a few highlights of coins that were conserved and graded by NGC recently:

1883-CC Morgan Dollar

Long-term storage in poor quality holders can lead to the development of a myriad of residues. This 1883-CC Silver Dollar was recently submitted for NGC conservation because of a heavy, slightly green residue that had formed in a mottled fashion across the entire coin. Whenever a green-tinged residue is seen on silver coins such as this Morgan, it is most often the result of storage in lower-quality coin holders containing PVC. NGC conservators have reliable techniques to safely remove residues like this from such coins without damaging the surfaces underneath. Fortunately, this coin was able to be freed of the heavy residues, allowing this coin to be able to grade with NGC.

1856-S $3

Circulated coins can develop residues through poor storage conditions but oftentimes also through the rigors of being handled in commerce. This circulated 1856-S $3 was submitted for NGC conservation to remove a hazy residue that had developed evenly across both sides of the entire coin, as well as significant residue build-up in the letters of the legends. Given the circulated nature of this coin, these residues likely began forming during the period when this coin was circulating. Once the unsightly residue was carefully removed, this important, circulated gold coin was able to grade numerically with NGC.

1857 Flying Eagle Cent

Quite often, concerns with residue development formation center on potential damage to the surfaces, but even without such damage, residues can hide the surface. This copper-nickel 1857 Flying Eagle Cent arrived at NGC needing the removal of surface residues that were obscuring key design features. Long-term storage removal of heavy residues such as this is a process that NGC conservators are well-versed in safely performing. Following conservation, this cent was revealed to be brighter, sharper, and residue-free as it proceeded for grading with NGC.

For more information about NGC Conservation, visit NGCcoin.com.