PCGS Grading - via dealer or direct?

[drakesterling]

Also, when you send a coin to PCGS through myself (Eric from Drake Sterling), I do look at the coin and provide you with feedback on whether the coin will grade up or not. If a coin is clearly a body bag for one reason or another, I'll save you the expense of learning the hard way with PCGS. If I save you sending only one coin per submission, that's a $40 - $60 saving right there.

[ausproofs]

Also, when you send a coin to PCGS through myself (Eric from Drake Sterling), I do look at the coin and provide you with feedback on whether the coin will grade up or not. If a coin is clearly a body bag for one reason or another, I'll save you the expense of learning the hard way with PCGS. If I save you sending only one coin per submission, that's a $40 - $60 saving right there.

Do you charge extra for that service ? Ie:- to let people know if a coins will be body bagged (cleaned, altered surface etc ) ?

[coxspau]

Appreciate all the advice.

If I understand correctly, then there appear to be two things to consider:
- The outright value of the coin
- The grade of the coin

I have some coins, mainly gold, which I'm considering slabbing. They are from various countries. IMHO, the grades are reasonable and the purchase value is worth the PCGS grading and slabbing.

Does the slabbing process retard potential verdigris on copper coins?

[drakesterling]

Also, when you send a coin to PCGS through myself (Eric from Drake Sterling), I do look at the coin and provide you with feedback on whether the coin will grade up or not. If a coin is clearly a body bag for one reason or another, I'll save you the expense of learning the hard way with PCGS. If I save you sending only one coin per submission, that's a $40 - $60 saving right there.

Do you charge extra for that service ? Ie:- to let people know if a coins will be body bagged (cleaned, altered surface etc ) ?

There is no extra charge.

[autocoupler]

Does the slabbing process retard potential verdigris on copper coins?

No, it's not unusual to find verdigris on a slabbed coin. It's all about how a coin has been stored and handled during it's life time. I know little about the technicalities, but apparently acetic acid is the prime reason for this green plague on coins, particularly coins that have been handled. Acetic acid occurs naturally on human skin, so it follows we need to be careful how we handle collectible coins.

Olive oil is a natural enemy of acetic acid, and soaking a handled coin in this oil is a way of neutralising any verdigris, provided the verdigris is still soft and has not developed a hard crusty surface. In the latter case the disease will have already eaten into the metal, so even if the verdigris was removed a nice shiny indent will be evident.

I've treated many circulated copper coins in this way with very good success, but  wouldn't recommend this treatment on a high grade lustrous coin, not sure how the luster would be affected by the olive oil.