2016-07-13 Wed

Coins with altered surface can be difficult to spot but have a “No Grade” label. As per PCG “No Grade” is given to coins whose surfaces are altered using dental wax, putty, lacquer, nose grease, etc. to ‘improve’ its appearance or to cover marks. Sometimes it’s done to make a coin look better and make rarities more affordable for collectors who are okay to collect altered coins.

The 1892-S Morgan dollar, Uncirculated Details, Altered Surfaces was sold for $16,450 at Heritage’s January 2016 Florida United Numismatists auctions. An About Uncirculated 58 example of the same coin might also bring the same amount but a MS-60 graded one fetched $30,550 in 2014. Extra attention is given while grading these coins as intelligent doctoring is done to alter surfaces, which is not visible to the normal eye. ?