When a coin is improperly cleaned, surface metal has been forcibly removed from the surface by either mechanical or chemical means. Once this metal has been removed, sadly this cannot be replaced.
What does PCGS altered surface mean?
An altered surface call will be made if PCGS discovers anything has been added to the surface of the coin to either “improve” its appearance or to cover marks, scratches or other surface damage. Surface alteration methods include adding the following materials: dental wax, putty, lacquer, nose grease, etc.
What does XF 45 mean in coins?
CHOICE EXTREMELY FINE
CHOICE EXTREMELY FINE (XF-45 or EF-45) Light overall wear shows on highest points. All design details are still clear. Minor mint luster is evident.
What does altered surface mean?
Altered Surface means that the coin is genuine, but it has been cleaned/polished/tooled/puttied/altered in some way that it cannot be slabbed as a problem-free coin. If it were counterfeit, it would come back in a plastic flip with a label that said “Not Genuine.”
What is a planchet flaw?
A lamination or planchet flaw or peel coin error occurs when there is some sort of impurity in the metal of the coin planchet just below the outside layer of the coin. This impurity stops all of the metal in the coin bonding together correctly.
What does it mean when a coin is tooled?
Tooled is when a coin has had details either reengraved, or enhanced, with an engraving tool or by other mechanical means. ABSOLUTELY TRUE Tooling also applies when a hole is plugged, and the plugged area is blended in to the rest of the immediate surroundings to disguise the plug. NO! A PLUG IS A REPAIR.
What does tooled mean on a Mercury dime?
Tooled is when a coin has had details either reengraved, or enhanced, with an engraving tool or by other mechanical means. You usually see it on older circulated type coins (in the hair, feathers, etc). It sometimes is also done to high grade Mercury dimes (on the bands) or on the bell lines of high grade Franklin half dollars.
What does PCGS grade cleaned, buzzed, tooled and pluged coins?
PCGS, Grading Cleaned, Buzzed, Tooled & Pluged Coins “Genuine”. They would use the term “details” to indicate that the coin was not problem free, and then describe the “problem” such as “scratched, damaged, cleaned, plugged, rim nicks” etc. Normally, the “details” attribution would lower the grade by one level (i.e. “fine” to “very good”).
What makes a NGC coin a tooled coin?
As for the “tooled” notation on the NGC holder, the marks on the reverse of that coin look like something that was done with a sharp instrument of some kind and not other coins. As such it was done with a “tool.”. Perhaps there were initials or other graffiti on the reverse, and this was a crude way of hiding it.
