Reveal Your Coins’ True Beauty

The professional conservationists at NGC use 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. Since, 2001, NGC has conserved more than 1 million coins, tokens and medals.

A professional approach to numismatic conservation

From within a state-of-the-art secure facility, NGC’s conservationists use a variety of proprietary techniques to remove harmful surface contaminants, stabilize and protect a coin’s surfaces, and improve eye appeal. The American Numismatic Association (ANA), the only coin collecting organization chartered by US Congress, and the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) have named NGC their conservation service of choice. Read more >

Entrusted with the world’s most extraordinary coins

NGC has conserved and preserved many of the world’s most important numismatic rarities and collections, including pieces from the Smithsonian Institution. In addition to these rare and valuable vintage coins, NGC has handled coins recovered from four major shipwrecks along with countless modern coins.

What is numismatic conservation?

Collectible coins are susceptible to damage and changes of appearance as a result of improper storage and packaging, adverse environmental effects, mishandling, and natural changes over time. Surface contaminants such as PVC and other residues, soils, tarnish, spots and encrustation can diminish eye appeal and even permanently damage coins.

NGC pioneered a professional approach to numismatic conservation and can safely remove these harmful surface contaminants and often dramatically improve a coin’s eye appeal. Unlike improper cleaning, which will permanently impair a coin’s surfaces, professional conservation from NGC reveals a coin’s originality.

NGC will never perform repairs such as filling holes or smoothing scratches, or do any type of mechanical alteration. The techniques used by NGC are non-invasive and widely accepted by industry experts.

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What NGC Conservation can do

Prolonged exposure to an unstable environment can cause coins of all types to develop haze, spots, encrustation, verdigris, corrosion and tarnish. NGC specializes in the removal of these harmful surface contaminants and the stabilization of a coin’s surfaces. Read more >

Conservation for vintage and modern coins alike

All coin types can be affected by surface contaminants and negative environmental reactions. In many cases, coins have been stored or sold in soft plastic flips or mint packaging that contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a chemical now known to slowly leach onto the surfaces of a coin. If not safely removed, PVC and other residues will eventually result in permanent damage.

Some of these issues will make a coin ineligible for grading by NGC, if not first addressed by professional conservation. After conservation by NGC, coins will be sent directly for certification and, depending on the surface condition, will be numerically graded or NGC Details graded.

Important Note: Many coins are artificially toned or have had substances applied in attempt to hide other problems such as scratches or improper cleaning. These issues may become apparent after NGC removes the artificial toning or applied substances, but they are in no way caused by NGC’s conservation techniques. None of NGC’s techniques will cause scratches or an “Improperly Cleaned” notation at NGC.

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What NGC Conservation cannot do

Though NGC Conservation benefits many coins, there are certain problems that cannot be remedied, such as corrosion, wear, scratches, and white “milk” spots. NGC does not make repairs and, likewise, cannot undo mechanical alternations. Read more >

Important Note: Hairline scratches and other surface issues caused by improper cleaning are often disguised with artificial toning or applied substances. Artificial toning and applied substances can be removed by NGC Conservation, which will then reveal the improper cleaning underneath. None of NGC’s techniques will cause an “Improperly Cleaned” notation at NGC.

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The NGC Conservation Process

  • NGC conservationists evaluate your coin

    NGC first evaluates a coin to determine if it will benefit from conservation. If it will not benefit from conservation, the coin goes directly to grading.

  • NGC conserves your coin

    If NGC determines that a coin will benefit from conservation, it performs the necessary conservation techniques. After conservation is complete, the coin proceeds to grading.

  • NGC Grades your coin

    After conservation, coins are seamlessly transferred to authentication, grading and encapsulation. Once the coin has been graded and encapsulated, it is shipped back to the submitter.

Frequently asked questions

What is NGC Conservation?

NGC’s conservation service was established in 2001. Conservation removes harmful surface contaminants, stabilizes a coin for long-term preservation and can dramatically improve a coin's eye appeal. After conservation, coins can be seamlessly transferred to grading.

What coins can benefit from NGC conservation?

NGC Conservation removes harmful surface contaminants and stabilizes a coin's surfaces. Coins with PVC and other types of residue, haze, encrustations or unattractive or artificial toning are usually excellent candidates for NGC Conservation. To learn more and see examples, click here.

How much does NGC Conservation cost?

For current services and fees for NGC Conservation, please click the link below.

Conservation Services & Fees >

Does NGC offer any type of guarantee for conservation?

NGC does not provide grade protection or any type of grade guarantee for coins submitted for conservation. NGC evaluates every coin in order to determine whether that coin will benefit from conservation. If NGC believes that the coin will not benefit from conservation, the coin will not be conserved and will be transferred directly to grading. PCGS-graded coins submitted for CrossOver will not be graded in the event that they cannot be conserved. In rare instances, NGC Conservation may reveal additional issues that were previously hidden by residue or other surface contaminants. None of the techniques used by NGC will cause such issues. However, the submitter acknowledges that the conservation services provided by NGC may not prevent the coin from grading lower or receiving no grade by another coin grading company.

What happens when NGC Conservation evaluates a coin?

NGC evaluates every coin submitted for conservation services to determine whether it believes the coin will benefit from conservation. Special handling, detailed below, applies to submissions of NGC and PCGS-certified coins.

If NGC believes that a coin will benefit from conservation, the coin will be conserved and then transferred to grading. Both the NGC Conservation fees and NGC grading fees will apply.

If NGC believes that a coin will not benefit from conservation, the coin will not be conserved. In this case, raw (not holdered) coins will be transferred to grading. There will be a $5 per coin conservation evaluation fee and the NGC grading fees will apply.

If NGC conservationists believe that an NGC-certified coin will not benefit from conservation, the coin will not be conserved and will be left in its original holder and returned to the submitter. The NGC grading fees will be refunded less a $5 processing fee. There will be a $5 per coin conservation evaluation fee.

If NGC conservationists believe that a PCGS-certified coin will not benefit from conservation, the coin will not be conserved. It will be transferred to NGC for CrossOver in its original holder. The full NGC grading fees will apply regardless of whether the coin is crossed or certified by NGC. There will be a $5 per coin conservation evaluation fee.

Please note that while NGC Conservation will attempt to accommodate special requests from submitters, it can’t be responsible if any special requests are not fulfilled.

Does submitting for conservation mean that I will get a higher grade at NGC?

Submitting a coin for conservation does not mean that it will get a higher grade at NGC (i.e., be "upgraded"). Conservation will improve a coin's eye appeal and stabilize its surfaces. In some cases, coins may receive a higher grade at NGC after conservation, but this is not guaranteed.

Can NGC Conservation add "red" to copper coins?

A copper coin's color can change naturally over time from red (noted as "RD" on the NGC certification label) to red brown ("RB") to brown ("BN"). This is an irreversible process and conservation cannot change the BN, RB or RD designations assigned to copper coins.

How do I contact NGC Conservation?

You can contact NGC Conservation by calling or emailing NGC Customer Service. For our contact information, click here.

What if I submit a coin for both conservation and an NGC ReGrade, but NGC declines to conserve the coin?

NGC conservation can help coins with unattractive toning, copper spots and other surface issues. Customers may submit a coin already certified by NGC for a service that includes conservation and an NGC ReGrade (Conservation + ReGrade). If NGC declines to conserve a particular coin under this combined service, then NGC will not perform the ReGrade. If the customer wants the NGC ReGrade regardless of the conservation determination, then the customer should write on their submission form: REGRADE REGARDLESS OF CONSERVATION DECISION.

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