Conservation Showcase: South Africa 1994 5 Rand

BEFORE CONSERVATION
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AFTER CONSERVATION
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Some coins have a bad start in life right out the gate. Popular among collectors is the 1994 5 Rand coin issued by South Africa commemorating the Presidential Inauguration that year of Nelson Mandela. Many of these coins were issued glued to special First Day Covers meaning that when the coin is separated from its packaging it is left with a thick sticky residue of industrial glue that is both incredibly unattractive and incredibly difficult to safely remove.

Through patient work, NCS conservators are able to safely remove the glue residue from the surface of the coin leaving bright original surfaces behind. With the glue residue, these coins will not be encapsulated at all by NGC but with the careful work of NCS conservators, this coin was able to grade with NGC.