My Take on Whether These Coins Are Worth Conserving and Which TPG to Choose

As a coin collector with years of handling old pieces, I constantly wrestle with whether to conserve aging coins and which grading service to pick. Just last week, I found myself staring at an 1847 Silver Dollar dotted with green spots and a well-worn 1795 Large Cent – perfect examples to share how I approach these dilemmas.

Reading the Stories in the Metal

That 1847 dollar caught my eye immediately – those green spots scream for attention but might clean up nicely. The 1795 cent tells a different tale though; its heavy wear shows it lived a full life, and no amount of cleaning will restore what’s lost. Both are absolute treasures for any collection, but their conditions mean we handle them differently.

When to Intervene – And When to Step Back

Here’s my rule of thumb: if conservation won’t meaningfully change a coin’s story, leave it be. For that battered Large Cent? I’d keep it raw – the damage is part of its character now, and tampering could backfire. But the Silver Dollar? That’s another matter. Removing those spots could transform its eye appeal and likely boost its value enough to justify the effort.

Picking Your Grading Partner

Choosing where to send coins feels like picking a mechanic – you want someone who knows their stuff without emptying your wallet. Here’s how the big players stack up based on my submissions:

• ANACS: My first choice for conservation work, especially with bulk discounts. Sending ten coins costs just $59 total – unbeatable if you’ve got several needing attention. For one-offs it’s pricier, but their silver expertise is worth it for coins like that dollar.
• ICG: The budget-friendly workhorse. At roughly $10 for grading plus $10 for conservation per coin, it’s perfect for newcomers. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well they handle cleaned coins without the premium price tag.
• PCGS and NGC: The luxury option. Their percentage-based fees (minimum $25/coin) make sense for high-value showpieces, but for everyday coins like ours, the math rarely adds up.

For beginners, I’d recommend ICG for that dollar – great value. For the cent, a simple authentication preserves its story for future collectors or family.

Real-World Advice From the Trenches

Let me save you some trial and error: conservation adds $10-20 per coin, so reserve it for pieces with fixable issues like spots or haze. Slabbing makes sense for anything valuable – it verifies authenticity and simplifies passing coins down. For our pair? Conserve and slab the dollar with ICG (or ANACS if you’ve got more submissions), but leave the cent certified but untouched. After all, part of our passion is being temporary caretakers of history – enjoy the journey!