Reveal Your Coins’ True Beauty

Numismatic Conservation Services (NCS®) is the world’s first and foremost professional conservation service, with more than 1 million coins, tokens and medals conserved since its founding in 2001.

Watch the NCS Conservation Video

A professional approach to numismatic conservation.

From within a state-of-the-art secure facility, NCS uses 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 NCS their conservation service of choice. Read more >

Entrusted with the world’s most extraordinary coins

NCS 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, NCS 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.

NCS 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 NCS reveals a coin’s originality.

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

See Less

Join now to submit your coins to NCS!

Join today

What NCS conservation can do

Prolonged exposure to an unstable environment can cause coins of all types to develop haze, spots, encrustation, verdigris, corrosion and tarnish. NCS 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 Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), an independent affiliate of NCS, if not first addressed by professional conservation. After conservation by NCS, coins can be transferred to NGC 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 NCS removes the artificial toning or applied substances, but they are in no way caused by NCS’s conservation techniques. None of NCS’s techniques will cause scratches or an “Improperly Cleaned” notation at NGC, an independent affiliate of NCS.

See Less

What NCS conservation cannot do

Though NCS conservation benefits many coins, there are certain problems that cannot be remedied, such as corrosion, wear, scratches, and white “milk” spots. NCS 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 NCS conservation, which will then reveal the improper cleaning underneath. None of NCS’s techniques will cause an “Improperly Cleaned” notation at NGC.

See Less

The NCS Process

  • NCS Evaluates your coin

    NCS first evaluates a coin to determine if it will benefit from conservation. If it will not benefit from conservation, NCS transfers the coin directly to NGC for certification.

  • NCS Conserves your coin

    If NCS determines that a coin will benefit from conservation, it performs the necessary conservation techniques. After conservation is complete, NCS transfers the coin to NGC for certification.

  • NGC Grades your coin

    After NCS conservation, coins are seamlessly transferred to NGC for authentication, grading and encapsulation. Once the coin has been graded and encapsulated by NGC, it is returned to NCS for shipment back to the submitter.

Frequently asked questions

Read the latest news and announcements! NCS News >

Join now to submit your coins to NCS!

Join today Have more questions? Contact us