Once cleaned, always cleaned ...
Higashiyama
Posts: 2,154 ✭✭✭✭✭
From time to time on these boards, in reference to a lightly cleaned coin, one hears a statement such as "carry it around as a pocket piece for a few years, and it will look natural and market acceptable"
I've accumulated a bit of empirical evidence over the past 15 years to suggest that this is not true -- or at least it's not as easy as it sounds!
Almost 20 years ago now, a few board members, especially @braddick and @pocketpiececommems, kindled my interest in circulated classical commemoratives. I've since assemble a set of about 35 coins, most in PCGS slabs, and many as part of my only registry set. In the course of acquiring these, I also acquired a few problem coins -- lightly cleaned or dipped circulated specimens -- not terrible coins, but a bit too messed with to slab. I've been carrying four of these around as pocket pieces off and on now for about 15 years! In total, I'd guess each has about 2 - 3 years of wear as a pocket piece. I unfortunately do not have "before" photos, but they have probably worn to the extent of one or two grade increments, for example, from VF35 to VF30/25. They've also had 15 years to tone -- a fair amount of time. In spite of this, all four coins retain a somewhat unnatural color, and would almost certainly be rejected as improperly cleaned. The coins are fun and I plan to keep carrying them around, but I've pretty much come to the conclusion in the title -- Once cleaned, always cleaned.
Here, by the way, is one of the group -- a Connecticut. Although it wouldn't slab, and the photos is a bit low resolution, give me your thoughts on grade if you'd like!
Comments
I'll pass on grading it, but seem to recall that you purchased an NGC graded Connecticut from me back in the 1990s. Might this be correct?
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Hello @TomB -- I believe that you and I are both big fans of the Connecticut! But, the two NGC coins I have of TomB provenance are a Maine and a Washington Carver!
PS - and also my Icon -- the amazing Long Island in a PCGS slab.
Oh, yes! I think it must have been the Maine I was thinking of. If so, I always liked that coin. Hope the family is well, we are in the same place as way back then.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I'll try to post something useful to your thread. Pretty radical thinking, right? Here is an unmeshed, circulated Connecticut. Folks will notice that the details might be similar to the coin you shared, but the skin is very different-
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Once cleaned, always cleaned ...
Here is a solution, but it's not for everyone.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1031775/creating-a-1805-dollar-from-a-damaged-1800-dollar
there really should be a 'dislike' button here
Once messed with, always messed with. But a cleaned coin can mellow back to market acceptable with or without help. Graded doesn't equal unmessed with.
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
I once took a lightly cleaned rare gold coin, then handled it enough to get it straight graded. It was a bit of an experiment, and I was pleased with the results. Gold hairlines easily, and essentially I just handled it enough to make those go away.