When PCGS gives you a details grade, make Details-ade!
airplanenut
Posts: 22,149 ✭✭✭✭✭
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Somebody paid a kid a nickel to pretty it up. Professionally cleaned!
Okay, that’s hilarious,
Once a coin has been cleaned is possible to ever get a straight grade on it, or will the cleaning haunt it forever? Seems a lot of nice coins end up in the hands of careless individuals who know nothing about this and literally ruin that particular coin’s ‘reputation.’
Barring discussion of coins that are on the line (lightly cleaned, cleaned in just one spot, etc) and focusing on coins that are obviously, harshly cleaned, the cleaning will likely haunt the coin forever. Even with enough time to retone to a more natural color, there's almost always a tell that the surfaces were previously cleaned, whether it's a remaining glossy appearance, hairlines that are permanently etched into the surface, or the new color that just looks a bit off. I suppose if you allowed a coin to wear down enough over time you could get rid of the evidence of the cleaning, but then it's also a lower grade than when you started with, which I don't think quite satisfies the intent of your question.
Is that some lipstick I see on old Abe?
Last time I listed a cleaned coin, the suggested AI description had the same line you show (I obviously deleted it and the rest of the wonky description).
Innumerable coins of the early copper, bust and seated era that have been cleaned and straight-graded defy your discussion.
On the web: http://www.earlyus.com
I'll agree to an extent. Lots of coins in the categories you mention get straight grades even when I think they're obviously cleaned from the outset (not in those categories, but I have a trade dollar with a straight grade that absolutely doesn't deserve it). To that end, some of those coins are liners that will get straight or details grades one time, and the other the next. Others should always get details grades (in my opinion) and for whatever reason don't. I interpreted the question to refer to coins cleaned harshly enough that they will always get a details grade, and then they morph into acceptable coins. Will some still get through? Sure, but for the series that let a lot of cleaned material through and a cleaned coin is bad enough to be a no-questions cleaned coin every time, I'd say the vast majority of those are pegged for life.
I remember as a kid there was a type of copper darkener that would allow a lightly cent to be sort of 'restored' back to its natural glory.
peacockcoins
I believe it was called Deller's Darkener. You can take powdered sulfur and mix it with petroleum jelly to do the same thing.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
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I think that's also been called "liver of sulfur." (yuk)
I've seen my share of early proof Jeff nickels 1938 to 1970 in my time that have been cleaned to death and straight-graded, I know this from the many trips I have had to make to the PO to return them. True early deep-mirror proofs will have identical mirrors of the proofs made today. There's my tip for the day.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
What happened to @airplanenut?
That seemed out of left field, can't imagine what in the world happened???
Chopmarked Trade Dollar Registry Set --- US & World Gold Showcase --- World Chopmark Showcase
Sad to lose another long term member that was always a great contributor.
I don't know what happened but a little jail time may have been more in order than being banned.
@HeatherBoyd could you review what the problem was and if there is any chance to let him back? Thank You.
I'm shocked. He's been a member here for over 23 years and his contributions have been numerous and always positive.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
BHNC #248 … 130 and counting.
Welcome back @airplanenut
Tried a couple of AI descriptions on lower price coins. Saves time but they are simple and you have to check for accuracy.
I'm curious how much time... outside of a coin that warrants a detailed description/research (which AI won't do well anyway), most coins can have their appearance described rather generically in a sentence or two after a quick look (which AI can't do... yet). I'd think that an AI description that then had to be read and fixed even a little would take longer, unless there is a desire to have the description read more like an auction house for something significant, where background about the coin is also included.
Also... I'm back
Welcome back Jeremy.
Was getting to the point where your eyes are begging you to turn off the computer, but you want to get a few more coins listed. Also wanted to see what HAL would come up with. Yeah, any decent bauble over a hundred bucks gets the full "pristine mirrors," "Caribbean sea green toning," shtick.
Glicker