When PCGS slabs a harshly cleaned coin?
Coinstartled
Posts: 10,135 ✭✭✭✭✭
Is there a limit to the cleaning designation and if so what is the next term used?
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Coinstartled
Posts: 10,135 ✭✭✭✭✭
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Cleaned and the harshly cleaned. Either way the coin is in a body bag unless it is extremely rare coin and even then it it looses a significant amount of its value.
That being said many coins are dipped and get a grade as if has not been cleaned or dipped. I am of the opinion that PCGS is much harder on coins that have been dipped. If you see a 1798 XF 40 that looks very clean it has been dipped. Same goes for many gold coins in AU and lower. Most have been dipped and have a washed out monotone on them. NGC is more lenient on grading them even though any AU or less that has not been bathed will show signs of circulation, including vault grime and wear.
After starting an early dollar collection i see several XF 40 and VF 35 coins that are clean and that just does not add up. Just my opinion.
Well the body bag days are sort of over. NGC uses an improperly cleaned as well as a harshly cleaned designation. PCGS I believe only uses cleaned. Was looking at a bunch of 89CC Morgans that were genuine graded. Wonder what the next step after "cleaned "is?
Maybe if I add CAC to the title line......
Some services use cleaned, improperly cleaned, harshly cleaned, buffed, polished, and whizzed in that order.
One of my first purchases was a $20 1853 O graded AU 53 by NGC. After more reading and seeing some original coins I knew NGC had slabbed a coin that had most of the original luster gone. A dealer offered me more than I paid so it is gone even though it can be a tough date. It was one of those coins you look at and know it has to be upgraded if a quality collection is going to be put together.
A coin is either cleaned/dipped or not no matter what the TPG grades it. It boils down to eye appeal to me and mint luster is a big factor. If I do not like a coin I pass as it is certain I will never want to keep a coin that has been altered by " post mint" activity.
Have always thought "cleaned" is a bit of a misnomer. Sounds too wholesome. Wiped is better but too narrow and does not cover steel brushes, for example. Also plenty of bad things, such as AT that don't qualify as cleaned. I have always approved of "messed with." Rather inclusive IMHO.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
I'm sure there will be as more and more graduate into straight graded slabs. Look at early federal coinage and gold.
I have seen cleaned, harshly cleaned, wiped, polished, whizzed...the last two being more PMD than the first three, and more of an alteration to a coin with intent to deceive. Yes, cleaning can also be defined that way, however, often it is done by people with good intentions (Oh they were so dirty, I wanted to clean them up before you looked at them).... All forms alter the surface irrevocably. Cheers, RickO
Either way they are problem coins.