Define "Cleaning."

.....by means of removing foreign contaminants/material in an incorrect manner?

Yes, that makes a lot of sense. But sometimes I get the gist that people try to make it sound like any altering of the coin is a detriment to the coin. I can see that. And it's more than obvious that someone collecting near-perfect specimens would want to know if the surface has been altered, and by what means, before they purchase. Because it can be a little difficult to see such imperfections with the naked eye and/or in auction photos. I get that. And am with that.
Edited to add- What was asked for was a definition, not how collectors feel about the subject. That's what I answered.

 

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@Insider thank you for your response. A lot of what you said makes logical sense and I agree with almost all of it, my agreeing being I find it logical and ethical.

Maybe the problem is that there is too much accepted grey area surrounding the term cleaning. Or maybe the grey area is intended to serve as a deceitful label. I do thank you for validating my definition I gave because it should end at removing foreign matter. I'm just having a hard time drinking the "wider definition" cool ade, one that has a generic sugar flavor while I'm being told it's grape. I do want to learn and understand how surfaces are altered because it would give me a better grasp on the concept and methods. I feel that would give me a more thorough list of what to look for and recognize actual alterations. The same with artificial toning. I think it as much of a fraudulent practice as altering the actual surface as it's deceiving someone and making them perceive it is something that it is not, and I'm not buying an artificially toned coin. I'm assuming by how you are responding that you have these secrets and an understanding of what these methods do to achieve their outcome. Would you be at liberty to say that "cleaning" by those methods removes any of the original surface of the coin or it strictly removes foreign materials and possibly leaves a residue behind?

 

Would you be at liberty to say that "cleaning" by those methods removes any of the original surface of the coin or it strictly removes foreign materials and possibly leaves a residue behind?

LOL. I'm still learning and presently concentrating on my weakest subject - artificial toning.

Here is the short and sweet: All anyone needs to do is to learn what a natural coin's surface looks like. Then you will know if it is not natural. I cheat. I was taught to look at coins using a stereo microscope.

Now the question. In the fullest sense, something is removed from a coin's surface (even dust ) when we clean a coin that needs it. So if hold a coin under running water by its edge and dry it with compressed air, I have just cleaned the coin w/o leaving a trace!

Most collectors get caught up with is "cleaning thing." Learn what I posted above as any method of proper cleaning is virtually undetectable even with my microscope. Lots of things used to clean coins leave a residue. That can be removed and usually is. Copper may be an exception as some residues help impede corrosion.

My advice is to clean some of your Mint State pocket change and see what its surface looks like. Rubbing a brand new nickel using soap and water on your fingers may look great to you while I may detect hairlines.

After you learn what a natural surface looks like, you'll need to learn how "unnatural" a coin can be and still be "market acceptable" to the TPGS's and other collectors. Yours and my personal belief may differ from theirs. MINE CERTAINLY DOES!

Doesn't green and purple go together nicely?

 

I must take exception to your example, as us "survivalists" often live in an area where our water is commonly known as extremely "hard water" which can leave a mineral coating on virtually everything it touches, especially if it runs down a vertical surface with devices. I don't ever "wash" a coin with anything but distilled water. I use an osmotic blot material to absorb possible retained high surface tension fluidic substance, after the coin is placed horizontal on a flat surface. I'm just glad that fracking hasn't arrived in my vicinity. Please accept my exception!

 

Sometimes the right thing to do ain't easy.

 

If'n it ain't, I gots me a .45 Colt n' I'll put a slug a'tween its eyes. (So, do you like "common man" language better from me?) This thread lost any value long ago. Do what the hobby standards say is okay - like that which is taught at ANA-sanctioned courses, and NOTHING more. Then you don't need to worry, or call major auction firms crooks.

 

imrich, posted: " I must take exception to your example, ...Please accept my exception!"

No, your exception about "water" has nothing to do with the example in the sentence I posted as an example of cleaning."

 

I think we can infer something about @imrich 's TPG submission having "residue" on the gold coins. "Finger lubrication", perhaps?

 

Not only survivalists, but all of Southern California has water that is very high in dissolved solids, the major part of which is inorganic salts. With this in mind, I still use tap water for cleaning of many numismatic items, including uncleaned ancients and uncirculated and proof coins. I will then use distilled water as a final rinse to remove any of the salt that is present. My osmotic blot material is a soft towel, either terry cloth or microfiber, being careful to blot it rather than to rub.

 

Dr. @imrich has told me what he does so I'm . LOL. Perhaps he will share some of his secrets.

 

Indeed. Please stop adding corrosive foreign debris to its surface.

 

Is it even POSSIBLE to add corrosive debris to that which is already corrosive debris? It reminds me of trying to pick up a you-know-what by the clean end, or perhaps polishing one.

 

@imrich and Apple Corporation - NDA's on everything.

 

Where there's a will there's a way. Your will, sir, is remarkable.

 

clean: (verb) to remove or alter the structure of one or more unwanted substances from an object that has objective or subjective value in order to recreate an aesthetic quality deemed pleasing or desirable to at least one person (i.e. the owner's tastes tend toward the shiny and spotless) via mechanical and/or chemical processes; the emphasis is typically placed on the removal, or alteration (e.g. bleach, which is typically sodium hypochlorite but many other polyatomic ions can be substituted - "oxidizers", though oxygen atoms do not necessarily have to be present - to perform a redox rxn that moves, strengthens, or weakens at least one polarity moment of the offending molecule so as to absorb or reflect photons of certain wavelengths/frequencies so that the reflected photons are undetectible to the human eye; ya know, like rods and cones and that shtuff), while maintaining a secondary concern as to the conservation of any and all particles of the original, valuable object.

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For the chem + mech process, think amphoteric molec's and polar/non-polar solutes and solvents more so than organic/inorganic (water is technically inorganic, but is highly polar - and remember those hydrogen-bonds which can be handy lifesavers...or creators, so to speak. Washing machine soap = (amphoteric) chemical process; wash/scrub cycle = mechanical process; bleach/oxidize according to your own risk/benefit analysis.

Who likes ice cream? My favorite is chocolate almond made by "31 flavors", but I've been trying to find an 1837 or '38-O dime or half dime hits my taste buds just right.

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Geeze, I thought this was a coin forum, not a chemical forum. Cleaning coins: don't. Exception: 1) if they have dirt on them clean with distilled water and dab dry with micro-fiber cloth. 2) if they have tape on them or PVC residue, clean with acetone, rinse with distilled water, and dab dry with a micro-fiber cloth.

 

I went by the original constraints placed on this particular thread that the word "coin" could not be used and that the definition could be no longer than one sentence. I adapted as well as I could. Sorry it wasn't up to snuff. Remove constraints and it's a whole other conversation.

 

clean: (verb) to remove or alter the structure of one or more unwanted substances from an object that has objective or subjective value in order to recreate an aesthetic quality deemed pleasing or desirable to at least one person (i.e. the owner's tastes tend toward the shiny and spotless) via mechanical and/or chemical processes; the emphasis is typically placed on the removal, or alteration.

Is this your definition? Now that it is in the public domain, I should like to steal most of it and modify it for my own use.