The infinitesimal criteria we use these days regarding grading and coin care are worlds apart from the criteria used by our numismatic ancestors. Back in the 1990’s I was enamored with bust halves. I remember having a conversation once with a dealer about a bust half that had been cleaned many years ago. I remember his comment as being, “All these old halves were cleaned a hundred years ago. It’s understood and accepted”....... Do the TPG’s regard an “old” cleaning any differently than they do one undertaken recently? A damaged surface is a damaged surface isn’t it?
Yes in a way.... but back then they didn't really know better so that's just what they did, especially if a lot of them were cleaned
Yes they do. Old cleanings can be okay or can have "healed" over time where a recent scrub certainly wouldn't. That said just because it is old doesn't mean it will be given a pass
A lot of older coins were cleaned. If the coin healed nicely it will probably get a pass. New cleanings will not be graded or graded cleaned.
