Cleaned vs Improperly Cleaned

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Tater, Jul 7, 2020.

  1. Tater

    Tater Coin Collector

    Are these two terms interchangeable? Or is it referring to different degrees of cleaning? I am just curious I submitted some coins and had a few of them come back cleaned. Usually they label says improperly cleaned but this time just cleaned.
     
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  3. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    I don't think there are any clearly defined boundaries. That being said, there is certainly a difference between "market acceptable" cleaning and improper cleaning.

    Yes, it does refer to varying degrees (and methods) of cleaning, but varies widely on a case-by-case basis.
     
    Robert Ransom likes this.
  4. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    You've been here almost 13 years, and I'm sure you've noted that you can repeat the same phrase or descriptive a million times, and you will still have someone who says it differently. It's no different when it comes to employees at a grading service.
    ~ Chris
     
  5. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    Yes they are interchangeable. They are NOT interchangable with harshly cleaned, and if it was "properly cleaned" then it isn't mentioned because a "properly cleaned" coin is one where the cleaning can't be detected.
     
  6. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    As far as I understand it, "cleaned" with any descriptor is a negative.
    "Cleaned" indicates that the metal surface of a coin has been altered.

    "Conserved" describes the acceptable process of removing debris from a coin's surface.
     
  7. nuMRmatist

    nuMRmatist Well-Known Member

    I asked this very question a week ago, when someone posted a slab with 'Improperly Cleaned' on the label.

    The adverb 'improperly' infers that there is 'proper' cleaning.

    Only a pro grader could answer that one (unless someone here has one so labelled......................... ??? )
     
    Tater likes this.
  8. Tater

    Tater Coin Collector

    I was just curious as I have received back slabs that have said improperly cleaned but never cleaned. I would think that a large company/TPG would be consistent in their nomenclature when they place something on the label so I asked the question.
     
    nuMRmatist likes this.
  9. LRC-Tom

    LRC-Tom Been around the block...

    The cynical side of me says:

    Improperly Cleaned = when I give a silver coin a dip and proper rinse.
    Conserved = when one of the TPGs gives a silver coin a dip and proper rinse.
     
    Tater and serafino like this.
  10. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    They aren't consistent at all.

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    Now to answer your original question -

    Cleaned vs Improperly Cleaned

    Answer, it depends on who you ask. If you ask me they are absolutely not interchangeable.

    But, and it's truly unfortunate in my opinion, they are commonly used that way, as in one meaning the same as the other.

    Cleaned is merely a contraction of improperly cleaned, that's what it boils down to. The problem that arises with that though is that there most definitely is such a thing as a coin being properly cleaned, and the contraction of that term is also cleaned.

    And the term conservation, that's nothing more than a euphemism for cleaned. And about the only reason it even started being used was to make things "sound better" and be a bit more fancy so the TPGs could charge you for doing something for you that you yourself could do right at home. And do it every bit as well as they can, if you'd just take the time to gain a little bit of knowledge.

    Bottom line -

    properly cleaned - that's a good thing, and it means no harm is done to the coin

    improperly cleaned - that's a bad thing, and it means harm was done to the coin

    And then you also have the term harshly cleaned, and it's nothing more than a synonym for improperly cleaned and they both mean exactly the same thing !
     
    Tater likes this.
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