"Properly Cleaned" coin

First of all, yes there is such a thing as a properly cleaned coin and yes they are graded and slabbed. There are literally tens of millions of properly cleaned coins in regular NGC and PCGS slabs. And not one of them has any mention of that cleaning on the slab.

The thing that is somewhat misleading and causes a good part of the confusion regarding this issue is the way that the TPGs label their slabs for harshly/improperly cleaned coins. For instead of putting harshly or improperly cleaned on the label they only use 1 word - cleaned. But there are 2 reasons they do that. 1- is because of space restrictions on the slab label, and 2 - is because they expect people to know what they mean when they say "cleaned".

This is what I mean, this the definition/explanation given by PCGS for what "cleaned" means -

92|N-2 Cleaned – surface damage due to a harsh, abrasive cleaning

And if you look up the word "cleaned" in the PCGS glossary found here -

http://www.pcgs.com/Lingo/C

- you will find this definition -

cleaned
A term applied to a coin whose original surface has been removed. The effects may be slight or severe, depending on the method used.

But nowhere in their glossary will you find either of the terms "properly cleaned" or "conserved" - or any other forms of those 2 words such as clean, cleaning, conserve, conservation, etc etc.

That is because proper cleaning and/or conservation are never noted on a slab because there is nothing wrong with it. Cleaning/conserving a coin does no harm to the coin so it is not noted on the slab. Even though the TPG knows for a fact that the coin has been properly cleaned.

It is not the "cleaning" that is bad or wrong, it is only that some methods of cleaning are bad or wrong. And that is why the TPGs differentiate the terms, cleaned and harshly cleaned. When they say cleaned on a slab, harshly cleaned is what they really mean.

And yes, if it says cleaned on the slab label, then you should probably avoid those coins for they are problem coins. And depending on the severity of the harsh cleaning a problem coin will only be worth a fraction of what a problem free example is worth.

 

I'm not in full agreement with this statement. There are some methods of cleaning deemed acceptable by some, yet this is not because the coin is not degraded by the cleaning, but because the degradation is subtle.

Embracing those subtle means of cleaning coins as acceptable is long-term damaging to the hobby because such cleanings are repeated in pursuit of a look pleasing to each successive new owner. The damage due to such cleaning methods may be subtle from one cleaning to the next, but is cumulative over the lifetime of the coin. I have seen too many uncirculated coins with nearly unmarked surfaces, yet no life to them at all . . . the embrace of acceptable methods of cleaning is completely responsible for that.

 

Jeff there is a difference when you see Damaged on the label, that's an entirely different thing than harsh cleaning. There are quite a few different things put on slab labels to designate a coin as being a problem coin, and they are all different from each other.

For example, this the list that PCGS uses and what their various codes are for the different kinds of problem coins. All of these codes designate a problem coin.

No Grades
PCGS will not grade and encapsulate any coins with the following problems:

82 Filed Rims Rim(s) and/or edge is filed.

83 Peeling Lamination Potential for sealing damage.

84 Holed and/or Plugged Any filled or non-filled hole.

86 No Opinion – our experts are unable to determine a coin’s authenticity –
fee not refunded

87 Not Eligible For Service Selected – the coin is too valuable for the
chosen service level – fee refunded

90 Questionable Authenticity – the coin is most likely a counterfeit.

91|N-1 Questionable/Artificial Toning (or Questionable Color for copper)

92|N-2 Cleaned – surface damage due to a harsh, abrasive cleaning

93|N-3 Planchet Flaw - Metal impurity or defect in the planchet –
depends on severity

94|N-4 Altered Surface - Whizzed, harsh cleaning, thumbed over
(using a pasty substance to cover defects or alter the appearance).

95|N-5 Scratch - depends on the severity of the scratch. Rim dent.

96|N-6 No Service – coins we do not certify (i.e. medals, some privately
made issues, etc.) or cannot certify (i.e. over-sized coins)

97|N-7 Environmental Damage – i.e. corrosion, coating (lacquer),
excessively heavy toning, etc.

98|N-8 Damage – deliberate surface damage, i.e. graffiti, spot(s) removed,
etc. – depends on severity

99|N-9 PVC (Poly-Vinyl-Chloride) – a plasticizer used to produce vinyl that
will leach out of the holder and onto the coin, eventually damaging the
surfaces.

But you are correct that the TPGs are not consistent when it comes to labeling and when they are talking about the same thing. Especially not with each other. And sometimes even the same company will change the word/words on their labeling, often depending on the year that the coin was slabbed.

But any and every time that you see cleaned, harshly cleaned, improperly cleaned, on the slab, and regardless of what TPG it is, it does mean exactly the same thing.

 

All that you have to remember is that harshly cleaned and improperly cleaned mean exactly the same thing. There is no difference at all - ever.

The TPGs often use different words on their lables just to set themselves apart from the other TPGs. ANACS, ICG, NGC, PCGS, all of them do this. But they do not do it with all designations. Nor is each individual TPG consistent with their use of their wording over a period of years.

Just as an example of what I mean - for one given time period PCGS used to label Satin Finish coins as SP on the label. But in another different time period they used SMS on the label for the Satin Finish coins. - Same coins, different label, and from the same company.

 

That must have been quite some time ago . . . I recall over a decade ago a local collector submitted an AG 1873-CC NA 25c to PCGS. They kept the coin for about 6 months, showing it to multiple experts (probably at major shows) to be sure it was real. Finally they returned it, having reached no decision, and without refunding the fees.

 

Just as easy, and more accurate, Thad to say -

Cleaned - a process that produces a market acceptable coin.
Harshly Cleaned - a process that produces a market unacceptable coin.

The reason it is more accurate is quite simple. For example, if someone ask you what exactly you do when you rinse a coin in distilled water to remove ordinary dirt and grime from it, you are not going to say - I conserve the dirt and grime off the coin by doing that. You are going to say - I clean the dirt and grime off the coin.

When you wash your clothes, do you conserve them or clean them ?

When you wash your car, do you conserve it or clean it ?

That is how people think, that is how people talk.

It's plain ordinary language that is easy for everybody to understand instead of some euphemistic term that leaves people kind of scratching their heads.

 

Combined, the two companies alone have slabbed over 60 million coins. Now add in all of those slabbed by ANACS and ICG, and any of the others over the years. I think you're pushing 80-90 million now.

Then consider that any older silver coin that is white, (with the exception of a few Morgans), has been dipped, or any older gold coin with no toning, or even many older copper coins with no toning - has also been dipped or otherwise properly cleaned, then add in all of the newer modern coins that have been rinsed in acetone or distilled water, or MS70 - and you get to 10 of millions pretty dang easy