What does PCGS mean by this ?

1938-D Walking Liberty Half ungradable. Looks to be a VF coin to me. Why would they not be able to give it any grade from AG - F ?

 

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Cleaned.

 

So do 3rd party graders refuse to grade any cleaned coins ?

 

Could mean many things. Cleaned, quizzed etc. all of them basically mean that the coin has altered surfaces. The good thing is that you know the coin is genuine if it is in a slab. You just need to decide if you like the look of the coin and go from there.

 

PCGS has a chart for problem coins at their website.

 

They will not assign a number grade, but usually the will give a details grade like AU Details, cleaned.

 

Can't say about the others but ANAC's will grade cleaned coins and give a "Details" label.

 

The ".92" in the first set of numbers means Cleaning, Harsh cleaning or polishing.
http://www.pcgs.com/grades/

 

I have a question on same topic. Would PCGS not assign a grade because it was not mentioned on the submission form that it was cleaned? Reason for asking is because ANAC's will assign a grade regardless.

 

92 is commonly used for cleaning and that coin sure does look like it might have been cleaned.

 

Good gosh yes it does. Looks polished, actually, (basically a specific type of harsh cleaning).

 

You can choose on the submission form whether to holder Genuine coins, add Genuine with details (default) or Genuine with no details.

 

i like it,

 

It will not get a numerical grade, and that one should not. It is definitely cleaned.

 

Looks like she had a date w/ Dremel tool,a shame.

 

PCGS classifies problems coins using the term, "Genuine", in the same way that NGC uses the term , "Details". The biggest difference between the two is that PCGS does not assign a grading category (MS, AU, EF, etc.) and NGC does.

Chirs

 

At the risk of going against the grain, I think it should receive a numerical grade. There is nothing gained by eliminating the grade while at the same time providing the grade helps anybody buying such a coin has expert knowledge of the grade it is even though it has been cleaned.

Actually, I think this coin was dipped. I do not see the evidence of an abrasive having been used.

 

So some history first...

1. Once upon a time when I first started collecting coins, cleaned coins would not be slabbed at all and would be returned in a body bag.

2. More recently (probably 5 years or so), the services started to permit coins that had problems such as cleaning. Initially, PCGS would only certify them to be genuine as here.

3. Much, much more recently, PCGS and NGC introduced details grading.

 

That coin has had much more than just a dip. Look at the surfaces and how it reflects light.

 

One word.

Market grading.

If we can let problems slide on desirable or rare coins to establish a monetary value. Why can't we quantify those same problems with common coins.

Same principle.

If it's AU and harshly cleaned, slap VF-35 on the slab.

AU and 'counting wheel damage' only slightly visible on the reverse, maybe an XF-45?

It's what everyone wants anyway, and it's already being done to the rare dates, pedigrees, and desirable series.