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Message:: [QUOTE="Andrew McCabe, post: 3277773, member: 90666"]the dividing line where a seller must mention something is if unoxidised metal has been removed. If the strengthening is all within metal oxide layers - which can be quite thick - then "smoothed" is an accepted term. "strengthen" means "tooled" and I don't mind if auctioneers use it. Experienced collectors generally know that strengthen means tooled and to an extent its a more plain word. You need experience to tell between cutting metal and moulding patina. You need experience to observe either consistently. I can. I know my coins and though Roman Republican bronzes are widely smoothed / tooled, my collection as it now stands is a tool-free area. I don't especially object to smoothing. It's just a step more than cleaning. But if done to enhance condition it usually in my eyes makes a coin look worse or at least unattractive to me. There's no general advice to protect inexperienced collectors. If you can't see it yet, writing words won't help you see it. When experienced, it becomes obvious. Buy from top class companies that have a reputation for noting when surfaces have been messed with. Get more experience by handling at least 10 coins for ever one you buy from reputable sources. If you like to buy from eBay then your collection is likely already stuffed with toolies and you will never recognize the case.[/QUOTE]