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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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......................... ??? )
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.
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.
They aren't consistent at all. 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 !
