Define "Cleaning."

I totally agree with this definition. It's short, simple, and correct.
FYI, the "best answer" option is located next to the "report" option.

 

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Again, what's your point?

 

Einstein just came up with that ecm deal. Bleh.

Now ecm is overused, abused and everywhere not relative to anything relative.

 

True.

What????

 

Cn=j

This proves the theory of cointivity.

Cleaning (with respect to numismatics) equals the square root of a negative quantity of it.

It's ok if eddiespin and others fail to grasp the simplistic beauty of its truth.

Einstein was crucified for his comparatively minor and insignificant attempt to contribute to real world problem solving, if I recall history correctly.

 

Kurt, when the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

 

Mr. President, don't play me as if you don't know the interwebs wouldn't work without imaginary numbers. Thank you.

 

As previously stated, I believe the term cleaned is subjective, possibly unrelated to a physical action, but occasionally an unsupported declaration.

I believe you'll find that oxidization is a natural metamorphic process, generated without the presence of a "foreign" agent/substance. If a proprietary process could reverse/neutralize this perceived deteriorative evolution without contact to the object, would this be cleaning, meeting your stated definition?

This process is possible. Would application of the process be titled/claimed as cleaning, restoration, conservation....?

I've observed the process to a TPG PL defined object being resubmitted, returned without any apparent surface disturbance, defined as "harshly cleaned".

I now have TPG designated high-grade Gold objects being resubmitted. My representative received a notice of residue on surfaces. I authorized processing of the "residue" previously unnoticed when originally encapsulated. Should the objects be designated as "cleaned", when generating a residue while "slabbed", if the surfaces aren't physically contacted for neutralization? If I'd implemented the "restorative" process to induce a semi-pristine state, would the condition declaration be identical?

I believe not, as may the TPG.

JMHO

 

Cleaning: To make something clean.

 

Fine, I've started a GD thread in the GD section for our GD arguments about imaginary numbers.

 

my bank balance is an imaginary number

 

By golly, Sherlock, I think you got it!

 

Wow, lot of big words being tossed around. If my coin has mud on it and I rinse it off in clean water, maybe use a soft toothbrush carefully, then I have "cleaned" it causing no visible damage. I understand 'dipping' a coin in acetone is OK, depending on the material of the coin. Of course any abrasive or chemical action such as wire brush, tumbling in grit media, tooth paste, silver polish, brasso.....will alter the surface of the coin and render it "cleaned" and therefore deplorable to all of us astute numismatists.

So with all my rambling I have not come up with what was originally requested: a concise definition of cleaning as applies to coins. I merely added to the entropy of the coin universe.

 

coin_nut, posted: "If my coin has mud on it and I rinse it off in clean water, maybe use a soft toothbrush carefully, then I have "cleaned" it causing no visible damage."

Now, we have introduced "degrees of cleaning" which complicates a definition. Toothbrushes are for cleaning teeth. They are also used on, tile grout, ancients, and corroded coins. When you use a toothbrush on a coin "carefully," you run the risk of leaving hairlines on its surface.

 

Clean a coin: soak it in distilled water and dab it dry with a micro fiber cloth.

Clean a coin with tape or PVC residue: soak the coin in acetone, rinse with distilled water, and dab dry with a micro fiber cloth.

 

In my long term learning process where I've ruined some expensive coins, I've been amazed at how sensitive the surface of a "90%" Silver or Gold coin is to abrasion. I've seen the visual damage that a "Q-tip" cotton swab can do when lightly applying same to the surface of a coin in "cleaning" fluid.

I personally would not recommend using anything other than lubricated fingers on a precious coin. Never anything intended/designed for "scrubbing". Cleaning coins is a difficult process, where I've learned that after a proper soaking, only a spray of proper filtered "solvent" is recommended for application under pressure through a minute orifice. Ultrasonic cleaning processes can have wonderful non-damaging results when using proper equipment/technique.

The recommendation to not clean coins is believed to be very good advice

JMHO

 

So why doesn't the hobby use the term "mechanically cleaned" or "abrasively cleaned"?

 

Should a cleaning scale be developed???

 

I propose the formation of CEC, the Cleaning Evaluation Company. It will accept only coins that have received Details - Cleaned grades from the top-tier TPGs, and affix stickers as follows:

Brown Washbucket -- yep, this one's been scrubbed.

Green Washbucket -- coin has only modest hairlines, probably from a very old cleaning, and if it was good enough for your grandparents, shouldn't it be good enough for you?

Gold Washbucket -- really, the original graders should get over themselves.