Scratches, cleaning and other tomfoolery

The issue about scratches is a subjective one. In other words there are no defined or written rules, it is always purely a matter of opinion as to whether or not a scratch renders a coin ungradeable. It depends on several things, the size of the scratch in relation to the size of the coin. The depth of the scratch, and sometimes even the location of the scratch. And, the scarcity/rarity of the coin itself will often have a bearing on it as to whether or not a TPG will determine the coin to be ungradeable. And even considering all of those things, the TPGs often show little consistency in making their determination.

As for impacting or having an effect on the grade, any and every contact mark of any kind, including scratches, has an impact on the grade of any coin.

Learning to recognize whether or not a coin has been harshly cleaned is something you can only gain with experience. There is no source per se that you can study or refer to. You simply have to look at and examine thousands and thousands of coins before you will be able to say with any level of reasonable certainty that a coin has been harshly cleaned.

Sure, there are some cases where even a novice can look at a coin and say with certainty that it has been harshly cleaned. With those most often being coins that look like somebody scrubbed them with steel wool or a Brillo pad. But at the same time there are a great many coins when even experienced collectors will miss it. Taht is because sometimes the tell tales of a harsh cleaning are rather subtle, or somebody has done something to try and hide them. But the more experience you gain the easier it gets to recognize them.

One of things that makes recognizing them so difficult is the almost limitless ways in which a coin can be harshly cleaned. And each of them will leave behind different signs. Some harshly cleaned coins will have traces of dirt and grime left in the recesses and protected areas of the coin. But at the same time that is a trait that is also common on well worn, circulated coins. So you have to learn to tell the difference on that. Sometimes only the high points of the coin will show signs of a harsh cleaning; and sometimes only the fields will show those signs. And then sometimes both will show signs.

But perhaps the most often used signal that coin has been harshly cleaned will be that the coin just doesn't look right for what it is. But to be able to recognize that you have to already know what that type, year and mint, and condition of problem free coin looks like. And that all by itself is a lot to know.