I Don't Understand The PCGS Or NGC Improper Cleaning Designation.

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Author	Replies: 4 / Views: 1,957
KauaiHawaiiGuy Pillar of the Community United States 612 Posts	Posted 01/05/2020 12:17 pm I've been collecting Morgan and Peace dollars for a few years now and have a nice little collection now of around 250 coins. Almost all are raw and un-holdered, bought through ebay auctions. I've bought a few beauties that turned out far better than the images showed, and also a few less than stellar coins that had been cleaned or even polished, but the pictures were taken in such a way that I was had a few times, that's life. But here's my question that I hope I get some great answers to. I've learned how to spot gray over dipped dollars. I know wizzing when I see it and I can tell when a coins been cleaned to harshly in only a few spots, trying to erase some dirt or stain. It's the subtle stuff that I am not so sure of. I've gone to the heritage auction site where they have incredibly clear and sharp pictures that you can enlarge to a huge size. And yet, sometimes when I enlarge a holdered coin that says "improperly cleaned", I just can't see what the heck they're seeing that I am unable to see. I've even taken a few coins to a second hand shop that sells Morgans, and also a coin shop. The folks I saw just seemed rather rude and little help, like my questions were beneath them, or they didn't really want to share any of their expertise, perhaps because I wasn't buying or selling. I'm a little lost and sure could use some help here. Thanks Edited by KauaiHawaiiGuy 01/05/2020 12:51 pm Report this Post to the Staff

Sharkman Valued Member United States 461 Posts	Posted 01/05/2020 12:35 pm KHG I echo your question. I have spent many hours examining Heritage listed cleaned details coins. About 85%.-90% of the time I can spot the problem, but sometimes I look at a cleaned details coin and can't figure out what the problem is. Looking forward to the answers Report this Post to the Staff
hfjacinto Pillar of the Community United States 7276 Posts	Posted 01/05/2020 12:38 pm Improper cleaning means any thing done to a coin that affected the top layer of metal. Most of these are composed of cleaning with an abrasive substance that left hairlines throughout the coin. Then one took a soft cloth and buffed the coin. In many cases the coin may look better but it has been damaged. In other cases the cleaning is hard to tell unless you view the coin at a certain angle. I have a Peace dollar that was cleaned and only way you can tell is the luster is mostly gone but another has hairlines that are only visible at one angle. Cleaning are more noticeable on AU/MS coins. An old cleaning on a circulated coin can be masked with wear. Remember that grading is also an opinion. I've heard of "cleaned" coins being resubmitted and getting a good grade. My Slabbed Dansco 7070 with Gold Page My Slabbed IHC Set My Slabbed 20th Century Type Set Edited by hfjacinto 01/05/2020 12:40 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Slider23 Pillar of the Community United States 4469 Posts	Posted 01/05/2020 6:55 pm Sometimes from a still photo no matter how blow up all cleaning hair lines can not be detected. To see some cleaning hair line it may require holding the coin or plastic in hand and tilting it back in forth in the light. Report this Post to the Staff
hadleydog Pillar of the Community Canada 1267 Posts	Posted 01/06/2020 09:16 am Exactly. Report this Post to the Staff
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