Wl Halves - Cleaned Or Not?

I think you made the right choice.

It looks like there MAY be cleaning lines on both coins (it looks like in the same place in on the right side of the obverse field). I can't tell for certain as the photos aren't too clear.

I'm certainly not an expert yet, but I would have stayed away as well.

The images of the coins are too small to tell anything about their originality. Generally these coins have a more frosty appearance when they are left alone. I think that passing was the right thing to do.

The 1941 looks polished. the 1943 looks like it had a dip or two. hard to see on the small pics. I would have passed also.

I think you made the right decision.

I have learned that if you are even just a little unsure on ebay auctions, better off to just move on to something else. The only exception is if you can get it for a killer price or it is a difficult to find coin where minor issues might have to be tolerated.

[Quote]I've always wondered why someone would clean an uncirculated coin (MS details). If it was mint state to begin with why would you clean it and ruin the value?[Quote]

Several reasons:

1. Person is not a collector, ignorant of "condition" and likes shiny things.

2. Person wants to remove unsightly color from uncirculated coin. On Coin Talk recently one uninformed, long-time, well regarded "authority" posted in a thread about "Cleaned or Polished Die" that in his opinion a SE with scratches from a "wipe" was a place where the owner tried to remove the toning! BTW, the toning was "rainbow."

3. Person wishes to hide surface defects or slight amount of "cabinet friction" by eliminating color difference between AU and BU surface.

4. Person is a coin "doctor." Remember there are all degrees of cleaning both abrasive and chemical. Some altered surfaces are virtually undetectable by most dealers and collectors - trust me on this :)

I don't wish to start a "fire" but you are correct. In my experience a large percentage of classic coins (including many of those in slabs)show some evidence of past "cleaning." The term "market acceptable" covers many of these coins (especially those that are in slabs) so it becomes a personal thing.

Again, it is a matter of degree (evidence for unoriginality and experience of the viewer). If you don't see something, it is not there!

For the most part, the TPGS's set the standards for the coin market.

PS Every coin I have purchased (slabbed & raw) on ebay has looked far better in the photo. I expect the worse and ONLY purchase "Cherrypicks" so it does not matter.

In a lot of circles it is still acceptable to do a "quick dip".
Go to a auction or antique show and get a consensus, it's kind of mind blowing.
I've even heard it from 'pros' at a con show, and I get there point actually;
it does improve the look of some nasty looking coins. To bad you risk ruining them forever.

Dipper, sounds like you know what your talking about, I gotta ask about your handle
I mean it is funny, right?