Characteristics of "Cleaned" Coins

Owner Comments:

This better date Seated dollar, which I viewed before purchasing at auction in December 2021, exemplifies some of the problems inherent with third party certification, particularly the descriptive limitations of little paper grading service tags and legitimate differences of opinion and taste between experienced numismatists. PCGS described the coin as "Cleaned--AU Detail". The color of the coin, which is lighter than it appears to be in the PCGS photos, is a silver gray with light brownish toning that is well within the acceptable range for a circulated silver coin. The coin has no areas of serious hairlining indicative of an abrasive cleaning, nor does it have the glossy or blotchy surfaces associated with improper chemical cleaning. Some of the light toning is slightly irregular, especially on the reverse, and when the coin is held at an angle, a slightly "off" gray color appears. While the coin may have been treated with a baking soda solution, which was widespread years ago, this is a "light" cleaning, and I do not regard the coin as significantly impaired. (The 1846-O graded VF25 in this set seems more obviously cleaned to me.) As there are only traces of luster in protected areas and considering the light cleaning, I grade this 1849 Choice Extremely Fine (XF45). Based on the price I had to pay against other experienced bidders (about XF 40 retail), others apparently agreed.