CERTIFIED GRADING -- "WASHED and/or PRESSED"??

News: Welcome to the Canadian Paper Money Forum.

I have yet to see the dreaded words "WASHED" and/or "PRESSED" used on a note that has been certified by PMG (Paper Money Guaranty Co.) or by any other paper money certification service and I'm inclined to think that these certification companies avoid using those "kiss of death" terms at all costs so as to not disappoint or offend their paying customers. They seem to use the term "EPQ" (Exceptional Paper Quality) to indicate an original undoctored note. One might therefore presume that any certified high-grade note that does NOT display the term "EPQ" on the holder has been washed and/or pressed??

I don't want to be cynical, but if the words "WASHED" and "PRESSED" are avoided by the certification companies then what is the real purpose of sending out notes for certification?  I believe that most COIN certification services DO use the word "CLEANED" on the holder when a coin has been cleaned.

Has anyone ever seen a PMG or other certification company's holder that clearly spells out the dreaded words "WASHED" and/or "PRESSED"??

I have yet to see the dreaded words "WASHED" and/or "PRESSED" used on a note that has been certified by PMG (Paper Money Guaranty Co.) or by any other paper money certification service and I'm inclined to think that these certification companies avoid using those "kiss of death" terms at all costs so as to not disappoint or offend their paying customers. They seem to use the term "EPQ" (Exceptional Paper Quality) to indicate an original undoctored note. One might therefore presume that any certified high-grade note that does NOT display the term "EPQ" on the holder has been washed and/or pressed??

I don't want to be cynical, but if the words "WASHED" and "PRESSED" are avoided by the certification companies then what is the real purpose of sending out notes for certification?  I believe that most COIN certification services DO use the word "CLEANED" on the holder when a coin has been cleaned.

Has anyone ever seen a PMG or other certification company's holder that clearly spells out the dreaded words "WASHED" and/or "PRESSED"??

Nope, and I'm not surprised. Honestly I think a large portion of 1937 and prior high value notes have been pressed. This IS JUST A GUESS, but I'd bet it's somewhere around 75% or more. Trimming is also a lot more common on the older stuff than most people think.

I saw one note (on eBay) which I suspect was "processed".  The PMG label said "discoloration".

Why would somebody trim a note? Because the second you compare it to another note of that series or measure it with a ruler, you will know the dimensions are not correct. I.e. take a 1937 series note that is trimmed and put another unaltered 1937 note underneath it and you will see right away what side(s) has been trimmed.

The previous comments by d_polo are not necessarily true because paper can and does change in size (it usually contracts rather than expands) depending on the climate in which it was initially printed and the climate in which it was subsequently stored, i.e., dry or humid.

This change in size can be observed very easily not by comparing the overall dimensions of the notes but by comparing the dimensions of the PRINTED DESIGN. I have frequently observed differences of a few millimeters in the length and/or width of the printed area.

Notes in the recent past have been trimmed, primarily to get rid of ratty edges. The best tool is a paper cutter of high quality, similar to the ones used in print shops. Scissors are hopeless, they do not leave straight lines.
Most people do not have the knowledge or equipment to accurately measure notes. Comparing them to known good notes is a fair way to do it. Paper does indeed contract and expand under conditions of humidity. What that percentage is under what conditions is not known to me.

Rick

I personally don't mind a light press to touch up an already decent note. As slong as it doesn't make the note abnormally flat. To eradicate all the embossing is too much.

I just hate when F and VF notes are iron pressed and attempted to be sold as EF's.

Is there any accepted way of cleaning and restoring money, a lot of the worlds most famous paintings have been cleaned and restored, why not money, why is it such a sin ? I have found many old notes with pencil marks, is it ok to erase them ?

This is a very interesting and pertinent comment, especially the reference to famous paintings. At the present time it seems to me that collectors/investors are willing to pay a significant premium for original uncleaned/unwashed/unpressed notes -- that's just a market reality. However, perhaps the day will come when collectors/investors will prefer pressed notes, although that's not very likely in my opinion. The obvious "practical" advantage of an original unpressed note is that you always have the option to wash it and clean it if you want to (although I would never do that myself) whereas once a note has been washed and pressed it can never ever be returned to its original unpressed state.

It's often quite acceptable to use a very soft eraser to remove soil marks, dirt and pencil writing but it's possible to cause damage to the paper surface if the paper fabric is on the weak side. The strongest paper of all is probably that which was used for the 1937 Bank of Canada notes --- it seems indestructible at times! However, the paper used for the 1935 and 1954 notes is markedly more prone to erasure damage in my opinion.

 

Is there any accepted way of cleaning and restoring money,a lot of the worlds most famous paintings have been cleaned and restored,why not money,why is it such a sin ?
I'm new at the money thing and just wondering.
I have found many old notes with pencil marks,is it ok to erase them ?

 
The short answer is NO.  Do not erase pencil marks as it will leave an erasure mark. It is only considered a "sin" because it alters the note, and most collectors want notes that are original in their natural state.

I have bought one washed/pressed 1935 $10 note knowing full well it was tampered.  I just couldn't resist since it shows so well, and I had seen countless dirtly/soiled pressed notes that were in ratty condition for a similar price or more.  I admit the true colour is somewhat diminished but this note shows up the design far better than any note I could have bought for the same money (and the edges were not trimmed).  I'm not suggesting collectors should go out and buy such notes, and I know the stigma attached (I endured all the raised eyebrows when I purchased this piece), but I think there may be a time a place for such doctored bills in one's personal collection.  I don't plan to sell this note so its very collectible in my mind.  I also bought a $1.00 that has had the serial numbers somehow removed.  I figure its a good conversation piece.

I guess the big problem is when the seller doesn't identify them as such or passes them off as higher grade.   I suppose I might not have bought it had the countless other affordable 1935's been in better condition.

I have a 1954 $1.00 with no serial numbers (not the doctored note I mentioned in my previous post) which has the number 67 penciled on the back.  The previous owner has erased part of the number, and what you see is an area where that person rubbed the erasure (a circular tract of less soil on the note).  Now the only way for me to fix the note is to erase the entire note, or wash it.  I prefer the note the way it is (despite the number partially erased, and the erasure mark) but I wished the previous owner didn't take an earsure to it.  What's particularly interesting about the note is that its fairly soiled YET has no serial numbers (in other words it was circulated for a long time before anyone notice the error!).