Both of you have made it clear that you do not clean chips. Gene has said he would not even accept a chip that he knows has been cleaned. Archie has not gone that far but has accused me of whizzing chips (which is a not so subtle reference to the unethical practice done by some coin collectors/dealers). Of course I freely admit to "whizzing" crest and seals as they have no mould to ruin and, most importantly, are NOT coins.

My question regards the Pops Oasis chips. Obviously even the best conditioned found chips will have cement imbedded in the mould. As far as I've seen, everyone so far has tried to removed the cement (or whatever) and present the chips in the best condition possible.

My question(s) is: do you approved of the cleaning of the Pops chips (without cleaning they would be near uncollectible). Also, Gene, if it was an illegal and not a casino, would you not accept this cleaned chip? After all, cement in the mould is the condition that the casino wanted it to be in. Removing the cement is not much different than removing a cancellation mark, or is it? In any event, removing cement is removing a most defeinite part of the chip's "history".