New Coin Collectors- This Is Why You Never Touch Your Coins!

I have been searching for copper and have found numerous coins in a condition very similar to what EnigmaticMindx posted and have been setting them aside in the hopes of creating a full roll of BU coins. A number I have found with fingerprints so if I "conserve" them with Acetone would they still be considered to be a BU coin.

Should I leave them alone and not try to "conserve" them?

Acetone - the kind you can get at any hardware store, or home depot. 100% stuff. DO NOT use Nail Polish remover, ever! It is not pure acetone, and most likely. as you stated, mixed with an oil based scent, very BAD for coins.

I use a Q-Tip sometimes on older circulated coins with acetone, and some times a softened toothpick or a rose thorn to flick away some gunk in a mint mark or date to see details better, I usually do this under my stereo microscope, the key is the tip is softened with warm water and I use little to no pressure to remove the offending gunk, and it's only done to coins that are already circulated. When using acetone on Mint State coins, just a swish or a short soak will usually do the trick. This is not cleaning the coin, but removing contaminents that will eventually do more harm to the coin in the future.

Make that two of us. Heading to Home Depot today :).

Been there, done that! Felt so stupid after it showed up. I now own 4 dozen pair of white cotton gloves.

I like to watch my co-workers when I hand them a sparkling new 2012-D Zincoln.
Bam! Index and thumb pad right on the obverse and reverse....hilarious :O

excellent advice EnigmaticMindx - even though I only have small collection of coins (main interest banknotes) I only handle them by their rim and never put my fingers on the face/back of them - as to "cleaning" have from time to time used a very clean glasses cleaning cloth to give coins a "soft" rub but never use any type of chemical when doing so

"Keep yer dirty paws off me coins!"

In reality, it is only the coins that are in top condition where finger prints are a major problem. A reaction takes place between the fatty acids that make up the natural oil on the surface of your skin and the clean surface of new metal on the coin. Almost impossible to remove.

At least you will be able to track down the guy who stole them!

Some years ago, I worked for a car dealership, and a car was stolen by a druggie, who was eventually arrested. His dabs were found all over it, as shown up by the woofle dust. When we got the car back from the police, an apprentice wrote in the dust:
"It was me, I did it!"

When I was a kid in the early 80's I got my first blue whitman coin album. a few years ago I cleaned them out. every silver dime had a brown grubby kid-print, usually of my thumb cause I had to push so hard... kind reenforced why I wear cotton gloves...