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 Replies: 20 / Views: 4,412 |
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Valued Member
United States
207 Posts |
This is what the natural oils from your fingers can do to a coin after time, just from touching it once with "clean" bare hands. Never touch your coins, always use clean cotton gloves.  |
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Valued Member
United States
406 Posts |
Certainly a sage piece of advice.
I'm just curious - how did you originally acquire that particular coin? I occasionally run across coins from the 70s in circulation with most of their original luster - was that the case here?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
On the brighter side, what if that was the finger print of someone famous? Could be from the President, famous singer, movie star but too could be some bum.  I actually was able to purchase a 1995 Doubled Die Cent for practically nothing due to a finger print. Lucky for me it was recent and came off with Acetone. |
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Valued Member
 United States
207 Posts |
My buddy's grandmother used to be a banker and just recently gave him a large container full of coins that she stashed away back then. Among them were 41 rolls of pennies, I gave him $40 for all 41 rolls and the most modern date I have found yet is 1980. There are TONS of 70's coins with their original luster. I've only opened about 7 rolls so far, and am upgrading my Lincoln Cent collection at an alarming rate! No 70s small dates, 72 doubles or 69s doubles yet, but my fingers are crossed! And carl, I thought that cleaning a coin was always a no no? |
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Valued Member
United States
207 Posts |
Oh also, I decided to post that picture as an example because it is the oldest example of what would have been a beautiful coin with it's original luster ruined by a fingerprint that I have come across yet.
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Valued Member
United States
333 Posts |
Cleaning coins is a no-no. Acetone is something used to "conserve" the coin. It will take oils and grime from a fingerprint and remove them without damaging any of the coin itself.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
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?
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Valued Member
United States
207 Posts |
There are so many BU coins in these rolls and I also was thinking of putting together some BU rolls, although I'd found a lot with the grimy fingerprints! So if anyone answers ghostriders question that would make me a happy camper if this is true! Also what is the method? a soak in acetone? lighty blotted with a qtip? any specific brand acetone to use? I'd assume not scented nail polish remover..
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
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.
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2˘ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Valued Member
United States
207 Posts |
Amazing! I was under the impression that messing with the coin in any manner would decrease the value. I learn something new every day on here!
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Valued Member
United States
417 Posts |
Make that two of us. Heading to Home Depot today :).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7193 Posts |
You live and you learn, this one has my thumb print from 30 years ago.   |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
Been there, done that! Felt so stupid after it showed up. I now own 4 dozen pair of white cotton gloves. |
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Valued Member
United States
299 Posts |
It is a a rare occasion that I even consider buying a coin with a fingerprint showing like that.
But maybe somebody loves them....
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
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
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
Muddler, at least that was NOT a Grant with STAR half.
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Replies: 20 / Views: 4,412 |
Posted 04/12/2012 10:05 am
