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Removing Prints From Coins

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Pillar of the Community
insideout's Avatar
United States
591 Posts
 Posted 01/03/2008  11:24 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add insideout to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Okay whats the safest way to remove finger prints from nice shiny circulated coins? Can you use a soft cloth?
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Vaslin's Avatar
United States
914 Posts
 Posted 01/03/2008  11:46 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Vaslin to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Not really. Any rubbing with a soft cloth can be seen on a shiny coin. Since it is circulated, it won't hurt it too bad. For circulated coins, I sometimes use those silicone lens cleaner cloths I get for my glasses. Don't touch proof coins with those.

You can also try acetone. Just hit the search button to find a lot of articles about it. It's one of the very few 'safe' things to do to a coin.
Bedrock of the Community
biokemist6's Avatar
United States
12437 Posts
 Posted 01/03/2008  3:19 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add biokemist6 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Never rub ANYTHING on the surface of a coin. Regardless of how soft an item you are using, hairlines will still be added to the coin's surface. You can use an organic solvent such as acetone(search the forum for sources and proper use) to remove fresh fingerprints but the acids and other organic material in sweat can sometimes etch the surface of a coin, rendering the fingerprints permanent.
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts
 Posted 01/03/2008  3:53 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add just carl to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I had a Nickel once with a well defined fingerprint on the reverse. Not really worth much so I tried just about everything I could find. My end result was with a butane torch. That worked but naturally the coin had some nasty after effects.
As noted try the Acetone Method. I not to long ago purchased a 1995 Double Die Lincoln Cent for a song due to a fingerprint right on the middle of the obverse. It was at least MS65 so worth the attempt to get rid of the print. Must have been recent since it mostly came off after several soakings in Acetone. Still not happy and with not much to loose I tried fingernail polish remover. That finished the job. Print now all gone. Coin looks great.
I do not recommend the usage of fingernail polish remover since there are numerous manufacturers with many, many different formulae for that product and what worked for me may destroy someone else's coin.
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