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Milky White Fingerprints On Silver Coins

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baruch's Avatar
United States
1 Posts
 Posted 08/06/2008  10:16 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add baruch to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Hello, new here. This isn't a rare coin question, but I was hoping someone here could help me out.

I have some Canadian Maple Leaf Silver coins, and a couple have finger prints that have turned into what looks like a very prominent milky white residue. Does anyone know what this is?

I tried to wash one off in some water with a very very small amount of standard dishsoap to no avail. It didn't even lessen the blight.

Is there anything to be done about this without messing up the coin more? (my concern is getting a good spread on spot price)

I know this forum is more for collectable coins, and it's generally not good to clean collectible silver, but I figured you guys would know if anyone would.

Thank you
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biokemist6's Avatar
United States
12437 Posts
 Posted 08/06/2008  11:36 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add biokemist6 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it sounds like the fingerprints are etched into the surface of the coin. Acetone and other organic solvents can remove fresh fingerprints before damage occurs. Skins oils are acidic and can etch the print over time and once this happens, the only way to remove is to dip them in E-Z-Est or a similar product.

Warning: this method is considered to be "cleaning" and will harm the numismatic value of a coin even more than a fingerprinted coin. However, it sounds like you have regular Maple Leafs so they do not really have much numismatic value anyway, just silver value(which would not be affected). If you are only interested in the silver value, then I would recommend this method. If you are collecting them as coins, I would recommend you leave them alone or consider trading them in for an unmarked example.
Edited by biokemist6
08/06/2008 11:38 pm
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acidic1's Avatar
United States
632 Posts
 Posted 08/07/2008  6:53 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add acidic1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Yes...Yes...all Acidic!.
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garylcsr's Avatar
United States
1952 Posts
 Posted 08/08/2008  12:15 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add garylcsr to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
if you cleaned them (I tried to wash one off in some water with a very very small amount of standard dishsoap to no avail. It didn't even lessen the blight. ) they are already cleaned coins.
never clean your coins.... BUT yep I have done it all and I will be the first to tell you that none of it works "well" you can always pick out a cleaned coin. and if it had any numismatic at all you took at least half off.
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