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 Replies: 21 / Views: 2,069 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I have asked this question on CU forums and got the regular smart *** remarks like sand paper and stuff so I figured I would ask here where everyone seems to to have their brain in their head instead of where they sit to see if I can get a straight answer. I have tried acetone and it didn't touch the finger prints and was just wondering if anyone else had had any success getting them off of coins and if so what methods did you use
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Valued Member
United States
94 Posts |
Did you try a belt sander? (sorry, I just couldn't resist that one  ) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
891 Posts |
I tried the acetone also but to no avail. I let it soak all night. From what I have been reading there seems to be no hope. Fingerprints suck.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
As far as I know all cleaners, even soap and water do detectable damage to a coin. On the flip side I have seen coins with finger prints on them graded as high as MS 65.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1091 Posts |
Sorry, I wish I knew. They really detract from nice new copper coins as they age. I'm hoping as the whole coin tones over many years, that the finger print won't be noticable.
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Forum Mom
 United States
5877 Posts |
As far as I know, the only time that acetone will work on the finger oils is when the print is fresh. Jeweluster may work, but it's not a product I use and I don't recommend it. If nothing else, the acetone should neutralize the finger oils and stop any further toning. I would leave it at that. Quite frankly, I think that anything that would remove an old fingerprint is also removing some of the metal from the coin.
Sorry I couldn't give you any better advice.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
I've got some early 1950s uncirculated cents that still have fingerprints on them from when I pressed them into the Whitman folders when I was a kid. I've looked at them closely in years past and they have become part of the coin. Without getting into the chemistry of fingerprints, it appears there's enough salt and acids in the fingerprints to permanently etch a coin over time. As Susan stated, fingerprints can be removed, but only if they are freshly placed on a coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2365 Posts |
I can't remember the chemical make-up but, how about the fingerprinting dust used in Law Enforcement? I know someone that I will ask this of...hmmmm It would have to be a new print though and I don't know if it would only make an impression or remove the print entirely.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1203 Posts |
As Susan said,"As far as I know, the only time that acetone will work on the finger oils is when the print is fresh." This is what I have found to be true, and even then it sometimes becomes necessary to very lightly brush the surface of the coin with a Cammel hair brush, to work the acetone into the oil of the print.
I would not use Jeweluster if I were you.
After the oils have damaged the surface, it's too late to think of removing any trace of the print. Generally speaking.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
14454 Posts |
I have seen coins sent to NCS have finger prints when they were sent in and they came back print free and I was just wondering if anyone knows how they do it ir if anyone has had any luck with anything at all to remove these things. I even have a PCGS coin that a buddy of mine sent into for me that had no finger prints on the coin but now since its in the slab one appeared as if PCGS fondled it before slabbing it, I would hope they use gloves while grading these things but I have no idea how the dadburn finger print got on the coin
Edited by Bryan1315
09/12/2006 9:10 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2365 Posts |
Would the Coin Conservation share their knowledge?
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Valued Member
New Zealand
227 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by dsking
I can't remember the chemical make-up but, how about the fingerprinting dust used in Law Enforcement? I know someone that I will ask this of...hmmmm It would have to be a new print though and I don't know if it would only make an impression or remove the print entirely.
Fingerprint dust is horrible stuff that is almost impossible to remove. I know this because my home was broken into a few years back and we disturbed the burglars so they dropped a bag full of booty below a window. In the bag was my vcr and it still has traces of dust to this day.  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
I think NCS gets away with cleaning coins whereas if we tried it using the same techniques, it'd come back to us in a bodybag. I'm pretty sure NCS actually removes some of the coin's metal when they "conserve" a coin (they would have to in order to remove an old fingerprint), but they do it well enough that it passes as an almost new coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2365 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by grouse12
quote:
Originally posted by dsking
I can't remember the chemical make-up but, how about the fingerprinting dust used in Law Enforcement? I know someone that I will ask this of...hmmmm It would have to be a new print though and I don't know if it would only make an impression or remove the print entirely.
Fingerprint dust is horrible stuff that is almost impossible to remove. I know this because my home was broken into a few years back and we disturbed the burglars so they dropped a bag full of booty below a window. In the bag was my vcr and it still has traces of dust to this day.
OK - strike that from the idea bag! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1703 Posts |
Bryan, I would suggest you try a common degreaser.Such as Purple Power or Castrol super Clean,either can be purchased at a local Wal-mart. It shouldn't have any effect on the metal of the coin but will remove the oil of a finger print. I would try it on a non valuable silver coin first just to be safe.I would try a Q tip and a small amount of cleaner. If the print has been on the coin for a long time its possible the salt from the skin would do permanent damage. |
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Valued Member
United States
394 Posts |
Hi Bryan1315, have you tried WD-40? I would practice on some cull or something first, but there is a possibility that it could do the job. Either way hope you find a solution and pass it on to your forum mates, good luck.
Berry
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Replies: 21 / Views: 2,069 |
Posted 09/12/2006 7:29 pm
