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 Replies: 27 / Views: 23,267 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3546 Posts |
It really irritates me  when someone has opened the proof's plastic container and imprinted their grubby fingerprint right on a previously perfect proof coin. I have tried in vain to use both alcohol and Windex separately to remove these stains. One can see the attached results. I applied the above mentioned chemicals on one of those soft/non-abrasive cloths especially especially made to clean computer screens. Any proven suggestions to conquer this problem would be greatly appreciated.  |
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New Member
United States
25 Posts |
What about acetone?
Should remove the oils I would think and should not hurt the metal.
Or ... what about boiling water? Get it boiling pull it off the heat source and put the coin in it.
Not sure if these are acceptable but might work without hurting the coins.
kc
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Pillar of the Community
United States
721 Posts |
I would love to find something that works, too. I haven't tried anything for fear of "ruining" the coin.
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New Member
United States
25 Posts |
Would doing nothing actually do about as much damage as using a cleaning agent? I would assume the salts from the fingerprints could create more issues than cleaning them.
kc
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
In my experience acetone only helps if it is a fresh print. If it has been there a while the oils etch the print into the metal. Then nothing will remove it.
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Valued Member
United States
284 Posts |
Let it soak for about 15 mins. Then take a q-tip and unravel the cotton so it's fluffy. Let the soft fluff waft over the coin in the acetone. See if that does the trick. Eventually the oils should dissolve and lift off. You just have to agitate them away.
-- Boris
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
Personally I would never use anything as abrasive as cotton on a coin. It would probably work but in my opinion it crosses the line between conservation (acetone bath) and cleaning. Once the oils have etched the fingerprint the only way to remove them is by removing a layer of the metal on the coin. I'm not a chemist but I have made many plate etchings for printing.
Sorry Boris I see what you are saying just agitating the acetone. My bad.
Edited by amida17
05/21/2011 5:21 pm
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Valued Member
United States
424 Posts |
Have to agree with amida...fresh prints...acetone, old prints...ummm... belt sander or blowtorch?  Kidding of course...they're there forever...  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1204 Posts |
I just remove most of a big finger print from a coin with a rinse of acetone but the collor will never be the same at it was I'm my op ! I like to try anything that come to my mind , I have some old teens whith verdigree on it and after try olive oil didnt work that good only for indians did so I just have the idea of try wd40 and ll do this evening ! Have anybody tried wd40 before to try to take some of the green or corrosion of the coins ?! I'm a litle off the topic but I just wonder ?!.
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Valued Member
United States
424 Posts |
I wouldn't use wd-40 on any of my coins...I think the only thing its gonna remove...is value  try verdi-care ...you can search on here for it. |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
All I know is if it's an old print it will not come off because the print will be etched into the metal. I don't know how to remove a new print especially on a proof coin.Good luck and let me know if you find a way to remove the print without harming the proof surface on the coin. John1  |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Only fresh prints can be removed. Pure acetone will do it, just by soaking, without risking damage from a q-tip or anything solid touching the coin. If the print is more than a week old or so, it's not going away without wrecking the coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
I've never bought a proof and now I'm glad I didn't lol. I've also seen where PCGS doesn't use gloves when handling and grading coins so even if you get a MS70 slabbed proof it is probably going to have some finger prints on it.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
I've also seen where PCGS doesn't use gloves when handling and grading coins so even if you get a MS70 slabbed proof it is probably going to have some finger prints on it.
I suspect a PCGS grader knows enough to hold a coin by the rim.  |
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Valued Member
United States
200 Posts |
Honestly, you are out of luck. The prints mar the coin, and drag it's value down deep. I'd like to slap whoever handled a proof, or any valuable coin with their fingers. Good grief, there are such things as gloves and tongs. And, if even PCGS doesn't get that simple idea, they are not in my book for grading coins.  Edited by Tam
05/21/2011 10:22 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1244 Posts |
If you want a really good cleaner, that removes things like barcode sticky from items, I can suggest "eucalyptus essence" or lemon essence or orange essence. I have no idea if it will harm the coin, but I am sure if you rinse the coin thoroughly it should be ok.
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Replies: 27 / Views: 23,267 |
Posted 05/21/2011 3:49 pm
