I have a nice 31-D in my collection that has two really obvious fingerprint stains (one on obverse, one on reverse) as well as a very ugly black mark at around 8-o'clock. Other than those three issues, I thin this is a nice RB coin. How many points do you think would be docked off because of the fingerprints and mark? Thanks in advance! (pics below) -CB
I have a '09vdb in a pcgs 64rd holder with a fingerprint on the obverse and I think it makes the coin neat. the spot or print shouldn't change the grade but some people might not like it so it could affect price.
Fingerprints do affect the grade because they have large impact on the eye appeal of the coin. And eye appeal is the 2nd most important of the grading criteria. That said, just like it is with everything else, it's a matter of degree. The worse the print makes the coin look the more it affects the grade, and vice versa. In this case, I'd say 1 point.
Doug is very kind to you. I would drop any coin I own with fingerprints, at least one full conditions grade, not just one full numaric grade.
It depends... on how bad the print is, where it is, the rarity of the coin, and personal preference. Personally, I detest fingerprints, particularly on proofs. Usually someone fat-fingered the darn thing into an album without thinking and without obeying Cardinal Rule #1 of handling coins - handle coins by the edges, and don't touch the face. As Doug mentioned, it's all about eye appeal. How distracting is the print ? If it's not too bad, maybe it doesn't affect the coin too much. Problem is the prints often get worse over time. Generally, I avoid coins with prints.
Professional graders haven't adopted the fingerprint as well as they have illustrious toning. Don't think it will happen anytime soon. What's with the dark spot on the obverse about 8 oclock?
I have no clue. I think it's corrosion though which is a real shame. The fingerprints are only noticeable under a strong light (such as in my pictures). It's hard to tell just by looking at it. Overall it's a very nice coin besides those two blemishes, sadly enough.
Which leads me to ask, just how does one put a coin in a holder without pushing with a finger or some other hard instrument that may damage the coin ???
I think we're saying the same thing. When I say 1 point I mean if the coin would grade 64, and it has a fingerprint, I'd drop it to 63. Or, if the coin would grade 58, I'd drop it to 55. I guess I should have said 1 grade, instead of 1 point. But I was thinking of MS grades, which amounts to the same thing.
You don't. That's why, IMO, coin albums are probably the single worst thing any coin collector could ever use.
Well, why would you have to push it to get it into a holder? Plastic and cardboard flips you can just open, put the coin on one side, and close it. The only reason to "push" a coin is if you're trying to put it into a flip that is partially stapled shut.
As do I. With unblemished coins, I just wear the $4 pair of gloves. But I have noticed that many of the lots I have purchased have fingerprinted coins. I have witnessed dealers at shows breaking open proof sets and fingering the coins. I believe if you down grade enough of them with fingerprints, the unblemished ones become that much scarcer. At least that seems to be a theory for why it's done so much. But I think the print must reduce the grade by 3-4 points anyway. At least that what seems to happen with my coins.
I think he was referring to coin holders in albums specifically, not actual 2x2's. I think it honestly depends on how obvious the fingerprint is. In my case, I agree with GDJMSP because it is hardly noticable -- you can only see it under strong light! And even then it's still faint. But in other cases I have coins that have very obvious dark fingerprint marks that would greatly reduce its grade if I were to submit them in. Agreed. One drop in an MS grade could mean the difference in $10-$100, and possibly more depending on the coin.
Lol... on the other hand, I am sure it depends on whose fingerprint it is I am sure an 1850's cent with Lincolns' fingerprint on it might fetch a premium... >whistles innocently<
Yeah, I think so too. It's those really thin $5-$10 Whitman fake leather wrapped around cardboard 4 page foldout albums you really have to give it a good push. When I use these types of albums, they're for the invaluable circulation I'm just collecting the series as I find them type albums.
