Are Cotton Gloves Still A Good Idea?

And, for TPG'ers that leave something extra on coins that weren't there when submitted to them. Another great reason to not submit coins to them.

 

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Okay, okay, okay. Everyone have opinions on using gloves. Let me share my opinion on using gloves. Please don't take my opinion as offensive, but enlightenment on using gloves.

First of all, my perspective when someone said, "I don't need gloves because I can handle coins without mistake by touch surface." IMO, it's a perfectionism behavior. I am sure anyone won't admit that they did make mistake by touch surface after years of experience and it could be a costly mistake.

I find it an ironic that same people who preach us that oil treatment on coins from slight to dipped is a no-no because over time the oil will ruin the coin and yet, they said it's OK to handle coins by edge without gloves. I found that a questionable because of the statements by them regarding to "Oil". Overtime the oil will crawling around the coin. Therefore, oil from our fingers touch the edge will stay there and developing whatever it would become to a infested elements on coins in long run. You are welcome to correct my argumentative.

I used gloves for all reason as stated by others. I am trying to avoid transfer oil from my fingers on UNC and proofs. However, I still use gloves for circulated coins because they are filthy! You still do find boogers attached to coins and it's disgusting to handle without gloves. You are welcome to call me, "mysophobia".

Again, everyone are prone to mistakes as it's normal. It's OK to admit that we do make mistakes from time to time. As I mentioned previous that it's could be costly mistake because any fingerprint on coins will automatic grade MS 65 despite if it may grade higher.

It's always good to use gloves despite if you have years of experiences handle coins. For me, I am still using it and will always wear it.

 

Yes, I agreed that gloves still smudges coin's surface. I can verify that as true because I did test with inexpensive UNC and proofs to see if it still smudge the coin with coins and it did. Gloves is for people like me who don't want to wash their hands every time we handle the coins. Gloves are nearby and ready to use when I need it. Sink is kinda distance than gloves.

Bottom line, gloves or no gloves, UNC and proofs' surface is off-limit for higher grade.

 

I see we have a few nudists in the crowd.

I can't remember the last time I used my gloves. It was a brief period, when I handled a few proof coins by their edges (cracked or scratched capsules, looking over a second hand purchased proof, etc.). For the moment, my hands don't shake, I don't spit when I breathe out and most importantly, I try to stay as far away as possible from proof coins.

 

If you used common sense and you're gonna be touching a gold proof or simply a great looking coin then you better use some kind of gloves. All it's gonna take is for you to pick up a $1000 gold proof and one finger print smudge and it's all over. A good lesson on if you touch it you bought it. I use surgical gloves because that's all I have. Use common sense and that will tell you whether or not to use gloves.

 

"As I've aged, my skin is much dryer, so my dexterity is enhanced by nitrile gloves that fit properly – I’ve never dropped a coin because of the gloves. A coin could be dropped at any time for any reason, so best to handle it over a surface that will not harm the coin, like a soft surface tray or carpeted floor."

Yup...full agreement!

 

None of the TPGs use gloves. Never knew a dealer that used gloves. Don't know of any long term collectors that mess with gloves.

With that said, use gloves if you feel better doing so.
Time will help you decide if you decide to keep doing so.
It's your choice.

 

<-------------- long time collector who messes with gloves, Larry

During the 1800s it wasn't commonplace to wash your hands before performing surgery, but times change, knowledge grows and the world evolves.

I guess the world isn't ready to evolve on this one.

That was my original question. Not should people use gloves or not, but if you use gloves, should you use cotton? As is STILL being recommended by hobby organizations like the ANA.

I would recommend latex gloves over cotton on any day and twice on Sunday. I think that they are a better choice.

 

I never use gloves for casual coin handling after watching countless dealers handle silver dollars directly from tubes or rolls.

I DO use cottong glove while putting coins in a Dansco. Especially if the coins are particularly stubborn!

 

do you use a new pair every time, Lee?

 

i thought i saw a coin graded 70 with a fingerprint on it.

 

Show me then I will believe you. However, others has mention that some coins graded by PCGS above MS65 actually have fingerprint. It's possible less standard by PCGS or overlook by grader?

 

Accuracy is important. The palm side of the hand ( including bottom of tips of fingers do not have sebaceous ( oil ) glands, so there should be little or no oil there, unless from touching oily areas like hair covered epidermis. Sudoriferous ( sweat ) glands , yes, and the salty secretion is what reacts with coins to make the fingerprint, not oil.

Cotton ( cellulose ) fibers in gloves have usually been chemical treated, and the hardness is more than coin metal surfaces or cotton cloth would be used to clean the coin surfaces. My thought is that if you have already handled thousands of coins ( besides searching boxes of cents, etc. ) it doesn't matter if you use gloves or not. If I need to use gloves, I would not use cotton gloves.

 

I don't use gloves any more, but keep a set just in case. Personally handling them by the edge is just fine for me.

 

Just for my peace of mind I've used latex gloves over the years and always hold the coins over a soft surface. Yes I wash my hands before I handle the coins and I'm careful about only handling the coin by rim but just feel better with the gloves on lol. I've never used cotton gloves for the reasons many have already posted here.

 

I dont wear gloves. But then, I don't collect anything that hasn't been handles by countless hands over the past two or three hundred years, so what are my hands going to do that centuries of hands were incapable of doing?

 

Those professional graders and dealers must wash their hands an awful lot, I guess. Seems careless to me for them to not wear gloves. I'm sure a few expensive coins have been ruined over the years.

 

One more different perspective... I'm guessing that the professional graders are mostly guys. Think about the older guys and peers you know, then ask yourself one question, "How many of them wash their hands after using the john?".