How do fingerprints effect grade?

Lots of good answers in this thread. A bit OT but some folks will not buy a coin with prints. To me it effects the value.

 

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Yes, it can affect the grade. Like everything else in grading, it depends. A print you have to hunt to find may not lower a 63, but an obvious print may make a 65 (without the print) into a 63. And, yes, I have MS65's with print on them.

 

I don't mint these prints even though they are on both sides.
This graded 65BN. I doubt it would grade much higher without them.

 

WOW!!!

Never seen a penny that beautiful before. I didn't even know they could get colors other than blue and red.

 

looks like someone with a big thumb had a run in with this coin. This coin is raw. If it were slabbed by a top tier, the dark unattractive tone and obvious fingerprint would hurt this coin. The main reason it is in my set is this year is tough with color. I like the coin prints and all.

 

You ought to see his whole collection, he IS the King of Toned coins. Maybe Paul will put us a link to his fine collection. Pretty please.....

BTW....not a fan of fingerprints.

 

I tried acetone on my bu 98 which the fingerprint is only seen at an angle in the right lighting.. however after 48hrs it still is on there I'll just wire brush it like this one dude that did it to SIX 1998s... and not one but TWO were crowned capped eagle.. also my 1991 type 2 has a print.. after 36hr it's fainter and some is gone but still on there... at least it's closer to edge of coin.. but still

 

Agree with Doug @GDJMSP . You could try xylene, or (if the print is particularly irritating) a quick dip in eZest

 

A fingerprint will etch a coin, any coin. The skin oils are what goes it. Acetone won’t worth. Nothing will remove a fingerprint unless the print is very new. Brushing a coin will cause more damage so be not to do so.
Welcome to CT.

 

In other words, you don't really know and maybe should not opine as if you do, in any definitive manner.

 

FTFY.

 

I have had better luck using acetone on silver coins.
I have very little luck with red copper coins.
You never know if acetone is going to work because there is no way to know how old the print is. Sometimes you get lucky.

If it comes down to using a coin dip, you have to decide if the coins luster can survive a dip and understand the proper way to use coin dip. Every coin is a different story. Too many coins get killed my those that think they understand.

 

will acetone remove print marks from a coin?

 

Bobs collection is incredible! None finer that I’m aware of!

 

well that answers my question! Tks!

 

I'd say it depends on what result is returned after running the fingerprint on your coin through IAFIS.

 

This capped bust half dime is an MS62. I can't say that I think it should be any higher than that. But it's a personal fave - super original, and the fingerprint that gives Liberty her semicircles also seems to have activated some electric blue toning (which this TrueView doesn't adequately capture). I think the rest of the coin is redder than this too. All part of the charm!