Do fingerprints affect a proofs grade

So I purchased a roll of 1951 franklin proofs. And I had my assistant put them into 2x2s for gradig and he got his fingerprints on every reverse and observe of all 40 coins! And of course I can try to rub them or I'll get polish lines all over them.
So is my investment worthless due to all the fingerprints? These were pf65 coins before all those figerprints

 

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One roll? There are only 20 coins in one roll. I hope you're not blaming your assistant for the mistake.

Chris

 

How does that even answer or address my question in any way??

 

It doesn't, and I don't know what the answer could be since I've never cleaned or dipped coins. It was just a casual afterthought. So, what was it? One roll or two rolls? I still hope you didn't blame your assistant.

Chris

 

You might have to put some acetone on them, fingerprints won't help the grade. Or.... you could put then in a sock and beat your assistant. That'll learn him!

 

I guess it would depend on who you sold the coins to. Fingerprints on a proof coin would certainly effect what or if I was would make a purchase, but the coins are certainly not worthless, just not worth as much as they were before they were touched. Sorry to hear about this. Your assistant probably learned a valuable lesson about the importance of wearing gloves.

 

Oh! Coins and investing... they go hand-in-hand so wonderfully, no? LOL!

I think Chris' comment was like sorting out the specifics you gave before answering your question. I guess you're miffed at the assistant right now so making light of the situation will only get you more hot under the collar...

IMO: Fingerprints affect eye-appeal and therefore can effect the value others will be willing to offer you for those coins should they choose to buy them from you. Some may not mind if the prints are minor or hardly noticeable, some may find them to be 'damage'.

Grade is subjective, you should post some pics to show us these PF65 coins so we can judge one by one, any damage done to the coins by the prints and see what the consensus is in your case.

 

Why are you guys blaming the assistant?

Chris

 

Not me. I thought "Assistant" was a euphemism for 'wife' but he referred to him as "he" so I let it go, plus he was steamed at you already. LOL!

 

Krispy, I would have thought you'd know me by now.

Now, back to the original query. Does anyone know if there is a way to safely remove "fresh" fingerprints from proof coins?

Chris

 

A quick wash through acetone will lift the oils before the prints set in

 

I wouldn't say it is worthless but you've certainly lost a significant percentage of its original value unless you can get rid of them. Even if you can, you then have doctored coins which I certainly would never knowingly purchase. I'm sorry this happened to you... it's really a shame and a costly mistake.

 

I wish I had time to find it, but I'd swear you said fingerprints had no effect on numerical grade a few years back. Maybe I'm wrong, but someone said that here.
Guy~

 

My best idea to help get rid of them follows what Doug said.
Good luck with that and I hope you found out right after the fingers hit them because after they set in there's no turning back.

 

Maybe Guy was thinking of that Market Grading thread you posted a while back?

 

Point taken, but I don't think I'm in a position yet to say whether or not I fully agree. Maybe I'll post a few picks tomorrow in a thread titled "dipped or not dipped" if I feel like having my feelings hurt.

My belief is this:
If a coin is immediately stored correctly the toning process is slowed dramatically... slowed to the point that you could still have a blast white undipped coin from the 30's, 40's but I might be wrong.