Some more dumb questions.

1. Will latex gloves hurt a coin when you handle a coin with them on?
2. Can you handle a coin with your bare fingers if you wash them really good with soap before hand?
3. Will it hurt to store coins in ziplock bags?
4. Will using a waterpik (high pressure water cleaner), damage a coin?
5. What's the best way to remove dirt from the devices of a coin?

 

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1. IDK, I use cotton gloves
2. Your hands will still develop oils so use cotton gloves
3. I am not sure but I believe they have PVC in them.
3. I would guess yes
5. Leave it

 

Wouldn't cotton scratch?

 

The only dumb question is the one not asked!

 

If you use latex gloves, be sure that they are the surgical kind that do not contain cornstarch (makes it easier to put them on).

A lot of people hold coins with their bare hands including dealers and graders. Just be sure to hold them by the edge.

ZipLoc bags do not contain PVC.

Using a waterpik is not recommended. The pressure from the water stream can cause debris to scratch the surface of the coin. I've never tried this, but I've read that you can soak a coin in (filtered) 100% virgin olive oil to soften the dirt and then gently use a toothpick or even a rose thorn (for small crevices) to remove debris. I would imagine that this would be a slow, painstaking process.

Chris

 

Latex gloves should be okay. Like cpm9ball said, don't get the ones with powder, which is used as a "lubricant" on the inside (easier to get on and off your hands). Also consider nitrile gloves (the thin kind, not the heavier chemical-resistant ones, would be on the shelf next to latex). Latex gloves are on the way out in the medical field due to latex allergies. Cotton gloves are safe as well, but in my experience, finding a pair of cotton gloves that fit well is difficult. Latex/nitrile provides better dexterity. You can actually buy these in any drug section of department stores. I would probably avoid vinyl gloves, but even if they contain PVC (shouldn't, food workers wear them) any exposure would be minimal and harmless.

You can handle coins with your bare hands, but no matter how well you wash them, they will still have oil. Circulated coins are no big deal (how many times have they already been touched), but never handle proof coins bare-handed, except on the edges.

I'm sure a waterpik ranks right below a dremel tool for use on coins. Try a soak in distilled water to loosen the dirt, then use to tools cpm9ball suggests. But unless it's a large amount of dirt, I really wouldn't worry about too much, especially on a circulated coin. Like my grey hair, dirt on a coin adds character.

 

1. Not likely
2. No, I have tried it...
3. They may have PVC in it. Use them only for short-term storage
4. Depends on what it's used on. Don't try it
5. Leave it

 

Once again..........ZipLoc bags DO NOT contain PVC........because they are used primarily for food storage.

Chris

 

Think back to when YOU started in the hobby. (For some of us, it goes back many decades.) How much did you know about proper handling, storage, and to clean or not to clean? Anyone ever use a pencil eraser, tobasco sauce or your thumb to clean a brown penny? There truly is no stupid question excepting the ones not asked. Questions are part of the learning process.

 

CPM9ball is correct ziplock storage bags and ziplock food containers (the hard sides with lids aka us poor people's tupperware..lol) some are #5 polypropylene (very safe for coin storage) most are food grade and made of plastic #1 which is pete and won't harm coins. Now the bags if they are ever melted via chemicals or intense heat from say a fire it will adhere to the coins like PVC.
I use only cotton gloves simply because my hands sweat too much in latex gloves, rubber gloves and the like. Even with using cotton gloves wash your hands and with softsoap. This also applies with touching the edges only question. Don't use soaps with lots of fragrances or soaps with glycoalcohol or what ever is in antibacterial soaps. Just to play it safe.
Cleaning Uncirculated coins I would leave that to expert restoration/preservation people. Circulated that are too dirty for you use distilled water and very soft brushes only if required dab dry NEVER RUB with a chamios (pronounced shammy) cloth or similar soft material.

 

1. OK to hold the coin, however latex is damaged by several substances such as alcohols, acetone, and dip type of chemicals. Many CSI protocols say to use 2 layers of latex gloves, or an outer layer of latex glove and inner of cotton glove, as skin secretions can contaminate through. Latex gloves were designed to prevent infectious material to entering the person. Nitrile gloves are mostly safe for alcohols, but not for acetone, etc. unless they are the thick ones. I do not collect MS-70 MODERN PROOFS, etc, so single latex satisfies me.

2. If you are careful yes. Most damage from such is dropping the coin, but that can happen as easily with gloves. DO NOT wash your hands before though. Contrary to common thoughts, washing ( unless you know surgical scrub procedures) will loosen pores and allow skin secretions to be released in greater quantity. In my Microbiology class I had students touch petri plates of nutrient agar with normal fingers and after washing 1,2,and 3 times. The first and second washings had more contamination than the others.

3. No, explained by others above.

4. Not the home dental use one. I have an old thread someplace here, where I tried this. A waterpik can not generate enough pressure, even when a smaller diameter nozzle is used and a variac to boost the voltage/ pressure by 50%. Maybe a professional dentist water tool could, but I didn't have one to test. Also, you should do it nude or wearing a raincoat as it sure splatters all over

5. Since this is a scratch harness comparison, few things would be safe to use on copper coins, Although it might seem a no brainer to think that copper can't be scratched by a brush bristle, toothpick, bamboo sliver, immature rose thorn, etc., they can. An experienced DR. can use softened bamboo slivers ( since they are basically hollow tubes) dipped in a solution like acetone to ease the grime out as the acetone flows out like fountain pen ink. However, it is done with a stereo microscope and about 1000+ practice coins, and still they can get scratches. It should not be attempted on a nice coin without such experience. Unfortunately, this is most often what happens.

Jim

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If you go to the grocery store and buy bags, they will probably be food grade and contain no PVC.
When you get into bags made for packaging of other stuff, they may very well contain PVC.

 

So is it safe to store dozens of MS67 coins and shake the bag violently?

 

As odd as it sounds, I've been rubbing dirt and PVC off of various metal coins with a heavily soaked alcohol pad for years. I basically take a regular isopropyl alcohol pad, allow it to dry out and dip it in 96% (192 proof) pure neutral grain spirits. I apply light to moderate pressure to the fields and then do minute detailing around lettering and design elements with a bendable plastic toothpick through the alcohol pad. I typically don't see any hairlines on the coin afterward, even at 20x magnification.
Now I'm not suggesting anyone else try this on their coin, especially one that you really like and/or has decent value.

PS: Cotton gloves will cause hairlines the same as your shirt if you rub the coin with them on. Personally I handle my coins bare fingered by the edges.

 

I rarely ever use gloves, it's too hard to manipulate the coin and it increases the risk of dropping. If it's a high grade/quality coin, I do give it a quick rinse with acetone after handling and prior to storage to be sure I don't leave anything on the surface.

Removing dirt from devices is TRICKY and requires an experienced hand to avoid damage and the coin looking like it's been cleaned. In general, I recommend leaving it there, it adds character to the coin and the TPG's don't really mind it since it shows the coin's originality. If you decide to attack residue, ALWAYS do it under fluid, I recommend distilled water, so the surfaces are lubricated. This can help prevent scratching.

 

Exactly. They're intended for food shortage. If these contained PVC, there would be an uprising from the masses who store food and I'm pretty sure there's a large population that has used ZipLoc baggies to store food.

 

Leave a coin alone until you have a lot of practice on cheap coins, and handle the edges of a coin only, bare (clean) hands are fine. These precautions are good enough for all but pristine proof coins.

Just my opinion.

 

Or just leave it as it is. If it's just dirt, because the coin is old, leave it. The only time I'll clean a coin is if you really can't be for certain what type of coin it is.

 

Thank you for posting this. The only thing one gets out of judging others and acting superior is an enjoyment in making others feel small and bad about themselves : simply put, it is bullying. Being understanding, remembering where you came from, and helping people is not only fulfilling, it takes almost zero effort.