Is A Slight Fingerprint Removal Possible W/o Rendering Coin Ungradable?

I have an almost perfect 1996 uncirculated Silver Eagle, the ONLY flaw under 10x magnification is a very small what appears to be the tip of a thumbprint on the lower left obverse just above the "1 oz. fine" lettering, I want to send the coin for grading, but am not sure just how much the print will cost me in MS grade points. I have to believe it would be a PCGS MS69 and maybe even a NGC MS70, but with the print I'm uncertain. I don't have a nice camera and my scanner is broken or I would send pics. Please give me your opinions based on the info I've given. Many thanks!

 

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The first thing I would do is to place the coin in a bowl of pure acetone (not a plastic bowl, as acetone will eat the bowl). That may get the fingerprint off if the oils haven't severly affected the surface of the coin. Acetone will not harm the luster of the coin at all.

After the acetone bath, rinse it in distilled water. Be very careful when drying the coin to just pat it, as wiping a coin will leave hairline marks on the surfaces.

Hope this helps.

 

I don't know abut the acitone
even though it will get the print off, wouldnt that make it bodybagged?
If you decide to send it in the way it is, it will probibly get a 68 or a 69 because of the print.

 

No, acetone will not get a coin bodybagged, as it does not chemically react with the surfaces of a coin. Acetone will only get residues, oils, and some dirt off of a coin's surfaces. Because of that, acetone may not even get the print off if the oils causing the print have "embedded" in the coin's surfaces.

As for grade, it really depends on how the rest of the coin looks and how bad the fingerprint looks on the coin. It could make a PQ 69 coin a 67 or 68....it just depends on where the print is and how big and distracting it is.

 

Okey doke, i didn't know for sure. I dont clean coins that much so i wouldn't know.

 

The older the fingerprint, the less chance that acetone will remove it.

If you have had the coin for more than a year, don't waste your time, as - sadly - it's too late.

 

Where can I purchase acetone? And in what quanties does it come in? Thanks.

swick

 

You can get acitone at any hardware store, its basically paint remover.

 

If you use it, remember that acetone is quite toxic. Be sure to use it in a well ventilated area and heed all the various warnings on the container.

 

If you do use it, i DARE you to either light a smoke or use it near a candle, lol

 

Now you sound like a "retired" moderator from this site! LOLOL But he said to light a torch and use gasoline. Same idea though!! LOL

swick