Got to thinking about the mishandling of coins and how best to impress upon the beginning coin collector's mind the importance of handling coins properly. Do not touch the surfaces of any coin with your bare fingers. Oils and acids produced by the human skin (dermis and epidermis) are easily transferred to the surface/s of a coin. If you must handle a coin without gloves hold it by the rim. If you don't here's what can happen: Coin Archives Photo (click photos for enlargements): Proper Handling of 1927 British George V Proof Crown: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...Lot=1332&Val=e32e90cbff3e9cf25905453d0e7116b7 Mishandling of 1927 British George V Proof Crown: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...ot=22005&Val=68d9719b205124caf709c11605abdc31 Which do you prefer? In your opinion are the Proof Crowns worth the same or is the unsmudged Proof Crown worth more (the smudged worth less)? You may ask, "What if we clean the coin to eliminate the fingerprints?" Thanks to the archives of Coin Page we can see what happens to a mishandled 1914 cent which was cleaned to remove fingerprints: 1914 Lincoln Cent (Cleaned w/Fingerprint Residue) Obverse: http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-3839.html 1914 Lincoln Cent (Cleaned w/Fingerprint Residue) Reverse: Discoloration on E P and L, the top half of the left Wheat Head and the ON of ONE: http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-3840.html That's why we say, "Uh-uh, Don't touch! Clinker
your right you shouldn't handle coins by the surface but you can hold bare hands on the rim of the coin and it shouldn't ruin the coin
In addition to not touching, you must be careful to avoid talking over raw coins and be careful to open soda cans/bottles far away from exposed raw coins.
You know, I've never actually thought of that, I have opened cokes all the time around my raw coins, guess I'm looking that none of them end up coke-splashed. I also keep the open drink pretty close by. Although I'm not clumsy, and I'm pretty well of my surroundings, and I'm normally the first to catch a dropped pen off of somebody else's desk, I guess it would be smart to leave drinks away. Can't believe I never even thought of that before. And yes Clinker I agree, don't touch! White cotton gloves, into a nice safe holder. Thanks Clinker
To my friend tmoneyeagles... Don't use the kitchen table or counters when someone is cooking, eating or drinking steaming beverages... Clinker
That might be fun, have the proof coins get all foggy, and get a needle and write something through the FL surfaces. (Fog Like)
