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Message:: [QUOTE="statequarterguy, post: 1787361, member: 21782"]I should have mentioned above that I usually only use gloves for uncirculated and higher grade coins - since the edge is a surface of the coin, I don’t want finger prints eating into the coin there either. I never handle proofs, they stay in their holders. As for well circulated coins, they’re already coated with skin oils, so unless they’re a high value coin, not much harm handling them without gloves.  Assuming you're not packaging the coin in an Air-Tite or 2x2, but pushing it on the rim into your folder or album, gloves are the best way to avoid finger prints on the obverse or reverse. As I've aged, my skin is much dryer, so my dexterity is enhanced by nitrile gloves that fit properly – I’ve never dropped a coin because of the gloves. A coin could be dropped at any time for any reason, so best to handle it over a surface that will not harm the coin, like a soft surface tray or carpeted floor.  If you're going to handle uncirculated coins with bare hands, while holding it on the edges, try rotating it completely, so that the entire edge is coated with skin oils evenly. That way, when the toning on the edge starts to creep onto the obverse and reverse, it will be an even target type toning. You can see this type of toning on many Morgan Dollars, that developed because at one time most believed it was ok to handle uncirculated coins with bare hands.[/QUOTE]