Went to a tiny coin and stamp appraisal get together to get an approximation of what my two Lincoln cents might be worth. There were four appraisers who were also buying the coins people wanted to sell. What I couldn't believe was they handled all the coins without gloves and never once did I see either one of them clean there hands. There were scads of silver dollars, halfs, quarters etc. How could this be? When it came to be my turn I showed the dealer/appraiser my lincoln cents and he said he didn't know anything about new lincolns(1994, 1999) so I was referred to another appraiser. Ahalf hour later this guy looks at me as I handed him my two cents in 2x2's and he said it wasn't necessary to open them up he could appraise them as is. Well he knew less than I did about them so I just asked him to give me an idea of their grade/s. If he'd have opened up my 2x2's I would have insisted he wear the cotton gloves that I brought. Is this normally what goes on at coin shows and such? He had to open his red book to get an idea of the value and first shot he got that wrong and I corrected him. Only then did he find the right line AND HIS EYES BUGGED OUT WHEN HE SAW $500 listed for MS67. He graded my 1999 wide A ,M at MS60. Opinions please.
Man..i dont know how I would have reacted. When you got it home..did you give it a bath? Simular thing happened to me yesterday..coin show in Hamburg NY. I was tying to buy some BU Lincoln cents, and this one young dealer has some beauties sitting in an Dansco Album. I looked at them in the album then told him, I'd like this one and that one..etc. He immediatley slid back the mylar, and took his thumb and pushed it through into his open hand.I didnt want any prints developing down the road. After I saw that, I stopped looking in the dansco, and went back into his book with the 2 x 2's. Its a shame because the Danso had much nicers ones, and i would have kept on shopping. I got them home and an acetone bath they got. BTW, I just loved the coin show..such nice people..they held it at the Buffalo raceway in Hamburg NY...We drove from Toronto, did the dhow...spent the afternoon on the American side of the falls, then drove back to the Canadian Side, checked into our hotel and spent the rest of the weekend @ the casino and a show..
Most likely the major part of the coins were circulation. If that is the case then fingerprints won't be an issue. In fact, I haven't used gloves, and I don't know a single "pro" collector/dealer that does. Now if the coin is UNC, then I will only hold it by the edge/rim, but that is really quite safe, and makes gloves un-needed. Speedy
There are just a lot of odd ball people out there and you found a few of them it looks like. I guess if you do something all day long, every day, you just are not that excited about proper rules, regulations, proper procedures, etc. Ever watch those people on TV shows that handle old coins as if they were tire irons in thier car trunks? At one coin show a dealer had a pile of Walker Halves in his case all staked one one top of the other. I asked what the dates were and he just grabbed them and handed them to me as if handing me change from buying gas at a gas station. Not by edges, not carefully, just handed them to me and all appeared to be MS grades. Probably not by the time he gets done with them though. Your experience is just common with many people. Ever go to a car show and see how many just have to touch, touch, touch?
Doesn't sound like a coin show to me. I think you went to one of those hotel room deals where they take out a full page ad in the local paper proclaiming their desire to give you undreamed of riches for your common silver/gold/etc. The next time you find a qualified appraiser at one of those events, call Guinness so they can update their record books! Luckily, my friend who went to one of those events knew that selling gold for less than $500/oz. was not a good deal!
Close, it was at a firehouse in Carmel, NY. 39th anuual to be exact. Four coin appraisers/dealers/buyers and one nice stamp guy appraiser/buyer/dealer. I just thought I could get my two cents appraised for free which they were offering. That's it. Live and learn I did, I did.
FWIW - I recklessly handle coins, even proofs, but the rims with bare hands, all the time. Nothing is worse than dropping the coin. Ruben
BTW - that being said the responsible recommendation is to handle coins with cotton gloves. But if your going to clean it, it doesn't matter Ruben
Well Ruben, since I collect circulated US Lincoln Memorials and I find a cent with a lot of hard crud on it and I want it , I'll clean it but not ruin it. Just good enough to put in the folder. By the way, my avatar was not and never will be cleaned.
Naw, I have enough of them without your help, thanks anyway. Very nice of you to offer,though. But maybe I'll email you about some coins I have.
Just like speedy mentioned - I have yet to see someone use gloves. All seem to hold the coins by the rims. And like Ruben I have dropped coins - I even hate dropping my coins in the airtite holders.
