For ancient coins, it is widely accepted that you are allowed to touch the coin. I have no problem doing this to my more worn examples. But I will not touch my higher end ones (except on the rims). However, When I show my coins to the dealers, they take them out and touch them when they look at them. Am I the only one that has his heart pounding when this happens? stainless
Not really, some dealers I know have a very cavalier attitude towards some coins. Not that they're bad people or even bad dealers, they just handle so many obscenely valuable coins that your sestertius means little to them. Still, I trust them to toss my coins more than I would a layman! I find that one of the marks of a truly exceptional dealer is one who handles your worn little bronze with the same care as he would the rarest dekadrachm.
no, you aren't the only one. it happens to me too, not with ancients but with BU pieces... Finger marks will never go out
I was showing my new piece to my 16 year old son and as he bent over to look at the coin (I was holding it for him) he breathed heavily on top of it. All I could think about was his moist breath going over this proof copper. Made me think that I should only show a coin if it's in an air-tite. Yeah, call me fussy, but water and old copper don't go together.
