I have a 1997 cent that has a finger print on the back side of it. my camera will not take a clear picture of it. How would a print get there? It does not come off.
Somebody put their finger on it? Somebody put their finger on it? Or is there more to the story - is it a coin sealed in a mint set your asking about?
Get a police buddy to run the print through CODIS. The print could belong to somebody famous - (Provenience) - that is the key.
soak it. Use acetone(fingernail polish remover), soak it don't rub, pat dry with a terry cloth. The print should come off.:high5:
Maybe I figured out what you are really asking, Maybe I figured out what you are really asking, fingerprints generally are caused by someone toughing their face and the oil is transferred to the coin. Since the ridges of your fingerprint are the high points they then mimic your print on a coin - copper coins are the worst - they can be touched as I have said and not show up for months or years. It's the oil that causes a chemical reaction and starts to eat the surface esp. copper.
I had trouble with this one myself because the answer seemed so blatantly simple and obvious...but now I understand better. I thought it was a trick question, really. kind of like one my kid came to me and asked... kid: "When you see a V of geese flying in the sky and one side of the V is longer than the other, do you know why?" me: "Well, no...not really. So, why?" kid: "Because there are more birds on that side, dummy!"
Finger prints will not come off once they are set. If they have been there only a short time acetone or isoproply alcohol or even better xylene might remove. I so paranoid now of damaging my raw coins I wear a mask when I look at if they are exposed and am very careful if I ever touch them (rims only).
i suggest u buy a braille and rub it with your fingers. dont be paranoid be confident most of the gadgetery we see today didnt exist 100 yrs ago but the coins sure made it. enjoy the hobby
Yes, I am a little too OCD- which is how I messed up some of my nice coins trying to "improve" them without proper knowledge and didn't leave well enough alone. I am not sure what braille does? You say funny things Spock? That make me scratch my head. LOL
I hope nobody (especially the OP) takes this the wrong way, but we are talking about a 1997 Lincoln Cent here. My advice, take some tin snips, cut the thing in half, and find a new one without a print on it. Probably easier, and definitely much more fun than trying to get the finger print off.
Yes- Paul- I think we were pretending, it actually had value as we all have owned at least one coin with a big finger print :--(
braille is the new coin from the mint both indian and american which has braille on it and it comes in an easy to open capsule. i cant send youthe indian coz i dont have one but u can get the american one from the mint its about $35 hell no one at pcgs or ngc uses gloves so dont be paranoid
Never use fingernail polish on a coin. Use PURE aceton. Fingernail polish contains other inert ingredients that can do more harm then what your trying to fix. Now on another note, why play doctor with a 1979 cent? Good candidate for the elongated machine on the corner.
The odds are that the print is from a very young male. Because sebum ( oil) is stimulated by androgens that peak at male puberty ( unless you are a certain type of professional athlete) and decrease as the male ages. Sebum contains organic acids that can have corrosive effects on the coin. Old geezers have less to fear. Jim
That's what I thought- it's the acids in your hands that cause the print- not oil per say. And male hands are more acid than female in general.
That's what I thought- it's the acids in your hands that cause the print- not oil per say. And male hands are more acid than female in general.
