Fingerprints- problem or just lowers grade?

Submitting some of my modern proofs for grading mainly because am tired of having to open the original packaging to look at them (and well a little curious as to how they'll grade). I had 9 to submit... to get the "Modern" service from ANACS (so only had to pay $10 per coin for grading) needed a 10th, so I threw in a 1989-S Kennedy half I found in circulation a few years ago. The details still look nice (can't see much if any wear), but handling caused the fields to lose most of their mirrored effect, and there are a few noticeable fingerprints. Anyway question is, do TPGs regard fingerprints on a coin as a "problem" (like being damaged, cleaned, etc.) or do they just mark down the grade? Just curious, and this coin won't be worth the grading fee even if it was a PF-70 (which it isn't) but was worth throwing in just to lower the average fee per coin for the other 9 (my guess is this is why a lot of coins worth less than their grading fee get slabbed in the first place). But was just wondering how fingerprints affect the grade; whether it's considered a "problem" or just lowers the grade by a few points.

P.S. May end up with a condition rarity lol... doubt many handled modern proofs get slabbed by TPGs.

 

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I have many NGC and PCGS slabbed coins with fingerprints - all on the reverse - that are graded. One even MS67!

 

OK confirms what I suspected lol... may do a "guess the grade" thread when it comes back. My guess is someone broke open a proof set and just spent the thing (I have a 1971-S I also found in circulation in slightly better condition that's in my type set). Luckily I pulled it back out of circulation before it got too much abuse.

 

In my opinion some coins do take a hit in grade because of prints.

 

If it's a proof coin, I'm pretty sure it'd be considered impaired, since it circulated. I've always assumed circulation damage on proofs severely lower the grade. After all, the mirrors would heavily indicate destruction of eye appeal.

 

I'll see how it goes. I'm thinking the handling may be treated as wear and give it a PF-55 or PF-58. Always been curious as to how this would grade but never thought it was worth paying to find out; only doing it now to hit the submission numbers. And well, to satisfy my curiosity too.

Was in a coin store today where I saw many modern slabbed coins selling for less, or barely over, what they must have cost to grade. I always assumed that maybe whoever submitted them were inexperienced or just exercising wishful thinking, but maybe some just submitted random coins to hit minimum submission numbers.

 

A fingerprint will not preclude a straight grade, but it can lower the eye appeal of the coin and this can directly lower the numerical grade. On a coin such as you are describing, it seems like the coin might already be a PR58 or so and in this case the grade may actually stay the same. It would be cool to see images of it.

 

Sure! (Think these pictures came out better. Best results seems to be bright indirect lighting, but no flash, especially on proofs.)



I'm thinking there's a tad bit of wear on JFK's cheek and hair, and a slight amount on the shield on the eagle on the reverse, but the strike looks pretty good still (looks great considering it came out of circulation! Glad I saved it). Don't think it circulated much before I pulled it. Got it in Biloxi, MS as I recall (the casinos there use them in their 50c slots and on the blackjack tables, so you find quite a few in town even though they'd be rare anywhere else.) Feel free to give your grading opinions.

 

I wouldn't bother submitting the Ken. Even $10 is more than it's worth. Find something else to bundle in!

 

Sometimes fingerprints show up 'after the fact'. I think the grading companies are bias towards 'em and will lower the grade if they are evident.

So get your coins in to grade before the evidence of your slimy paws reveals itself........

 

Read the original post; I'm well aware of the fact that individually this isn't worth submitting lol... but it lowers the average cost of the 9 that are worth it, to the point this is basically free anyway.

And well it satisfies curiosity and preserves a coin that has a little bit of sentimental value, kind of.

 

Danged right you can't. You can institutionalize me, but don't you dare try to submit me......:devil:

 

Are you saying that $11.11+shipping both ways is cheaper per coin than if you just subbed 9?

 

Actually now that I look at it, the modern service only requires 5, not 10.

And I can get out of shipping to ANACS by submitting them to them in person when they're at the Aurora Coin Show the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

I would have to do the form over again though lol...

(for point of reference, ANACS currently charges $10 each for the modern service, good for any US coins 1950 to the present; min. 5 coins per submission. This doesn't include the shipping/insurance both ways. Though if you take it to them in person at a coin show they're attending that saves you the shipping to them.)

Taking this coin out of the package would save me $10 I guess but to be honest seriously considering leaving it in anyway for the novelty of it.

Nobody's going to offer a grading opinion? The color isn't as dark as the picture if that helps.

 

I consider fingerprints damage, so I don’t buy coins with them.

 

Wasn't offering to sell it lol... and thought we already covered that fingerprints are not damage (original question posed by this thread). Sure, this is a common coin only 23 years old. You telling me that if you had a chance to own a rarer, older coin you'd balk at a few fingerprints? Of course one would prefer them not to be there, but that's still an absolute deal-breaker? OK, you're entitled to your opinion I guess. Speaking of opinions, nobody's given one yet as to the grade. I know this ain't a PF-70. But I was hoping at least one person would say what it IS without just turning up their nose at it or pointing out the obvious that it isn't worth what the grading fee is. (Heck call me contrarian but that actually makes me want to have it graded MORE now lol.)

 

You make a good point. Yeah, I’d take a print on an 1804 dollar, but not a modern (we know better today), and there's plenty of no problem examples out there. That’s one of my gripes with eBay, too often I get a slabbed coin with a print that was not pictured. Since there’s no silver in it, I would have spent it with the print, as was probably done. Don’t you have something else worth submitting?

 

I would call it a 58.

 

I think one reason you didn't get grade opinions was how TPGs treat fingerprints on coins. You also stated that you think it'd be PF-55/58. I don't see a reason that wouldn't be the net grade that you'd receive. It might be graded AU Details with the details grading options now available to TPGs.

As others have said, it's not worth it to get the coin graded. Now, especially, since you've noted that the minimum submission is five coins, it makes no sense to get the coin in question graded. Personally, I'd say PF-52, as there's lots of weakness on the left wing of the reverse. That said, your idea to have the coin encapsulated to prevent environmental damage is likely misplaced. If the coin is already showing fingerprints, the acids/oils from the prints will continue to damage the coin, even in the holder.

There's a chance that ANACS _might_ choose to not holder the coin, since they can already see the prints on the coin. I'm guessing that many of the coins with prints in holders did not have the apparent prints on them when the coins were encapsulated.

I wouldn't waste time/money with having the coin graded. If you absolutely MUST have it in a case, go buy a $2 coin holder.

 

IMO i would pass up any coin no matter how rare for a finger print, i just cannot do them. Although i understand that to some people its not a big deal and it wouldnt hurt my feelings any if TPGs do not knock down grades for them. I have seen Ike dollars receive gem grades with big obvious finger prints but not sure how your coins would grade, i wish you the best though.:thumb: