Just another way to suck more $ from collectors. (Hey Joe, I just this piece of crap coin back from PCGS and they graded it MS-66!).
This has been an interesting conversation. My conclusion is to: Use PCGS, NGC and ANACS as an opinion, if CAC likes the coin too that's another opinion (especially for traces of cleaning), but most important...look at the coin with your own eyes, in proper light, with proper magnification and with the experience we have as collectors to judge whether the coin is worthy of being part of our collection.
Not be be contradictive but I have been to many coin shops and numismatists and never have I seen them wear gloves or wash their hands before, during, or after handling a coin. Just an observation and my opinion only. Great post and opinions, thank you.
Realistically assuming you don’t have mud or sauces etc all over your hands it’s fine as long as you have the rim. For heavily circulated coins like vfs and lower you can grab them wherever and it makes no difference, countless people have already touched them. now if you have a grade rarity or an expensive coin then yes washing your hands first wouldn’t be a bad idea. We’re so conditioned to try and be protective that sometimes we forget that touching something doesn’t mean there’s wear now or that there will be a fingerprint And yea you are more likely to drop something with gloves on
I use cotton gloves and also use a padded mat directly underneath the coin that I'm handling. Win-win situation. A little bit of caution goes a long way.
What about using thin non-powdered latex gloves such as are used in the electronics industry and other industries? The coin would be a lot less likely to slip out of your fingers. Or maybe finger cots?
Are finger cots those rubber tips used in an office to flip thru papers? I use those when I am plugging coins into a Dansco.
When I'm inserting coins into albums, I use one cotton glove and one non-powdered latex glove, makes it easier not only for inserting or removing coins, but also to move both plastic cover sheets back and forth (cotton glove on left hand).
It doesn't matter what kind of gloves they are - you still lose dexterity. A lot of folks don't realize it but latex or nitrile gloves don't leave fingerprints but they do leave smudges on coins, and everything else - even the un-powdered ones.
I don't touch the surface of the coins with the latex glove, just handy for getting album inserts to easily slide back and forth.