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Coins & Microorganisms

CatbertCatbert Posts: 7,647 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

“One of the most shocking discoveries was finding so many microorganisms thriving on metal, an element you wouldn’t normally expect to see germs surviving on. The bugs have adapted to their environment, resulting in coins becoming a breeding ground for harmful bacteria.”

Dr. Paul Matewele, Lead Author

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20181004/Notes-and-coins-harbor-life-threatening-bacteria-including-MRSA-and-VRE.aspx

Seated Half Society member #38
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"

Comments

  • ParadisefoundParadisefound Posts: 8,588 ✭✭✭✭✭

    :o

  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Oh my !!! :s

    Timbuk3
  • ms71ms71 Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Another nail in the coffin of physical money.

    Successful BST transactions: EagleEye, Christos, Proofmorgan,
    Coinlearner, Ahrensdad, Nolawyer, RG, coinlieutenant, Yorkshireman, lordmarcovan, Soldi, masscrew, JimTyler, Relaxn, jclovescoins, justindan, doubleeagle07

    Now listen boy, I'm tryin' to teach you sumthin' . . . . that ain't no optical illusion, it only looks like an optical illusion.

    My mind reader refuses to charge me. . . . . . .
  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not to mention all the chemical residues!

  • Desert MoonDesert Moon Posts: 6,018 ✭✭✭✭✭

    acetone..............

    My online coin store - https://desertmoonnm.com/
  • bidaskbidask Posts: 14,031 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Ah who cares about microorganisms on coIns.

    Just keep gargling with listenine.

    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,824 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If you don't want that filthy money, I will take it. I've never heard of money poisoning.

  • bugbitbugbit Posts: 155 ✭✭✭

    Wonder what sticks to slabs, outside of those little green and gold beans

  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ms70 said:
    Mom always told me as a kid, "Don't put money near your mouth, you don't know where that's been!"

    It all came together and made sense the first time I went to a "gentleman's club".

    Yes, we all know where those $1s have been!

  • NapNap Posts: 1,755 ✭✭✭✭✭

    We live in a bacterial soup. More bacterial cells than human cells in our body. Pleasant when you think about it.

    My medieval coin collection
  • silverpopsilverpop Posts: 6,754 ✭✭✭✭✭

    germs are everywhere, so this is not amazing

    28
    22
    https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNCqYiMqf5WV3upssjrtWbcDONsjsmMb6PmYmR0nz1-kfh_yoic_regKXzYvAGmxQ?key=al9GRnJJVzFlMlU2M2tSRmxoWDlVOEN5ZU5hMEl3

  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,071 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That why I only handle coins when that are slabbed. I wonder how those slabs are germ free :o

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,328 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @crazyhounddog said:
    That why I only handle coins when that are slabbed. I wonder how those slabs are germ free :o

    Coming soon, for a few extra dollars you can get anti-microbial slabs.

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Well I have been handling coins most of my long (and adventurous) life... No doubt bacteria may exist in some of the creases and crevices.... However, cell phones, hand shakes, merchandise, utensils at restaurants, counter tops, table tops and a multitude of other surfaces encountered on a daily basis also carry these little buggers. I will not concern myself with such things. Give my your contaminated coins - I will care for them as if they were mine - well, they will be if you give them to me... :D:D Cheers, RickO

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,328 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I actually did receive a coin with no microorganisms on it in the mail once. It was back when the USPS started irradiating stuff to kill all the anthrax and other stuff that was going to make the postal service into a biological weapon. They were a bit generous with the radiation and not only burned out much of the text that was on the thermal shipping label, but also melted the Mylar of a 2x2 onto the coin.

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • privatecoinprivatecoin Posts: 3,651 ✭✭✭✭✭

    https://saltlakemetals.com/silver_antibacterial/

    I love silver.....

    Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc

  • Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 9,272 ✭✭✭✭✭

    When I lived in San Francisco in 1970 the Sir Francis Drake Hotel had a guy who washed all their coins and polished them, as a courtesy. Peace Roy

    BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,304 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @messydesk said:

    @crazyhounddog said:
    That why I only handle coins when that are slabbed. I wonder how those slabs are germ free :o

    Coming soon, for a few extra dollars you can get anti-microbial slabs.

    or wipes >:)

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 6, 2018 10:31AM

    Many species of bacteria live within surface irregularities and oils commonly found on most surfaces. Silver and copper-based coins offered considerable antiseptic properties, but with all circulating coinage now of base metals, microbes have a more rewarding environment. However, "staph" and most other harmful but common bacteria are only dangerous under certain conditions. Further, normal circulation continually scrapes away surface dirt from coins. Paper and polymer currency tends to have a lot more material embedded between fibers. The "cleanest" surface in homes is usually the toilet seat; and the "dirtiest" is a kitchen sponge.

    [The human body - and those of most animals - are symbiotic living systems dependent on microbial life for basic functioning. For example, a large proportion of human milk consists of complex sugars an infant cannot digest - but, it's a perfect food for natural gut bacteria (bifido bacterium) in the baby, and this forms a protective coating that prevents most intestinal infections until the infant is older and has a more mature immune system. Lack of this bacteria is a causal agent in pre-term infant mortality. ---- See Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences for more information if anyone is interested.]

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