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Ugh so is this the new way to handle coins?

lsicalsica Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭✭
edited November 14, 2025 10:00AM in U.S. Coin Forum

/Rant on
So between US treasury officials putting their greasy prints all over the face of the "Last US Penny" a few days ago and now this Canadian "coin dealer" laying an 1858 Large Canadian Cent in the palm of his paw, I have to ask, have we forgotten how to handle "raw" coins? I mean are we just a bit too "slab-i-fied"?
see time stamp 2:12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxOHYbYl8jk
Rant Off/

Philately will get you nowhere....

Comments

  • P0CKETCHANGEP0CKETCHANGE Posts: 3,064 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Your gripe is that someone placed a worn old coin in their palm for a few seconds?

    Based on the number of patterns I’ve seen with fingerprints, no one handled coins perfectly in the past either.

    At least he isn’t scrubbing it with Brillo like Farouk.

    Nothing is as expensive as free money.

  • Morgan WhiteMorgan White Posts: 11,818 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Circulated, so not really a big deal.

  • lsicalsica Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November 14, 2025 10:28AM

    @P0CKETCHANGE said:
    Your gripe is that someone placed a worn old coin in their palm for a few seconds?
    Based on the number of patterns I’ve seen with fingerprints, no one handled coins perfectly in the past either.

    Ya ya I know but I see this and the voice of an old coin dealer from waaaaaaay back scolding me as a 10 year old YN putting pieces between my fingers just rings in my head ;-)

    At least he isn’t scrubbing it with Brillo like Farouk.

    /joke-sarcasm on
    Farouk scrubbed them with Brillo, dipped them in shellac in carried them in his pocket. But cuz who he was we get MS-65's for those. Us non-royal-types get Details grades ;-)
    joke-sarcasm off/

    Philately will get you nowhere....
  • MasonGMasonG Posts: 6,301 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 14, 2025 10:22AM

    @lsica said:
    and now this Canadian "coin dealer" laying an 1858 Large Canadian Cent in the palm of his paw...

    The coin is circulated, nothing he is doing in the video will cause it harm.

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 15,408 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lsica said:

    @P0CKETCHANGE said:
    Your gripe is that someone placed a worn old coin in their palm for a few seconds?
    Based on the number of patterns I’ve seen with fingerprints, no one handled coins perfectly in the past either.

    Ya ya I know but I see this and the voice of an old coin dealer from waaaaaaay back scolding me as a 10 year old YN putting pieces between my fingers just rings in my head ;-)

    At least he isn’t scrubbing it with Brillo like Farouk.

    Farouk scrubbed them with Brillo, dipped them in shellac in carried them in his pocket. But cuz who he was we get MS-65's for those. Us non-royal-types get Details grades ;-)

    I’ve seen a good number of Farouk coins that were much nicer than how you described them and deserving of their assigned grades.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • lsicalsica Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    I’ve seen a good number of Farouk coins that were much nicer than how you described them and deserving of their assigned grades.

    Yes true. Just making a joke :-) :-) Hope our hosts have a sense of humor ;-)

    Philately will get you nowhere....
  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 15,408 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lsica said:

    @MFeld said:

    I’ve seen a good number of Farouk coins that were much nicer than how you described them and deserving of their assigned grades.

    Yes true. Just making a joke :-) :-) Hope our hosts have a sense of humor ;-)

    I didn’t know you were making a joke, as some people truly believe that most Farouk coins are similar to how you described them.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • lsicalsica Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    I didn’t know you were making a joke, as some people truly believe that most Farouk coins are similar to how you described them.

    I edited my response to make that clearer. I just thought one "Brillo" was mentioned we were in joke/exaggeration mode :)

    Philately will get you nowhere....
  • P0CKETCHANGEP0CKETCHANGE Posts: 3,064 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lsica said:

    @MFeld said:

    I didn’t know you were making a joke, as some people truly believe that most Farouk coins are similar to how you described them.

    I edited my response to make that clearer. I just thought one "Brillo" was mentioned we were in joke/exaggeration mode :)

    We were. Mark just takes everything literally, regardless of context.

    Nothing is as expensive as free money.

  • lsicalsica Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭✭

    @P0CKETCHANGE said:

    @lsica said:

    @MFeld said:

    I didn’t know you were making a joke, as some people truly believe that most Farouk coins are similar to how you described them.

    I edited my response to make that clearer. I just thought one "Brillo" was mentioned we were in joke/exaggeration mode :)

    We were. Mark just takes everything literally, regardless of context.

    Not a problem. His concerns helped me make my intent clearer to avoid future issues :)

    Philately will get you nowhere....
  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 15,408 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lsica said:

    @P0CKETCHANGE said:

    @lsica said:

    @MFeld said:

    I didn’t know you were making a joke, as some people truly believe that most Farouk coins are similar to how you described them.

    I edited my response to make that clearer. I just thought one "Brillo" was mentioned we were in joke/exaggeration mode :)

    We were. Mark just takes everything literally, regardless of context.

    Not a problem. His concerns helped me make my intent clearer to avoid future issues :)

    To me, “Brillo” represented, cleaned or scrubbed - which many people incorrectly assume, accurately describes most or all Farouk coins. So it wasn’t necessary to take “Brillo” literally in order to take the post seriously. Thank you @Isica.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 37,629 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Coins are made for commerce. They are meant to be held in your hands.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • DCWDCW Posts: 7,682 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:
    Coins are made for commerce. They are meant to be held in your hands.

    Well, this one wasn't meant for commerce. It was specifically minted to be auctioned off for profit as the "last penny," complete with an omega mark. People are estimating it could bring 7 figures. So, why in the world would someone (that should know better) hold it between their fingers like that? I cant wrap my head around it!

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

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