Question about the graders.

DAM

It's been talked about before, coins that have prints on them. It's also been stated by some, coins have been returned from the grading service with prints on them, that where not there previously.

Question 1;

Do you wear gloves when you handle your "raw" coins? Why or Why not?

Question 2;

Do graders wear gloves? If not, why?

Russ

They don't wear gloves because they are cumbersome and increase the possibility of fumbling the coin.

I don't think it's the graders fingerprinting coins, anyway. I think it's the slabbers when inserting them in to the o rings.

Russ, NCNE

fcloud

1) I do wear cotton gloves depending on the coins I am handling. If breaking a set of fresh proof coins out of a holder the coins are handled with glove to prevent any accidential fingerprints. On a television special shown on either TLC or Discovery I saw that the mint uses gloves with proof sets, and I was suprised by that. Also, I will use gloves when going through unc rolls. If there is a print on one of my unc certified coins, it is not mine. I know that standard procedure to hold coins by their rims, but accidents can happen.

Murphy's Law, "If it can happen, it will."

I would rather fumble around with coins, than to put fingerprints on them...But if I did put a print on a coin before certification, it would be preserved for history!

2) PCGS and NGC do not wear gloves. IMO they are probably concerned with production and protection of the coin is not as important. A handful of my certified coins have fingerprints, and it ticks me off. Now, I cannot say that they were put there by the grading service, but if they wore glove, finger cotts, or even cloth bandages on their fingertips, you could rule the service out.

I did ask the question of David Hall in the Q&A, he is very concerned with the matter, and is looking into it.

Tony