Why do so many toned coins have fingerprints?

Placid

Or do the white ones have them too but they are not as noticable?

airplanenut

Touch a glossy surface lightly- you might not see it, but you have left a fingerprint... when untouched, it will go unnoticed...

Now, dip that surface in water or food dye... your print will stand out because the oils in your fingers won't mix with the water...

The reason you see fingerprints on toned coins is because whatever causes the toning won't stick to the oil left from the fingerprint... white ones probably have the prints, too, but they are much less obvious, unless kept in a dusty/dirty place where the dark dirt will stick to the oil.

Jeremy

Placid

I guess those oils must stay put for a very long time.

Lakesammman

Perhaps PCGS should fingerprint their graders so they can either catch the culprit or prove it was the owners??

airplanenut

<< <i>Perhaps PCGS should fingerprint their graders so they can either catch the culprit or prove it was the owners?? >>

Dave Hall said he wants to see f/p'd coins if you have them...

Placid

I just want to say my question was meant as a general question.
I have seen many toned morgans with fingerprints in ngc and anacs slab's besides pcgs.

michael

just from my experience many fully original toned coins many many come with some sort of fingerprints as the original owners put the coins in albums/holders whatever that toned the coins and they selected many nice coins that is why as they were colectors then when they popped them into these holders it took the forse of a finger to push the coin in and when the coin was left there for many years the toning toned arounsd the fingerprint leaving the print with the oils to really stand out on the coin

many really superb toned coins that are also really high grade 67 68 have fingerprints!! proofs and....... especially so with ms coins!!

for me i do not like fingerprints but if they are not that noticeable/somewhat invisable and small like in an edge and well hidden for me that is okie i guess it depends on the overall look of the coin but of course no fingerprint on a great original toned coin is the best!!!!!!!!!!!

a great thread!!

sincerely michael

Dog97

Like michael said. All those trashy toners came out of a Whitman type thing. Somebody was probably hot & sweaty up in the attic last year when somebody punched it into the album with their big greasy thumb.

If you don't want prints you have to look at ORIGINAL toned Morgans like what came out of a mint sack. You rarely see an ORIGINAL toned Morgan with a print.

LanLord

Maybe there is something in skin oils or perspiration that sets off a chemical reaction that results in the most spectacular toned coins. In 50 or 75 years, some people will be mocking all of us for complaining about PCGS graders touching our coins. In fact, they were just planting the seeds for future monster toners.


Or..... maybe not

edited cuz I can't spell

Trime

Really good comments on this thread on sweat,dust,dirt, tone and prints.
By the way, can someone tell me about the Coin Guy Collection?