Tiny Black Dots, Fingerprints or Smudges

Boom

Acetone?

prooflike

I thought acetone only worked for PVC residue...

Boom

I've heard of and know of several different methods to enhance your coins' natural beauty but don't recall anyone ever coming up with a definitive answer for the situations mentioned in the thread's title!

mirabela

Acetone definitely works on fingerprints. Don't know about the other problems. However, as I learned somewhat the hard way (see posts ~ 1 month back) acetone will leave spots of its own unless you do a follow-up rinse with denatured alcohol before the acetone dries. I haven't mastered the process to perfection, but I have brought two unfortunately handled proofs and an MS modern commem dollar with old fingerprints back to a more palatable condition with acetone. My guess is you'd be out of luck if the fingerprints have started to become part of the toning pattern, though.

I tried it on a cam proof franklin with older haziness/smudginess of unknown origin, and it didn't help much. I think it probably has to do with whether the visual impairment is oily or not, i.e. soluble in acetone or not. I'm no chemist, though. I'll be watching for what others say about this...