how long for fingerprints to permanently mar a coin?

onthespot

just wondering how long after a coin is mishandled that fingerprints become a problem. days, weeks, months, years? I suppose it has to do with how long the toning takes also, (days, weeks, months or years)

SilverEagles92

I've found that I can remove a fingerprint with little effort still after about 2 months. Longer than that, it takes more effort, and becomes increasingly impossible.

onthespot

thank you. i don't even know if mine have any, just wondering if I saw a coin with a fingerprint if it would be removeable, or if it was just a print from some bozo at a swapmeet, and you could only see it if you held the coin at an angle, just the oil at that point, would it be wrecking the coin before my eyes. your answer helped a lot.

PerryHall

Depends on the coin (proof copper vs circulated gold), the humidity and temperature, and how acidic the oils are on your fingers. Too many variables.

michael

a few months to years

on a coin by coin basis

a few coins look great with fingerprints depending on the situation coin and toning among other factors