I may have to quit coin collecting - I'm allergic to coins

stev32k · May 23, 2008 7:36AM

No joke, just found out I'm allergic to copper and nickel! Never heard of such a thing, but I guess its true. I've had a bad rash for several months that comes and goes. Some Doctors called it exuma (sp) others said it was a contact allergy. Last week I finally had a series of patches put on my back and it showed I had a strong reaction to copper and a little less to nickel.

Guess I can only collect gold and silver from now on - at least that's a good excuse to tell my wife

.

notwilight · May 23, 2008 7:40AM

Slabs?

Please let me be the first to say I'll like to help you out with your copper issues. --jerry

TwoSides2aCoin · May 23, 2008 7:42AM

So you're saying I'd be wasting my time soliciting you with my brown wheaties, too

?

BlindedByEgo · May 23, 2008 7:43AM

Are you allergic to plastic?

AUandAG · May 23, 2008 7:45AM

try gloves when you handle coins....might just keep you in the copper!

bob

TwoSides2aCoin · May 23, 2008 7:46AM

<< Are you allergic to plastic? >>

Excellent question, BBE

Coxe · May 23, 2008 7:47AM

<< Guess I can only collect gold and silver from now on - at least that's a good excuse to tell my wife

. >>

Gold and silver US coins are 8%-10% copper in the alloys. Not sure if that presents a problem. If they are in slabs, I doubt it. Could also become a ragpicker or collect NCLT instead of coins (much purer alloys).

BECOKA · May 23, 2008 7:50AM

Looks like you can only collect the more pure modern Silver and Gold coins.

stev32k · May 23, 2008 7:56AM

Problem with plastic is that I'm working on a Dansco 7070 and cracking out everything I buy lately. I also have a lot (20 years worth) of raw coins, but gloves is a good suggestion. Hadn't thought about the copper content of silver and gold coins - guess it's gloves for them also.

What's strange to me is that I've been collecting since I was 10 years old and I've never been allergic to anything. I guess old age changes some things.

stev32k · May 23, 2008 8:05AM

One thing the Doctor said that really had an impact is that most zippers are made of copper - including the fly in your pants. Now that is a heck of a situation and brings up all kinds of unpleasant thoughts.

LanLord · May 23, 2008 8:22AM

<< One thing the Doctor said that really had an impact is that most zippers are made of copper - including the fly in your pants. Now that is a heck of a situation and brings up all kinds of unpleasant thoughts. >>

Button flys to save your manhood!

Coxe · May 23, 2008 8:42AM

To be practical, I doubt you woudl have a problem collecting anything. Unless you are thumbing in Lincoln cents in Whitman albums regularly, handling coins properly minimizes actual contact. If you are getting reactions from the coins, you are also probably mishandling them. Cotton gloves might make you feel more at ease anyway and are what graders use anyway to avoid transferring skin oils to the rims of the coins.

sonoranmonsoon · May 23, 2008 8:56AM

I am allergic to food. (makes me fat). I still eat.

droopyd · May 23, 2008 9:12AM

<< No joke, just found out I'm allergic to copper and nickel! Never heard of such a thing, but I guess its true. >>

I've got a friend who's also allergic to most metals. He eats with plastic or wooden utensils and wears gloves when he has to handle keys.

TwoSides2aCoin · May 23, 2008 9:20AM

You a guitar player ? There's nylon.

RWB · May 23, 2008 10:31AM

Hmmmm…I had a similar problem. Then my allergist suggested I just dip the coins in a commercial coin cleaner instead of licking them…Problem cleared up and my tongue is no longer numb.

TavernTreasures · May 23, 2008 11:08AM

Probably more of a problem with handling change when you get it (copper cents and copper nickel clads).

thestig · May 23, 2008 11:12AM

<< Last week I finally had a series of patches put on my back and it showed I had a strong reaction to copper and a little less to nickel.

Guess I can only collect gold and silver from now on - at least that's a good excuse to tell my wife

. >>

What were you doing rolling around in a pile of coins on the bed again?
suggestion, were gloves.

stev32k · May 23, 2008 11:39AM

Actually I don't really believe the test results have anything to do with the rash I've been having. The patches were held in place on my back for 24 hours and they did not itch at all like the rashes I've had. I think the test results showed that if I slept on a pile of copper coins for a couple of days I might break out, but I seriously doubt handling pocket change or rare coins is going to cause a problem. But what do I know - I'm not a Doctor.

Mercfan · May 23, 2008 11:44AM

<< I guess old age changes some things. >>

You have no idea how how many things and how much!

But reaching old age is still far preferable to the alternative.

Nysoto · May 23, 2008 11:55AM

My wife has a strong nickel allergy, she cannot touch stainless steel (8% nickel). Scandinavian women have a high percentage of nickel allergy, I believe nickel is not used in Swedish coins because of this. Blonds and redheads were breaking out in rashes in a composite manufacturing supplier that I did some work for, it is because of the Invar mandrels, Invar is 36% nickel. My wife can no longer wear gold jewelry because of nickel content. You would think that would save Mr Nysoto money, but she now wears platinum jewelry.

droopyd · May 23, 2008 12:34PM

<< My wife has a strong nickel allergy.... My wife can no longer wear gold jewelry because of nickel content. You would think that would save Mr Nysoto money, but she now wears platinum jewelry. >>

Try palladium -- apparently it's "part of the platinum family of metals at one seventh the cost."

Oh, wait -- nickel is ALSO part of the "platinum family of metals." So how come she can wear platinum but not nickel?

Nysoto · May 23, 2008 1:07PM

Platinum, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, palladium, and rhodium are in the platinum group. I don't think nickel is, but I am not a metalurgist. She does not react to platinum, or sterling silver. Gold alloy gives her a rash, pure gold might be OK. Stainless steel is the worst because of the nickel.

Walmann · May 23, 2008 1:35PM

Collect currency no worries.

lcoopie · May 23, 2008 6:22PM

go digital

JazzmanJAB · May 23, 2008 9:24PM

You can develope an allergy to anything at anytime.

I would go with cotton gloves, or .9999 fine gold, ie Buffalo and or first hags.

TwoSides2aCoin · May 23, 2008 9:29PM

<< Collect currency no worries. >>

There are always solutions. I wonder if the OP was expecting such an outpouring of love.

Bear · May 24, 2008 1:22AM

I have heard of a significant number of folks
that are allergic to the ink in paper money. I
guess that would make the old credit card the
way to go.

Frankcoins · May 24, 2008 2:05AM

Copper allergies are almost unheard of. Nickel allergies are common, affecting one person in twenty to some degree.

Dennis88 · May 24, 2008 2:18AM

From what I have heard (my mother is allergic to Nickel) there is not much of a problem when handling change, and for you handling the coins in your collection. Matters get worse when you stay constantly in touch with the metals in one way or the other. A Copper-Nickel bracelet or ring for instance would be a problem.

Opposite to other allergies (for example certain grains) metals do not stay in your body for a longer time (unless you are eating your coins). That is the main difference which causes most people with allergies like yours to stay away from things with nickel that you handle longer, but won't have a problem with spending (or handling) coins.

Off course, it will matter to what degree you have it. You certainly need to ask your doctor this, I'm sure he knows the answer.

Dennis

Unknown · May 24, 2008 3:07AM

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I may have to quit coin collecting - I'm allergic to coins

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