Bare hands

Onedollarnohollar · December 3, 2011 1:14PM

What is your reaction when you see a coin, say on Ebay, that the seller is holding in their bare hand especially if it is a very desirable coin? Do you pass or play?

Staircoins · December 3, 2011 1:18PM

It depends on how they are holding the coin.

It is possible to hold a coin properly with bare hands - carefully, by the edges - and not leave fingerprints.

PCGS graders do not use gloves while grading, for example.

CaptHenway · December 3, 2011 1:19PM

What he said. I have held a Proof 1804 dollar in my bare hands without harming it in any way.

Bochiman · December 3, 2011 1:20PM

If you know what you are doing, you CAN hold them barehanded without problems.
Have clean hands, hold carefully by the rim.

You don't think that many of the classics that are "oohhed" and aahhed" over haven't been held by the bare hands?

Onedollarnohollar · December 3, 2011 1:34PM

Very true statements about knowing how to handle a coin without compromising its integrity.....I should have been more precise in my opening statement....what I meant to say is if the seller is seemingly oblivious to how to properly handle a coin, I.E. in a person's palm or pinching the coin between a thumb and finger to take a picture or even just laying the bare coin on an abrasive surface like cement etc., would you pass or play in those scenarios, again if it was a desirable coin? I personally pass because I can only imagine what happens to the coin behind the scenes.

MidLifeCrisis · December 3, 2011 1:55PM

<< <i>... if the seller is seemingly oblivious to how to properly handle a coin >>

Then I pass. No telling what else he's done to it.

stealer · December 3, 2011 1:59PM

Why does it really matter what the current owner does to a coin?

What about the previous owner? And the one before that? No telling what has happened to the coin already and if it doesn't show then it doesn't matter.

lkeigwin · December 3, 2011 2:03PM

Depends on the coin. Old brown copper is more forgiving.

Regardless, I'm put off.
Lance.

GrumpyEd · December 3, 2011 2:22PM

I've seen some using hemostats to hold the coin and my reaction was to avoid it.
I guess they might have a rubber grip but it still seems risky.

If they're only touching the rims it's ok but still seems like a clumsy way to take a pic.
The problem with a fresh print is that it might not show up now but a few years later it might be a lot worse.

MidLifeCrisis · December 3, 2011 2:27PM

<< <i>Why does it really matter what the current owner does to a coin?

What about the previous owner? And the one before that? No telling what has happened to the coin already and if it doesn't show then it doesn't matter. >>

It matters because I can see it and know that it happened...and because what they do to a coin may not show now, but may show up later.

WTCG · December 3, 2011 3:14PM

If you are careful and know how to do so properly there is no harm in holding a coin with bare hands. PCGS graders and all other graders all grade coins with bare hands.

Bare hands

Comments

Leave a Comment