Читать книгу Coin Collecting For Dummies - Neil S. Berman - Страница 66

The surfaces of a coin, especially those on high-grade (new or nearly new) examples, are very sensitive and vulnerable to even the slightest damage. I mentioned earlier (in the “Removing dirt” section) that the wood fibers in paper towels can scratch the surfaces of a coin. Fingers and thumbs can damage the surfaces of a coin just as easily. A single grain of sand stuck between the ridges of a fingerprint can scratch a coin. The salty oils from fingers often interact chemically with the metal of a coin, leaving damage that may not appear right away but could show up later and last forever. Handling a coin by the edges (see Figure 4-8) eliminates any possibility of surface contact and surface damage. Some collectors wear thin cotton gloves when handling their coins, but if your hands are clean and dry, gloves are unnecessary.

FIGURE 4-8: On the edge: The proper way to hold a coin.