FDC coin with finger print

[Kronos]

I recently purchased two FDC half crowns, they both contain a finger print. Is it possible to clean the coins with anything to remove the finger prints. I don’t even dare clean the coin with just a cloth in case it makes the coins worse.

Any ideas?

Mark

[Rob]

I recently purchased two FDC half crowns, they both contain a finger print. Is it possible to clean the coins with anything to remove the finger prints. I don’t even dare clean the coin with just a cloth in case it makes the coins worse.

Any ideas?

Mark

FDC doesn't come with a free fingerprint. They should have been described as aFDC or practically FDC. Assuming they are proofs, rubbing with anything will make it worse because you will put hairlines on the fields from the cloth. The fats in the fingerprint will react with the silver/cupro-nickel and are there to stay unless you dip the coin in which case this will also be obvious when seen in the hand with the added potential to disfigure it..

[DaveG38]

I have had this problem myself and my solution, which has always worked, is to use non-coloured methylated spirits dabbed on very gently with a fine tissue and then very carefully blotted or wiped off. It has even worked on the highly polished fields of a proof coin, with no ill effects. Even wiping fairly firmly has no effect when examined under 15X magnification, so I would recommmend this approach.

DaveG38