gxseries Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 I've been collecting coins for probably close to two decades. They can be fun - handled all kinds of metals from base metal iron, copper, zinc, to exotic metals such as tantalum and antimony. I've always like to handle coins raw as well as treat them with acetone when they are needed. It's only very recently that there are some coins that I have handled especially some of the older Chinese coins coins that I'm starting to get nasty itches after handling them. Geez they must be loaded with some nasty metal - I just can't figure out what they are. I've handled nickel and cobalt - most common metals to cause allergic reactions. I'm suspecting there's traces mercury in them. I'm sure you can develop such allergies late in life. My food of thought is: how "iron"ic would it be for a coin collector not be able to handle coins in raw? Just thought it's a cruel twist for coin collectors to not be able to handle coins raw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccg Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 I'll take a guess at arsenic if we're talking about cash coins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 Conversely silver is reputed to have some antibiotic qualities to it. But nickel allergy is common to people from N. Europe, so I wonder if they settled in Canada when they had pure nickel coins how they managed with allergy to metal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 Sorry to hear that, gx. I think ccg might be right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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