John Regitko writes:

Over a decade ago, it was reported by CBC Radio in Northern Ontario that coins were a danger to your health. Although we didn't hear of any deaths as a result of handlingcoins, it was reported that coins could cause a rash, sometimes rather severe, when people touched them during routine use.

Interestingly, the story originally surfaced in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada's Nickel Capital and was first brought to my attention by Bill Waychison as published in the bulletinof the Timmins Coin Club.

The logic or illogical argument results from the fact that nickel powder produced when nickel ores undergo a hydrometallurgical process is toxic in powder form. It is thispowdered nickel that was used to produce most of Canada's coins. In solid form as in a pure nickel coin, nickel is obviously not toxic. At the time, most of our circulating coinswere made of nickel plated steel.

The Royal Canadian Mint issued a clarification in a press release after news reports indicated that 5 people at the Sudbury Centre Mall developed a rash, purportedly afterhandling coinage sent directly from the Mint. The coins involved were not rolled in materials used by the Royal Canadian Mint, indicating that the coins were not received from theMint's distribution facilities.

The Mint's press release pointed out that coins struck by the Royal Canadian Mint and their packaging do not contain any substances, agents or products that could produce askin rash or biological reaction of any sort.

The Sudbury Regional Police investigated the matter in order to determine the source of the substance. Health Canada was informed of the situation and was sent samples of thesubstance for analysis.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
GERMS AND MONEY (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n14a35.html)
COINS AND HEALTH (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n15a39.html)