Why Your Coins Smell

jeffrey · #1 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 05:29 PM

If you have you ever wondered why coins have a musty, metallic odor after they have handled them for awhile, you're about to find out the answer? You may have assumed that the smell came from the coins being dirty, but in reality the smell isn't from the coins at all - it's from you. That's right. That smell is your own body odor. According to a recent scientific study, the metallic odor comes from a breakdown of oils in your skin after your touch coins and not from the coins themselves.

During the experiment for the study, researchers took gas samples from skin when people reported smelling the metallic odor after touching iron. The smell was then traced to an organic molecule called 1-octen-2-one which is formed when certain oils in skin decompose. The researchers believe that when a person touches an object made of iron, the perspiration from their skin causes the iron atoms to gain two electrons. These iron atoms then react with oil in skin forming 1-octen-2-one and causing the smell.

Source: LiveScience.com

simpleyme · #2 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 05:43 PM

well that's interesting, i noticed really weird metallic smells when i was helping my son count his change he had about 1/4 of a pillowcase full and the iron type odor was so overpowering i felt sick

Broken Arrow · #3 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 07:20 PM

Learn something new everyday.

baking23 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffrey

You may have assumed that the smell came from the coins being dirty, but in reality the smell isn't from the coins at all - it's from you.

Fascinating, I always thought they were dirty, like paper money.

fairy74 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 09:43 AM

oh my goodness, I have always wondered about that, thanks for the info...I'll have to sniff my pennies in my penny jar more closely when I get home LOL!!

Joan.of.the.Arch · #6 (**permalink**) 12-28-2006, 03:18 PM

Eeeewwwww! I've noticed that before!

tinapbeana · #7 (**permalink**) 12-29-2006, 05:42 AM

kinda along the lines of why your heat smells the first couple of times you turn it on. sorry to tell those that don't know, but it's not the heater your smelling. it's... well, it's dead skin that's accumulated in the ducts.

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

rob62521 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-29-2006, 07:28 AM

OK, where are my gloves? Interesting article! Here I thought it was because the coins were dirty.

I do know some medications make people smell metallic.

orchid · #9 (**permalink**) 01-21-2007, 10:07 PM

interesting...

poundwise · #10 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 05:11 AM

Is it wrong that I like that smell?

;-)