Proper storage is crucial for preserving the condition and value of your coin collection. Here’s a guide to help you make informed decisions:
- Avoid PVC-based materials: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a material found in some soft plastic flips and albums, can degrade over time, releasing chemicals that can damage your coins, potentially coating them in a sticky, green residue.
- Opt for archival-safe materials: Look for products made from inert materials like Mylar (polyester) or polypropylene, which are acid and PVC-free and are safe for long-term storage.
- Consider a variety of holders: Depending on the value and frequency of handling, different holders offer varying levels of protection:
– Coin flips (Mylar or Polyester): Affordable, transparent sleeves ideal for beginners, allowing easy viewing and labeling. They protect against fingerprints and scratches.
– Coin capsules: Clear, hard plastic cases that provide excellent protection for individual coins, particularly valuable or rare pieces. They are airtight, guarding against environmental damage.
– Coin albums and binders: Offer a structured way to organize and display a collection, often with individual pockets for each coin. Choose albums made with acid-free paper and archival-safe plastic overlays.
– Coin tubes: Cost-effective for bulk storage of circulated coins, but may lead to rubbing and may obscure the edge of the coin.
- Cool and dry is key: Avoid areas with extreme temperature fluctuations or high humidity, such as attics, basements, kitchens, or bathrooms, which can accelerate tarnishing or corrosion.
- Protect from environmental pollutants: Keep your collection away from sources of air pollution like paint fumes, exhaust fumes, and materials that off-gas harmful chemicals, such as wool, velvet, oak, cedar, and rubber.
- Security matters: For valuable collections, consider storing them in a secure location, like a safe deposit box at a bank or a high-quality home safe.
- Gloves are your friends: Always handle coins with soft cotton or nitrile gloves to avoid transferring oils and acids from your skin onto the coin’s surface, which can cause discoloration and damage.
- Handle by the edges: When handling coins, hold them by the edges between your thumb and forefinger to minimize contact with the coin’s surfaces.
- Avoid talking directly over coins: Saliva droplets can cause spotting and discoloration that are difficult to remove.
- Avoid cleaning coins: Generally, cleaning coins is not recommended as it can diminish their value. If cleaning is deemed necessary, consult a professional conservator.
- Keep coins in their original holders: For modern sets and coins, it is best to leave them in their original cases and capsules, as these are designed for protection.
- Consider professional grading and encapsulation: For rare or valuable coins, professional grading services encapsulate coins in airtight, durable plastic slabs, providing the highest level of protection and authentication.
By following these guidelines, you can effectively store and protect your coin collection, ensuring its preservation and value for years to come.
What is the best way to store my coin collection?
From my experience, For high-value coins, use hard plastic holders. Professional coin grading services use sealed holders called slabs to protect authenticated and graded coins. Use acid-free cardboard and plastic holders free from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Acid and PVC can ruin a coin’s surface.
How to store large amounts of coins?
Good point! Avoid areas of high humidity such as conservatories, cellars/basements, bathrooms, kitchens etc. Don’t store against a cold wall. Physical protection should be offered for valuable collections. Valuable collections should be placed into boxes that can be easily stored in a safe.
Is it worth keeping coin collections?
From my experience, With coin collecting, as with collecting other items, the more rare the coin, the more valuable it is. investing in rare coins has the advantage of potentially providing significant profits. However, it also has downsides to consider, including the fact that earning money investing in rare coins takes time.
Are Ziploc bags safe for coins?
From my experience, Unfortunately, most standard plastic bags and Ziploc bags will contain some PVC, as do most plastic products of a lesser grade, so you need to be extra careful with this. PVC will break down over time and become brittle, releasing acids into the environment as well as leaving residue on your collectable coins.