Proof And Mint Set Question

Cladking is absolutely right !

The coins I'm needing upgrades for are very difficult to find ,,some I have been looking for for a very long time ,,many mint and proof sets later I'm still looking .

Just try and find an above average 73-S Lincoln Cent !most look like they got hit by a truck even in the mint sets . or a well struck 68 Nickel or for that matter any 60's nickel that is well struck they are rare .

Metalman

I was fortunate on the (68's and quite a few other years as well) I had just started seriously collecting lincoln cents in 1969 and I had taken several rolls of coins which I hand picked with the help of an old guy collector LOL probably He was maybe 35 then ! but I was 12 so He was an old guy to me ,, and put them away ,,He showed me how to store the coins wrapped in aluminum foil ,,which many of my cent folders still are ,,they survived in remarkable shape .

Metalman

Rick, tin foil? Share with us if you would, that is one I have never heard of before.

Jim

A lot of oldtimers used to swear by the aluminum foil trick. I can't say for sure if it works but I don't think I'd try it.

I have seen rolls that have been wrapped up for 50 years in aluminum foil which when they were opened looked absolutely great. But I don't know how most of them were stored. They may have stayed nice because of where they were stored and not the foil. (The one roll that I do know how it was stored, was stored in an old military ammo box and those are pretty airtight. So no fresh reactants or moisture coming in. They would have probably stayed nice no matter how they were stored.)

If they had been stored badly such as in a moist environment, the two dissimilar metals in contact with moisture would have resulted in electrolytic corrosion.

I suspect the only pieces we see today are the success stories that didn't develop corrosion over the years and which were broken up long ago. since all we see are the good ones, the myth is perpetuated.

After reading Cladking's and Metalman's posts I am half glad I purchased a lot of 1960-2006 Mint Set. Now I have to check each set for condition and coin quality.... I may end up disappointing my self though.

Cladking, very thorough analysis; your post clear a lot of questions/pondering in my head.

Thank all for sharing.

All considered, I think I'll check mine, too. They have only been in my posession for two years, but they date from the '60's on, and they have come from everywhere. Which says there is high humidity in many areas.. Best have a look. Thanks for bringing it up.
Dick

Rick, are you putting individual coins in foil or rolls, 2x2 and tubes? I guess what I am asking, is there anything between the foil and the coin itself? I would think a copper coin against foil would have some sort of reaction.
Jim

Back to the aution. Another reason for what you noticed is standard buying frenzy. Sort of like a school of sharks with only a few peices of food available. People just go nuts and bid excessively. Your lucky you left when you did. I've been collecting Proof and Uncirc sets from somewhere back in the early 50's. Not sure. All in boxes and to old and lazy to go look.
As to storing any metalic object in another metalic object. No problem as long as they don't touch. As noted disimilar metals touching actually create an electronic charge and an electron flow is generated. This is the priciple behind electronic thermocouples used in factories, power generating stations, etc. Two wires of different composition are joined in a thing called a thermohead, inserted into a thermowell in a pipe of air duct. The other end is connected to a meter. All changes in temperature move the electrons one way or the other at the point of joining allowing such changes to be monitored. A similar priciple is utilized in a Cathodic protection system for the presevation of underground metalic pipes. This is where an sacraficial anode is place in the ground to absorb electronic flows where metals touching can distroy one of them.
Using Aluminum foil to wrap coins as long as the foil isn't touching the coins is fairly safe and if done properly, can keep air out.