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Are Christmas Tins Safe For Coins?

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Author Previous TopicReplies: 19 / Views: 5,074Next Topic Page 2 of 2
Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts
 Posted 12/28/2015  2:19 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bertensgrad to your friends list
Yeah I have a excess of safe space now haha. They went overboard and got me like a 22 gun fire safe. I don't collect guns so it's a lot of space. I also have my old small fire safe too.

So I keep all my coins in the big one for convenience, it's shelves swallowed everything I have collected since I was a boy. The funny thing is I have more space then my local dealers safe now. I'm good at opening safes so it's nothing for me to open it in about 15 seconds.

It's been so nice and fun organizing them on the shelves. I have so many albums that it works out nicely. Like a locked heavy duty bookcase.
Edited by Bertensgrad
12/28/2015 2:22 pm
Bedrock of the Community
United States
19966 Posts
 Posted 12/28/2015  8:22 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add BadThad to your friends list
I would never store coins in a metal container. Dissimilar metals in contract creates galvanic electron flow, which can lead to corrosion.

http://www.galvanizeit.org/design-a...s-in-contact

The best and cheapest way to store bulk coins is using a plain old ziplock. I like the freezer types since they are more heavy duty.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts
 Posted 12/29/2015  12:59 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list
I use old Erinmore Flake clip lock 50 gramme pipe tobacco tins, with rubber seal inside the lid. That makes them airtight.

The tins themselves are collectors' pieces in their own right, being over 50 years old.

They hold:
1. bulk junk silver,
2. bulk pure nickel coins and
3. a few acrylic screw encapsulated coins,
4. and fake coins,
each designation in a separate tin.

All stored in a recycled metal beauty case, with twin buckle clip locks. Equivalent to a photographic kit case.
Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts
 Posted 12/29/2015  5:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add T-BOP to your friends list

Quote:
I would never store coins in a metal container. Dissimilar metals in contract creates galvanic electron flow, which can lead to corrosion.

Well gosh darnit Thad, You just burst every ones bubble about storing coins in metal tins. Can I at least eat a darn cookie out of one of those things.
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1747 Posts
 Posted 12/29/2015  5:09 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add ace_ftw to your friends list
Cookies aren't made of metal, right?

also don't forget about the desiccant, but I would just use the ziplock bag method.
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts
 Posted 12/29/2015  5:57 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list
To get a galvanic action, you need moisture.

I have never had a problem with galvanic action (even with the tiniest sign of discoloration on the coins), in my snap seal tobacco tins, which were originally designed to keep moisture / humidity out.

If there was to be a problem, I think the tins themselves (not the coins), would preferentially corrode.
Pillar of the Community
United States
2189 Posts
 Posted 12/29/2015  6:50 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jasper62 to your friends list
I would imagine a tin would be fine as long there stored in a climate controlled setting. No attics or basements.
Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts
 Posted 12/29/2015  7:06 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Mayflower2020 to your friends list
I would be afraid of them scratching. Even if they are junk coins no sense in having them scrape around on a metal box.
Pillar of the Community
United States
1314 Posts
 Posted 12/29/2015  11:31 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Chute72 to your friends list
I'm with BadThad on this one. Under ideal conditions, you would probably get away with it, but there are many other options that are safe, convenient and inexpensive. I wouldn't trust my beloved coins to a metal cookie tin. The older ones may have been made under conditions that vary greatly in metal content, plating techniques and possible solder or protective spray coatings. But in the overview, collecting tins sounds interesting, and I'm sure Ive done things worse than fill them with coins.
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts
 Posted 12/30/2015  11:48 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add just carl to your friends list

Quote:
To get a galvanic action, you need moisture.

I have never had a problem with galvanic action (even with the tiniest sign of discoloration on the coins), in my snap seal tobacco tins, which were originally designed to keep moisture / humidity out.

Not really true. There is an entire field in Electronics where dissimilar metals are used as Thermocouples. For example in power stations these are items placed in a pipe or gas duct using what is called a Thermocouple Head. Inside this head is two dissimilar metal wires connected to each other. Any change in temperature creates an electrical charge, sent through the wires, then is read on a meter. Moisture is not required.
In other words dissimilar metals touching each other DO create a problem.
Edited by just carl
12/30/2015 11:49 am
Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2015  4:16 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Numisma to your friends list
I keep some junk silver in an Altoids tin, and have not had a problem. I would not store coins of numismatic value in it, but it's just junk so I don't care too much.
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2015  5:44 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list
My coin safe is made out of
1/4 plate steel, bare steel finish, inside and out.
I have had all of my most valuable coins stored in it for nearly 50 years.
Never had even the slightest sign of a problem.
Edited by sel_69l
12/31/2015 10:12 pm
Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts
 Posted 12/31/2015  7:19 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Numisma to your friends list
I keep all of my valuable coins in a fireproof safe with no problem.
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United States
189340 Posts
 Posted 01/03/2016  01:52 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list
I would think the tins would be okay for coins in holders or otherwise isolated from metal on metal contact.
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts
 Posted 01/03/2016  04:54 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list
If coins are stored in an album, there is no metal to metal contact with the steel container, in which the album may be.
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