Folders...bad?

1. Lkttle pieces of plastic made to have one coin fit in snuggly so as to not allow any air to get to the coin.
2. Flip is just a term used for either 2x2's, 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 inch sized ones, also the plastic fold over types of coin holders. I would think the term flip is due to the fact that you flip them over when after you put the coins in them.


Most people don't intentionally but you'ld be amazed at how a cough, throat clearing, sniffling, etc. emits moisture droplets that contain almost anything. The reason so many addvertisements warn against even hand shaking. People tend to use their hands to cover their mouths from all of these.
As I've mentioned many times that glue on the rear of the slots is normally way to dry to effect the coins. HOWEVER, moisture in the air, damp areas, your breath even can and many times does activate that glue to a small amount. That darkened streakyness you see on some coins are due to that glue being slightly reactivated.
Yes Folders are OK for many reasons and I think the worst part of them is the thumb or fingers used to push a coin into place.
And just can't beat the difference in price from a Folder to an Album, of any brand.

Never, ever be hesitent to ask, ask, ask. Although there is a Glossary, a Search tab at the top and even Google for many questions, still when you ask a question, you could get many replys. Some are even way off, some may well be more accurate than Google, many I've found I would never be able to find out how to even look it up.
Just one of the fantastic things about a forum like this is many times a member will post something that many would never even know existed. An example is the recent posts on the different locations of the S Mint Mark on Indian Head cents. That one never occured to me that there could be differences until that post was entered. And I've been collecting coins for well over 60 years.
So ask away.

I'm not advocating folders as any means of long-term storage. I've known that folders are bad for long term use. the question was, how long is too long. my folders are used in the interim while I build sets. the main questions I had were how long can folders be used before they have a negative effect on coins and what were some of the methods for storing sets (i.e. albums, 2x2 binders, etc). it should be also noted that not only are folders specifically bad, but any of the paper-based holders where you "pop" coins in or out. I bought a small set from a guy on craigslist a while back. he had coins in a frame that held a cardboard holder which was primarily a small type set. I believe it held about 40 coins, one each of the various cents to dollar coins. all the silver coins in there had varying degrees of the "black staining" that I'm sure most of us have encountered at one time or another. the coins were probably in this frame for 30 years. I handle my folders almost daily and routinely check to see if I notice any changes in the appearance of coins in them. even now, as I'm nearing the completion of a couple of the sets, I'm getting ready to move them to 2x2 binder pages.

If you ask any kid that collects coins and uses Folders they somehow know if a coin falls out, you just spit on the reverse and that activates the glue in the slot and the coin will not fall out again.