Classic Silver Storage Question (Barber Halves)

FWIW, having collected coins for almost seventy years now, I'm a BIG fan of wooden enclosures. My man cave is virtually littered with wooden chests and smaller cabinets with drawers. My earliest chest, circa 1860's, is walnut, having 13 drawers and a key-lock door. Within the safe, I utilize cigar boxes. Since cigars can stay fairly fresh within, I reasoned, "Why not so, coins?" After many years, I've yet to notice any contamination on a single coin. I'd also note that the lower level man cave is a cooler and slightly damper environment in general.

@jbuck .... No dehumidifier in this room, but one runs in an adjacent area. My results are telling. The bulk of my coins are early coppers, large cents and 1800's tokens. I suspect that silver is more resilient to humidity than softer copper.

The main reason for putting the folders in bags is humidity. It will keep the humidity out. As for air tight, well we all know the older Whitman Folders are not archival safe. So keeping the air away from them easily enough, may slow any environmental effects interacting with the folder.

Even though the coins are VG. They are uniform and present well. I would like to keep them looking as they do. There is conflicting information online as to use or not use normal Zip Lock food bags.

For god's sake, old silver coins in G-VG condition could be buried in your couch for years with no change in appearance. Or left outside on the porch over the winter. Their appearance will not change.

I've had Morgan silver dollars that were relatively pristine. Several of them now have black carbon spots on them because of either not using archival storage material, and or exposure to normal humidity changes which triggered this..
This took place over a long period of time. At least 20 years.

I will say it again, they are fine. They are made with low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). There is no PVC or plasticizers involved.


The plasticizers (what makes normally rigid PVC soft and supple) can breakdown the PVC and out-gas. When in an enclosed space, those gases like to react with whatever surfaces it can find.

Someone said on this forum years ago, if it is safe for food it is likely safe for coins.

I would be more concerned about that deep whitman folder toning making my coins ugly.