How Do I Care For Silver Bars.

I know for common 1 ounce bars, airtite makes a nice holder that fits quite well. I store all my one ounce bars in them. So far, I haven't found one for my 3 ounce poured sunshine mint bar or my 10 ounce bar. Either way I see nothing wrong with using them as a paperweight. My 3 ounce poured bar is the exception, I like the ability to hold it in my hand without fear of tarnishing.

The nice thing about .999 silver bullion bars and rounds is that they are fairly tarnish resistant all on their own. Where people get into trouble is contaminating the surface due to improper handling. A 10 pack of disposable cotton gloves costs $1 from any coin supply store. Using gloves will keep ugly fingerprints and oils off your silver and keep your bar's natural finish looking great for a long time.

The main thing that tarnishes silver is hydrogen sulfide.

Hydrogen sulfide (British English: hydrogen sulphide) is the chemical compound with the formula H2S. It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of rotten eggs. It often results from the bacterial breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen, such as in swamps and sewers; this process is commonly known as anaerobic digestion. It also occurs in volcanic gases, natural gas, and some well waters. The human body produces small amounts of H2S and uses it as a signaling molecule.

3M anti-tarnish strips work by absorbing H2S.

How do I care for silver bars? Let me count the ways.
I care for silver bars to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I care for silver bars to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I care for silver bars freely, as men strive for Right;
I care for silver bars purely, as they turn from Praise.
I care for silver bars with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I care for silver bars with a care I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I care for silver bars with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but care for silver bars better after death.

[With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning]

1 oz. silver bars can be stored in silver bar airtites. Dansco also makes an album for silver bars but they might tone the bars. Larger bars can be easily held in ziploc bags for food, just make sure you seal them.

Oh, yes, as to the topic... a number of silver bars can be purchased that come wrapped in a suitable plastic for long-term storage. The 5 and 10 oz. SilverTowne bars come this way when new. The 1-oz. JM bars come wrapped in plastic sheets of 20 bars per sheet.

As to bars that you already own, search the various on-line coin supply shops for plastic sleeves that fit the bars that you have. Sizes vary quite a bit, so it can be difficult to find ones that will fit your bars. Coins are easier to fit because of their more standardized sizes.

As to the chemistry of silver corrosion... yes, H2S reacts with silver, producing a very dark surface tarnish that looks pretty bad. The good news is that H2S is fairly reactive so does not last long in the atmosphere before something grabs it and bonds with it. This keeps the concentration of H2S very low. As was mentioned, sewers, swamps, and volcanoes produce H2S as do some oil and gas wells. H2S is the source of the term "sour" gas in these wells.

Another source of silver corrosion was from certain plastics that were used to protect silver items a few years ago. These were likely made of polyvinylchloride, which decomposes slowly, giving off chlorine gas in small amounts. Silver reacts fairly rapidly with Cl2, creating white powdery silver chloride. If you shop on-line for sleeves or air-tight containers for your silver coins, bars, and rounds, they will sometimes mention that their products do not do this.