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 Replies: 21 / Views: 9,100 |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
I'm thinking of buying silver coins and wanted to ask what are the best ways to store it without them getting tarnished. I was thinking one simple cheap way would be to buy a multi pack of plaster airtight small zipper bags. But then I was reading that some of these could be made of PVC and that could react with the silver :/ Problem is not many say what mind of polymer material is used. For example would these be silver safe? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e=UTF8&psc=1Also if anyone knows of any good coin albums that offer reasonably air tight pouches to put the coins in, thanks. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1200 Posts |
It depends to a large degree on what you're collecting -- high numismatic value coins deserve better protection than low-premium common mintage bullion. A quick, helpful answer based on the info you gave isn't really possible, but going with air-tites inside cap-tubes is probably not a bad idea. Almost all of my stuff is low-premium, common mintage bullion. I keep it in plastic mint tubes in steel military surplus ammo boxes. The ammo boxes are cheap and they provide great protection against atmospheric exposures. Definitely avoid PVC -- it's the mortal enemy of silver. For a good selection of storage supplies, try JP's or Coin Supply Express... http://www.jpscorner.com ... or ... http://www.coinsupplyexpress.com |
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
90 Posts |
Thanks Freddy, I'll try to avoid PVC at all costs and if it doesn't say what its made out of, just assume its PVC and avoid.
I noticed that AirTite sells two versions one that have a special rubber ring and those which are just the clear capsule. Are the ones with the rubber ring the only truly air tight ones, or does any normal capsule provide enough of a barrier against the air to reduce tarnish to a minimum?.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
616 Posts |
From what I can tell with mine both are equally air tight. The different size foam rubber rings allow different size coins to fit one size capsule.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
Another thing to consider is storage environment. You want to avoid humidity and temperature fluctuations as much as possible. Also, if storing in a safe, be mindful of other things in the safe (e.g. solvants, etc).
I usually use airtites with the black ring. The only problems I have ever had was with some Britannias I purchased from an other collector. When he put them in the airtites and got his fingerprints all over the coins. After a few years the prints toned. So when putting coins in you might want to use some cotton gloves.
As for low value silver coins I just put them in the cardboard and mylar 2x2's. I have some I bought from an older collector and the silver coins had been in the 2x2's for over five decades with no problems. I figure that is good enough for me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1195 Posts |
The more important coins in my collection are in my grandpa's safe, contained in cardboard and Mylar 2x2's, which are arranged in a poly-pro 20 pocket page, and sealed in a Ziplock brand bag. The rest are in my house in just the 2x2's
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
IMHO the mortal enemy of silver would have to be hydrogen sulfide.
I like to use Silver Cloth to protect silver.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
Speaking of humidity. I currently have to take prescription pills indefinitely, and the plastic pill bottles always come with one of those silicon bags to keep moisture out, I suppose for storage I could just use those inside the box to help keep the moisture down, changing them reguarly for new ones from the prescription bottles.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
My guess would be for coins if you have a lot you would probably want a larger side pack, I have to take some meds too and at least the ones I get are brutally small
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Valued Member
Canada
281 Posts |
Although your question is about storing coins. I want to share my experience or my stupid mistake I should say, when I once folded some divisible silver 1oz bars purchased from NWT. They came in a sealed sheet of plastic and for storage purposes, I folded the sheet and to keep it together I wrapped the sheet with an ordinary rubber band.... The chemical reaction (if I can call it like that), went right through the plastic and darken my silver with a black line. I felt like such a dud  I obviously never repeated that blunder. ...just my 2 cents worth of input... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
Rubber bands (REAL rubber) and silver DO NOT MIX!
This is an old bit of coin collecting wisdom. Way back when silver circulated we were advised to take a common coin and to lay a (real) rubber
band across the surface to see how the coin changes.
But, I have never heard of this reaction occurring through plastic.
miggs, you opinion is worth AT LEAST a dollar and 25 cents!
Thank you so much!
For my own edification, are PVC holders as common as they were many years ago?
Edited by matthewvincent
04/11/2013 4:05 pm
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
Wow, silver really can be very sensitive to certain things, this is all great tips thanks.
Are all other plastics ok, or are there more types in addition to pvc that are bad?
I have some polythene bags which I'm not using for coins but other things, which do give off a bit of a smell, makes me wonder if they would be bad for silver too?
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
Just a reminder, I had a puppy prove that those safes you can carry are not water-proof. The worst was the roll of cents, I have never looked into it.  |
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Valued Member
Canada
281 Posts |
Here's my damaged silver that I mentioned before from a rubber band...  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Sulphur is used in the vulcanisation of rubber. Silver sulphide is black, and contrasts with the bright white silver surface.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1795 Posts |
There are dehumidifiers that are relatively cheap that you can purchase that are very similar to what you would find in prescription or vitamin bottles. Here is a web site; I purchased some but I got them at a big box store. http://www.pringi.com I find these to be extremely useful. |
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Replies: 21 / Views: 9,100 |
Posted 04/08/2013 09:51 am
