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 Replies: 9 / Views: 2,152 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1200 Posts |
I'm thinking about putting some silver coins in a wall-mounted, glass door-fronted display case. The coins will be mid to low-level silver bullion (Kooks, Britannias, etc) in individual air-tites. The case will be El Cheapo, and it won't be made of "properly cured wood." It'll be kiln-dried oak or mahogany, but I'm sure it won't be the quality of wood that goes into one of those traditional bespoke British coin chests. I'm also confident the wood will still be giving off gases long after I put it into use. FYI--the case is a 100 coin-size, $70 piece in Amazon under "coin display case." So... the question is -- If I do this, am I dooming the coins to premature and maybe extreme toning or will the air-tites keep them safe from that? Closing thoughts... 1. I'm fully aware of the security consequences of an "in your face" display like this but I live alone and don't get visitors, so that's really not an issue. 2. Any and all germane thoughts/opinions will be much appreciated, and thanks in advance for your help.  |
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Valued Member
United States
456 Posts |
I'm not certain, but I would think airtites would keep you safe for quite a while. I'm sure gases can permeate through the capsule seal to some (small) extent, but I think it would likely take a long time for there to be any visible effect on the coins. Considering the fact that the very small amount of gas that would permeate in would have a very low concentration of gases that could even react with silver to cause toning, you should be fine in my opinion.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3733 Posts |
you will be fine, nothing to worry about here..
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1795 Posts |
Yes I believe you will be fine and if they do tone you still will be fine. Myself I like toned coins but not to worry; you will be fine my man.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
You could line the case with silver cloth.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Black or blue velvet (for contrast on light, texture and colour), behind the coins would help to show them. A soft pegboard material can be used behind the velvet to hold hooked pins to support the airtights.
Careful placement of the display within the room has to be considered for best use of incident light. Good lighting can make a big difference.
A case made of aluminium and perspex or polycarbonate glass perhaps would be better. The glass substitutes would be more resistant to accidental impact damage.
Think carefully about flexibility in how you display the coins, so that when you feel like it, the display can be changed. Museums sometimes use this approach.
I would still have a lockable cover door over the lot. That could be transparent or non transparent, depending on your wishes.
Edited by sel_69l
05/04/2013 11:04 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1200 Posts |
Thanks to everybody for your input -- and thanks, sel, for bringing up a couple things I hadn't thought of.
Your writing clearly sounds like the writing of somebody who's "been there and done that."
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I have seen a couple of variations on this theme on the premises of a high filutin' coin dealer.
Ancients were displayed in these cases.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1200 Posts |
The most ancient of my coins only goes back to the 1980's, they're only 1oz silver bullion (although some are actually "semi-numis" ... wow!) and the
most valuable is only worth around $100, so my display definitely won't be on a par with a high-end ancient coin dealer. But, I'm still toying with putting
some of my stuff in a case on the wall above my desk so I could enjoy seeing them instead of having them all securely stored out of sight all the time.
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Valued Member
United States
307 Posts |
Keep em out on display so you can enjoy them!! We think Alike.
My thoughts on out-gassing from wood/materials: After you have made the case, let it sit outside or in the garage for a week to get most of its out-gassing over with. The only issue with pre-mature toning would be long term storage in a closed area. That brings me to my next idea/comment; 100 coins seems a bit over-whelming to admire/enjoy all at one time. Why not make a nice 5 or 10 coin display case and rotate what you have in there. That way you still get to enjoy everthing, just not all at once... but you get to enjoy each part more.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 2,152 |
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Posted 05/03/2013 8:16 pm
