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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,725 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I live in a very humid, coastal climate--so I thought my safe deposit box would provide drier, safer storage than home. Apparently, I was wrong. The picture below shows bronze disease that formed on a coin over the course of a year--inside a SDB!  At one point, moisture must have condensed on the coin. While a scarce coin, fortunately it's a low grade piece that doesn't hurt too much. At home, I keep my coins in sealed containers with silica gel. So I have to upgrade my storage methods for the bank.  Edited by DVCollector
01/17/2014 5:38 pm
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Moderator
 United States
15395 Posts |
Ouch ... never would have considered a safe box as a storage method requiring additional environmental controls.
Let us know what you decide to do
David
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10045 Posts |
I soaked it in distilled water--now mineral oil. Hopefully that will stop it progressing further. And this is interesting--I found an old picture before BD set in. You can how the bright growths were once verdigris.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
3831 Posts |
Did you use silica gel packs?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Actually, not inside the SDB--because I thought it was drier than my home. My mistake!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
Banks air condition the vaults, ALWAYS use multiple layers of protection....no matter where you store coins.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Not sure where you live or the bank you use. However, every bank I know of today has A/C and that removes moisture. If you have A/C at home you notice how it removes moisture from the air. Same at banks. I've put a Hygrometer in my SDB at a few banks and got readings below 20%. One was about 22%. You can easily purchase a Hygrometer at Walmart and put it in your SDB. This would find out if it's the banks fault. I doubt that your bank is NOT A/C'd. I didn't think any bank today would not be. Isn't it possible you brought in that coin already started with that problem? I use Hygrometers everywhere. Best way to check for excessive moisture. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
Keep in mind Carl that any moisture ALREADY inside will likely condense when cooled in a vault. The water that catalyzed the verdigris formation was likely trapped inside whatever storage layers he had on the coins.
This is one of the many reasons I rinse my coins with acetone before going into the first level storage - be it a 2x2, a tube or an airtite. Every coin I have in my SDB has been prepared with acetone, desiccant packs and sacrificial copper...not to mention multiple layers.
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Valued Member
United States
337 Posts |
SDBs are not air tight. People in this area found out that when flood waters rise SDB are of little protection. If water can get in, so can air. But every time you open the box air is exchanged with the environment, and it only takes one humid day to cause a problem. You may wish to check the humidity in the room where you take your box prior to opening it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Keep in mind Carl that any moisture ALREADY inside will likely condense when cooled in a vault. The water that catalyzed the verdigris formation was likely trapped inside whatever storage layers he had on the coins.
So true. One of the many dangers of taking anything from one temperature to another, especially from hot damp to cold or just cool. And he did state he lives in a humid area. Quote:
You may wish to check the humidity in the room where you take your box prior to opening it. NORMALLY the entire bank has one A/C unit for the entire place. What ever is in the air in a SDB area is the same in the entire bank. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
Not sure where you live or the bank you use. However, every bank I know of today has A/C and that removes moisture. If you have A/C at home you notice how it removes moisture from the air. Same at banks. This is probably the region in the US that needs A/C the least, but bank employees have told me it's either too hot or too cold in here. Thanks for the discussion--lesson learned, I need to take the same precautions at the bank  |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,725 |
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Posted 01/17/2014 7:25 pm
