Opening Cold Coins In The Mail During Winter

I'm no expert but it would make 'cents' to me to reduce the risk of condensation by letting them warm slowly. Maybe even with a bag of desiccant in with them as they do.

Could be over kill but why take the chance says I.

Trent, By the way, I really like that avatar you have.

What is it?

@Dar: I honestly don't know what it is. If I recall correctly, it might have been one of CCF's default choices that I could pick from when I set it a couple years back. A lot of users here have their favorite modern or classic US coninage as their. I went with something different. It's helpful to be able to easily scroll to my posts in a long thread due to the color.

For photography, I'm not certain the metal and electronics are the primary concern. Rather, I think it is condensation on the lens assembly, both inside and outside the camera, that is of main concern. I know the amateur astronomy books I've read all say to do the exact same thing with telescopes, and in that case it is condensation on the lenses and inside the tube that is the main worry. Lenses (especially dark-night telescope lenses) often have funky coatings on them that can be ruined by the formation and subsequent evaporation of a layer of water on the lens.

Be that as it may, it is still a valid concern with coins, since cold metal can cause condensation when suddenly placed in a warm, humid environment.

If the coins are sealed in airtight housings - airtites, slabs, etc - such that the warm moist air cannot get to the coin, then there is no cause for concern. If, however, the coins are raw, or in Whitman-style albums or even a stapled 2x2, you might then have cause to take precautions. If the coins are being mailed to you and you have no idea what the packaging might be like inside, again, better to take precautions.

Warm air holds more water vapor than cold air. The speed of warming is not the issue, it is whether the coin is cold when exposed to water laden warmer air. The bag may wery well help, but not because of speed, simply because the cold coin can chill air near it. In the case of the camera, outside air may be trapped in small cavities, and if there is snow on the ground may be quite moist air. It takes longer for the air to circulate from the interior of a camera. So, do bag your coins but they should warm quickly compared to the camera.