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 Replies: 24 / Views: 4,125 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
I just moved most of my collection into drawers of an old wood desk I have. All types of coins: proof, silver proof, UNC etc. stored in albums, OGP, 2X2s. Will they be safe or can the wood damage them?
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I would be very nervous. Many wood finishes can outgas stuff coins won't like, some for very long times. I would treat it like a hostile environment for coin storage, everything air-tight. Experience talking here.
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
How old is the desk?
And what type of wood is it?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1388 Posts |
Okay. No idea on what its made of, and it is older than 1980. All coins are moved out until I get more info.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2519 Posts |
It depends on the wood and the finish. I had some silver coins stored in my drawer in my wardrobe for almost 10 years (and the finish was really smelly for the first few weeks). The exposed coins turned green.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
Woah. I think they are okay, as the longest anything spent in there was about a day. Do I need to worry about my 2x2s? They were in there for a day as well - I'm worried that they picked up something that will damage coins I put in them in the future.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Coin cabinets are made of wood. Lots of thought goes into the timbers an glues used, to avoid outgassing of resins in those woods and glues.
If you don't know of the materials used in the drawers, put your coins / albums in clip lock plastic bags. Throw in some small bags of silica gel in with the coins, if in a humid climate.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
589 Posts |
You could try stripping the finish from the desk. That should cut down on any outgassing (since you're removing most of what could cause it). The paint thinner itself might outgas things...not entirely sure, but I would expect any outgassing from a paint-thinner-stripped-desk to be far less than if you left the finish on the desk.
Just a thought if you're really wanting to use the desk...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
If I were going to store my coins in a wood desk it would have to be a mahogany desk with a tung oil finish. I wouldn't do it unless you're certain as to the materials built.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
What would happen to the coins is an accelerated version of natural toning, more or less "natural" depending on what compounds were present. Nothing as damaging as PVC, but depending on the atmosphere one could see visible effects within days. This phenomenon - from a ten-year-old desk - resulted in much of what I know about dipping. A Morgan laying open on the bookshelf next to the desk didn't tone at all during the time.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19961 Posts |
I would not store any coins inside wood....regardless of secondary protection. Wood outgasses and absorbs/holds moisture.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As mostly already stated wood in any form is not a great place to store anything metal. All woods dry slowly and some more so than others. Ever go to a lumber yard and note the wet feeling of some of the woods. Wood too will absorb moisture unless well covered with something like Varnish. However, the downside of that is that Varnish too emits gasses as it dries. And for how long, depends on location, temperature, etc.
Different woods too emit different types of gasses as they dry.
All in all it is just not to smart to trust wood for storing coins.
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
The only two woods safe for Coins are Hondurus Mahogany and Ebony. Particle board and any form of Oak are death for coins!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
Quote:
The only two woods safe for Coins are Hondurus Mahogany and Ebony. Is there some place to find information confirming this is true? I know the US mint ships the gold Kennedy in a Mahogany case so I would assume it to be safe. Knowing that leaving coins exposed to the environment can be bad, wood can and will absorb moisture, plastics can contain PVC and metal will rust then aluminum must be the best material to use when storing coins. Is there a better alternative? |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2519 Posts |
I remember reading somewhere that wrapping a silver coin with aluminium foil can stop it tarnishing. I have no idea if it does or doesn't. Pure aluminium is more reactive than silver, but aluminium's (any aluminium that has been exposed to air) already got a protective oxide layer to stop it from reacting anymore. So according to my line of thinking, it would be the same as wrapping it with nothing.
Edited by Altaira
01/06/2015 3:18 pm
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Is there a better alternative? Cardboard/mylar flips and food-grade ziplock baggies with the air pushed out of them before sealing. I'd hold silver near a volcanic vent, in a baggie. |
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Replies: 24 / Views: 4,125 |
Posted 01/05/2015 8:18 pm
