Store Coins In Wood Desk?

I've kept my collection in a wooden Machinist's chest since the late '80s and haven't had problems with toning. I have always kept them in either 2X2 flips or plastic snap tight holders. The only time I did have a problem was when I left it out and somebody spilled something on it. The coins in the area of the spill developed a mold residue till I noticed the problem. Aside from that, all my coins are still as I purchased them, including proof mint products.

AcesKings!

Thanks for the input, everyone. I am now looking into other ways to store my collection.

I eased my worries by keeping my coins in an antique coin cabinet that I fitted to accept slabs. The wood and finish are at least 80 years old. I have to believe its days of out-gassing have long passed.

Exactly. I'm partial to old cigar boxes too, after testing with a sacrificial coin.

I did some research on this, and my findings agree with austrokiwi's comments. This is an excerpt:

"Oak and chestnut are extremely damaging woods and should never be used for storage furniture. True mahogany, walnut, and spruce are among the least acidic woods."

That said, I would think that coins that are slabbed are adequately protected, even though not 100% airtight, but that is just an opinion.

I read an interesting piece on the subject of coin corrosion regarding the general environment in which they are stored. The writer commented that he does not buy MS-Red coppers because he lives near the seashore. He believed that the climate was not friendly to coins. I live by the ocean myself, and am quite aware of the dampness and salt that is constantly present. So in addition to the choice of storage material, the climate where we live may also be a contributing factor in regards to corrosion.