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 Replies: 13 / Views: 32,837 |
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Valued Member
Canada
174 Posts |
Ok before you guys get mad and start yelling at me because thinking I'mmelting down coins... I'mnot.
if it is a bad question take it down I will understand.
Ok I'masking this question beacause there has been a few housefires in the city I live in scince the start of the new year... my house is a older house and you never know when a housefire could happen...
So could a common house fire or a campfire can melt coins or would they be able to survive.
If this is a subject you dont want on the Internet just send me a pm.
thanks
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1005 Posts |
For zinc coins such as modern cents, they will melt readily in a fire due to zinc's relatively low melting point. As for other denominations, I am unsure but would assume that a typical fire will not reach sustained high temperatures capable of melting other metals such as copper, nickel, silver etc.
That is not to say the high temperature will not destroy the coins somewhat, as the increased temperatures speed reactions at the coin's surface. So oxidation and coking would likely occur, but not necessarily melting.
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Valued Member
Canada
158 Posts |
Nickel melts at about 1450C and steel melts about 1350C. That's a fairly hot fire... I would say that most house fires would not cause your regular coins to melt but would damage any numismatic value.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5585 Posts |
They won't melt but will be discolored nonlinearly due to rapid oxidation and carbon ingestion from the heat. Mostly, they will turn black or very dark brown wherever exposed to the outside air or may not have any evidence of damage if covered by other coins. Some fireproof safes say that they will protect from all damage.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
In a house fire, silver and all base metal alloyed coins will blacken, such that most of their value will be lost.
Of much more concern will be the damage to the house.
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Valued Member
 Canada
174 Posts |
Ok so heat=bad and anything that gets heated up by fire gets devalued to melt value.
Dont keep coins close to fire pits/places and heaters.
And it would be a good idea for me to get a safe. Got it
What would be the best temperature to store coins in.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
589 Posts |
Quote:
What would be the best temperature to store coins in. While I don't exactly know, I'd guess somewhere around 50-60 F. Of course, you also should monitor humidity. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2366 Posts |
Cool and dry is best for storage. Airtight as well.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
867 Posts |
And don't open a hot safe ever....the super heated contents will burst into flame with the introduction of oxygen when you open the door
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Moderator
 Australia
16809 Posts |
As others have stated, coins become ruined at temperatures far lower than that required to actually melt them. Besides the oxidation mentioned above, bimetallic, clad and plated coins are particularly vulnerable, as the differnt rates of expansion of the two metals can literally tear the coin apart at the seams. Clad and plated coins are vulnerable to the formation of gas bubbles between the two layers of metal.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
If it is fire that you are worried about, invest in platinum (Pt) coins. Platinum is relatively inert like gold, but has a much higher melting point of 3,224 deg.F. Platinum is a refractory metal, quite capable of standing up to high temperatures, and coins made from Pt should clean up quite easily after a fire. The only problem is: trying to find them in the rubble and ashes of a completely destroyed home.  Edited by sel_69l
04/14/2015 8:23 pm
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Valued Member
Canada
174 Posts |
I think it would be good for me to get a safe just to be safe in the long run.
To make sure if anything does happen like a forest fire or a neighbors house on fire that spreads to my house and living a minute away to a low security prison where a person escapes once every 2 or 1 years.
pt coins would be cool but I do not have the money for that, most of my coins where given to my by my grandmother, parents and crh.
Edited by xd99xd
04/14/2015 10:11 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
593 Posts |
I know that nickles will melt or distort in a fire. My dad had a lounge, diner that burned down in 50`s and the pinball machines took nickles and they melted together in a globs of metal and the bank weighed them a paid dad. You could see that they were buffalo and jeffersons but warped bad. I did find a cc Morgan dollar under the counter though |
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Valued Member
Canada
174 Posts |
Man, that must off sucked at least the bank took them. And nice find.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 32,837 |
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Posted 04/14/2015 05:42 am
