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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,062 |
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New Member
United States
40 Posts |
hey my brother got the idea of vacume sealing coins to keep them in good shape over the years, will this work? will it prevent oxidising and color change? what are some other methods used? Thanks alot :)
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Rest in Peace
United States
954 Posts |
No. Vacuum seals usually use a plastic pouch that contains PVC. This breaks down as time passes and damages the coins. If you want to keep your coins in nice shape, long term, it would be best to use a saflip, airtite, or something like them. Keep the coins out of window light or sun and away from mositure.
catman
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
I agree with Catman, most plastics contain PVC and that alone will damage coins over time !!
Whatever is used needs to be inert, and as airtite as possible, as Catman stated heat and sunlight, as well as Humidity are enemies to coin storage.
Rick
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New Member
 United States
40 Posts |
would wrapping them in paper towel and putting them in a metal lock box work? sorry I'm new to this and dont want my coins getting messed up over time, right now there in a wooden cabnet w/ doors shut most of the time, but ide like some were a bit saffer/better for them
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2724 Posts |
NO! Go to your local coin shop or visit one online and purchase some 2X2's (5 Cents each) or some airtites (about $1.00 each) if the coins have a little value.
Keep them in a stable environment (no wild temp changes) and add a silica gel pack if you like ($5.99)
A nice fire safe is perfect, but any hard storage place would work.
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Forum Mom
 United States
5877 Posts |
Even paper towels have some elements in them that can cause some reaction to the metal and, therefore, toning. For your more valuable coins, I would strongly recommend Intercept Shield holders. These are a little more expensive (a little over $1 each), but are well worth it as they are designed to neutralize anything that is already on your coin which stops any deterioration.
For your less valuable coins, I suggest Airtites. These are slightly less than $1 each (about $.75 if you buy 50 or more) and are great for long-term protection. These are round holders with a foam ring insert that comes in black or white.
Hope this helps.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
JonL, welcome to the forum. You've asked a very good question, one which is very important to preservation of a coin collection, but is not asked anywhere near frequently enough. Far, far too many times, people with small informal home collections put them into containers which are not only ill-suited for coins, especially silver, copper, and aluminum, but the containers themselves have chemicals which create conditions which rapidly deteriorate coins. Such examples of containers found in homes include cigar boxes, freezer bags, and paper envelopes. Most containers made of paper contain sulfur which reacts with silver; in fact, thinking about it, I don't know of any container material found in most homes which would not have something which would contribute to coin deterioration. In virtually every informal coin collection I've appraised, there has been some degradation to the coins due to the container they've been in. Best if, as all above have said, go to a local coin shop or shop online and buy some coin-specific storage materials. Also, resist temptation and don't clean any coins, no matter how tarnished they might look; cleaning degrades and devalues a coin from 50% to 95%.
Fred
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New Member
United States
40 Posts |
thanks alot guys I have them setting on a wooden cabnet right now I have no were eles... do u know any online sites I can but it from? ide like to keep these coins nice as possible even tho the ones I got now arnt worth much of anything, I still like to keep them and add to them. thanks.
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Forum Mom
United States
5877 Posts |
You've got mail.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
You want the materials your holders are made from to be "inert." Look for that word when you buy holders. There are alot of good holders most of which have already been mentioned. The best holders I've ever used were Capitals. They are expensive  but I've had coins in these for 25 years with only a slight change. I hate to shock you with this but metal has a mind of it's own. It is ever trying to "return to the womb" or it's original state of ores which means corrosion or toning. So, IMO, it's rather futile to expect to keep coins in perfect condition forever. We just do the best that we can with what we have. |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,062 |
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Posted 10/04/2005 3:49 pm
