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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,213 |
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Valued Member
United States
109 Posts |
I have lots of mint & proof sets from when I was a kid. My question is this, should I keep them in the original mint package or should I break them out and store them like the rest of my coins? I recently was reading how intact proof and mint sets will be harder to find in the future, as dealers and collectors remove the higher quality coins. That makes me want to keep them intact, but if the packaging they came in could harm the coins over time then I would rather protect the coins. Any thoughts?
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Member
United States
3242 Posts |
Keep them as they are set with all paper & box's will command a higher price now. and alway will!.!.!
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
I had a collection of proof sets that I broke apart to fill the proof holes in my Dansco albums. It was cheaper than buying the coins individually; they cost more as individuals than as sets. The price is set by demand. If more people are into building albums than collecting proof sets, then they will worth more broken apart.
But this can change.
If you want to speculate on future demand for OGP sets, then leave them intact. The packaging wont harm the coins any more than moving them to an album; it all depends on the environment you store them in.
What do you want to do? They are your coins, so house and store them the way that makes you happy! IMHO, when you concern yourself with future value, the fun starts to fade.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
ericnh..... .....with Jbuck. Leave em' in their original packaging unless you're going to put em' into a Dansco. The material the U.S. Mint uses to "package" coins is "safe" for long term storage........ however........if you don't keep them in a "low humidity" place (as well as other factors)........these cases are NOT airtight. Air and "moisture" can and will get into those cases. I just saw two individual "proof" 1971 Ikes that have always been in original packaging, but sadly there weren't "stored" in a proper place .....and.....lets just say they are "well below" proof ' condition' now...  .........(Jbuck...yes...my Grandma's coins!)
Edited by eaglefoot
04/28/2008 2:15 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
109 Posts |
Thanks for all the replies. My concern was for the long term, and was curious as to how the mint's packaging holds up. I looked at one of the mint sets recently and the Ike was looking a little darker than I remembered it so thats what prompted the question. The future value consideration is mainly asked if I ever wish to sell them at one point.
So I guess my next question is does anyone here use those silica gel packs in their collections to keep down on humidity? With Summer coming up and my recent reintroduction into the hobby I want to make sure I protect my coins the best way I can. What would be the max humidity you could expose a coin to without damaging it?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
You'll get a lot of "varying" opinions on the "levels of humidity" acceptable or safe........but use your own judgement there too......you don't want any of it ! I also live in a "high humidity" area.......in fact most of the time it is in the 80's & 90's percentile range !......Even in Winter it's high......(northeast Kansas) Safe's will NOT protect against "moisture"......but there are different methods one can use there.....yes the silica gel can help and there are "rods" that you can place in there too(sold for keeping firearms dry in safes) I myself chose safety deposit boxes down at the bank........with that you have them ..... dry
fireproof
theft proof
flood proofall kinds of "proof" !........no worries with this !...  p.s.For the "small amount" of coins that I do keep at home.......yup !...I use those silica gels.....just keep replacing them from time to time though. Edited by eaglefoot
04/28/2008 2:54 pm
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Desiccant packs may help, but they are not maintenance free. They will need to be changed or re-charged frequently if you have a lot of humidity. Keep an eye on them! I have never found consensual information regarding maximum humidity levels, with upper limits ranging from 35% to 75%! That said, I would shoot for keeping it below 50%. If your home, office, bank, or storage facility is climate controlled, I would not worry about it. You will probably read about putting your albums/holders/OGP into ZipLoc bags and pressing all of the air out. This is not a bad idea and could only help. As with anything I say, YMMV! My opinion is just one of many!  |
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Valued Member
United States
109 Posts |
I have a safe deposit box that I keep the high value coins in, but I also have lots of coins that aren't safe deposit worthy. I live in NJ so the Summer humidity is the only real concern, we do have AC. Silica gel packs seem to be a cheap way to cut down on the humidity and I will probably try those. I was curious about safe humidity levels because my walk in closet would be my preferred location to keep my coins, but it also houses a wine fridge. The fridge has an internal humidity of 66% all the time but it keeps the closet humidity at around 50%, even though the fridge stays closed and locked.
Thanks for all the help.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2270 Posts |
Mint set packaging is not really safe for long term storage. This applies primarily to the '68-'84 packages which are actually four sheets of plastic pressed together. The interior sheets are very soft plastic. All of the '68 cents still in the package have carbon spots and most of these coins are completely ruined. The clads in the '69 set are suscepible as well.
The sets are worth more apart now than they are together though this may, and probably will, change in the future. Ultimately all the sets intact or otherwise will be worth the sum of their parts. You're better off finding choice sets than intact sets.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
quote:
This applies primarily to the '68-'84 packages which are actually four sheets of plastic pressed together.
I forgot all about those (I am always thinking proof sets for some reason). FWIW, I bought a 1973-D mint set for the Ike and the cent was in terrible shape! |
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Valued Member
United States
109 Posts |
Well thats not good news since those years are primarily what I have in mint sets.
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Curious, did you buy them from the Mint?
If they still look great after twenty to forty years, then I do not see an urgent need to break them up. But if you have noticed them changing over time, then it might be best to move them to an album or some other holder.
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Valued Member
United States
109 Posts |
Almost all of them were presents from family when I was younger, late eighties. I assume that my family bought from the local coin dealer that we all used. Trustworthy dealer, but prices are kind of high. After thinking about this all day I'm going to take them all out again and really give them a good look.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,213 |
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Posted 04/28/2008 10:38 am
