Storing Lincoln Cents

Hi Vince, Lincolns are not my line of experty, yet I would look into the composition of the coin, it might make a difference.
I know Lincolns been around for a while, and they change the composition at list twice. (probably more)
Also, "on the street" I heard few opposite opinions. some told me that they like copper to "breath" and some say they better kept in close to no oxygen environment.

hope I didn't confuse you...

Eaglefoot is dead right here. For bulk the tubes are fine IF STORED PROPERLY. I recommend putting the tubes into a heavy ziplock bag with a dessicant pack or two. I like the heavy guage ziplocks for this, not the sandwich bags. Keep the bags in a dry area with controlled temperature. Avoid cold temperatures! If the coins get cold, they can form microcondensation and verdigris will set in. Put the ziplocks into a "tupperware" type contain with another dessicant pack and store.

It's a lot of work, but if you plan on REALLY long storage (>5 years) I recommend drying the coins before they go into tubes. You can bake them at a very, very low temp in an oven for a few minutes. Take them warm right off the oven tray and into the tubes. Be sure to use cotton gloves so you don't re-introduce moisture. They should last almost indefinately if you do that.

The absolute safest storage is airtites. You can buy them in bulk for pretty cheap....but it's the most expensive route. Modern 2x2's are fine but it's a lot of work. The plus with 2x2's are the storge boxes hold a lot of coins. You can then put the boxes into ziplocks with dessicant and store in tupperware.

Bottomline- Moisture and air are your enemies with copper (or any other coins for that matter).

It all depends on where you store your coins. You don't want to store them in a fluctuating temperature environment. Like near a window,heater or laundry room. Is the worst. Any metal will sweat if the temp. fluctuates to much. Any lower cupboard works just fine because the temperature stays in a normal range all year. Dark,dry, and room temp. is the best. Same as canned goods. My grandpa used a cedar chest to store his coins. He said the wood will absorb any moisture. Back in his days that is also where they stored blankets also to keep them dry and fresh. I use a fire proof safe. It can be 100f+ and my coins are still stayin cool.

I collect lincoln proofs and I'm storing them in Intercept 2x2s.

I see many of you recomended Airtites, is Intercept holders not just as good as airtites? Just wondering.

I was looking at boxes that hold several 2x2 flips. Does anybody use these? And how many 2x2's would a 9" box hold?

This depends on a few factors, 1: what coins you are storing. A morgan is way thicker then the 2x2 and you can fit way less of them. But, this shouldn't be a problem with cents.

2. Your stapler. If you decide to get a box to put 2x2s in and you are going to be stapleing a lot of them, spend the 15 bucks on a flat cinch stapler. I just got mine, and it is everything I can do not to restaple every 2x2 I own.

Now to answer your question, I don't know for sure, I havent counted! But doesn't take as long as you would think.

Well, you know how a regular stapler bends the two ends around so they point back towards the top of the staple. Looks similar to an uppercase cursive J. Well, after stapleing the 2x2 it sticks out behind it 1/16 of an ince or a little less. Place a cent in a 2x2 that has been stapled this way in a box infront of a Morgan dollar, apply some light movement and over a little time and voilà, ruined Morgan. This was the biggest reason I bought the flat cinch. I had 2x2s turned every which way in the box because I was worried about scratching any larger coin that happened to be behind it.

A flat cinch does exactly what it sounds like it does, the ends of the staple go through the 2x2 then when the staple is completely in, it bends the ends perfectly parallel to the top of the staple. No more worrying about scratched coins, more room in my box, and they stack easier too...

I usually use 4, one on each side. With thinner coins (dimes, cents) you can probably get away with only 3, but I get my staples pretty cheap so I splurge.