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 Replies: 13 / Views: 11,800 |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
112 Posts |
A few months back I got out my old collection and spent a while Isopropyl-alcohol-washing the PVC residue from coins which had gone sticky after decades in an album.
I moved them all to capsules.
Now I've read that the foam rubber gaskets/inserts supplied with the capsules can also degrade and hard coins.
Can anyone offer any advice on this?
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Moderator
 United States
188952 Posts |
I believe they are safe, at least the ones used in name brands. However, my only experience with something similar is the gasket used in the PCGS slabs, which are not exactly the same as what you would find in capsules.
I hope another member will have better information for you.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
885 Posts |
I've used 2x2 flips for 50 years or so and no issues so that is what I stick to. I would not trust foam rubber but I can't tell you if it would be good or bad.
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
112 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2703 Posts |
I've used ring type Air-Tites for over twenty years and never had a ring breakdown or leave any residue on a coin.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4593 Posts |
Kointains, Guardhouse, stick with reputable brands that have a history
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12286 Posts |
Paralleling the experience of t360, I have been using Air-Tite holders (genuine, not bargain knock-offs) for 30+ years and have never had any issues with the rings inside the capsules damaging the coin/medal in them.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
112 Posts |
Does this mean Amazon type (Chinese) coin capsules are suspect too? I was originally only asking about the foam gaskets. Edited by gerio2
01/01/2022 06:34 am
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I use recycled ex Royal Mint screw seal capsules, originally intended for proof coins - they don't have rubber gaskets, but they do provide a very positive air tight seal. I have a gold crown size George V1 Five Pounds of 1937, which is about 1mm less in diameter than the silver crown capsule. To prevent the coin from moving about inside the capsule, I have cut a small sliver of polystyrene foam to entirely surround the diameter of the coin within the capsule. Polystyrene is used for food packaging, and thus it is inert and perfectly OK for placing next to coins. Try experimenting with making your own gasket with this material, to replace the rubber gasket. Most rubber compounds are heavily sulfonated during vulcanizing process, and thus I would not be keen on using rubber gasket material next to any coin. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
I recently re-opened my air-tights from the late 90s and the foam and coins were all good to go still. No changes whatsoever.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12286 Posts |
Quote:Does this mean Amazon type (Chinese) coin capsules are suspect too? I was originally only asking about the foam gaskets. Trying to save a few bucks by buying cheap/knock-off capsules can turn into a very costly mistake. I've never understood why some insist on buying cheap/knock-off products to store their coins - why risk your collection?! Stick with the name-brand originals that have long-established reputations for quality and safety and you'll be set for as long as you own the coins you store. I also don't think it's worth the effort to hand-cut polystyrene foam in order to re-use wrong-sized capsules - just buy a properly-size capsule - the cost is minimal. Just my opinions, of course, your mileage may vary. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
01/01/2022 8:10 pm
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
112 Posts |
Thanks for all your thoughts/advice My thoughts... COIN CAPSULES: 1) buying options in the UK are less than in the US but there are some other than Amazon... 2) Even German quality imports state they are made of "GPPS Plastic" elsewhere on their info stating they are "acrylic" and are "made in China". Air-tites also say they are made of "Acrylic" and are "PVC free". 3) So, if the Chinese make them in acrylic before they are branded in Germany, I've no evidence that Amazon ones, sold direct by Chinese suppliers, are anything other than acrylic. Surely this makes sense? 4) It is PVC that leaches over time, contaminating coins. PVC has been used for flexible transparent coin pockets. I have no evidence so far that Acrylic is dangerous for coins (in which case Air-tites would be suspect) or that the Chinese direct sales are any different from the same product they make for European companies. This would be their normal practice. FOAM GASKETS: Further research on an Amazon Chinese turns up that they are made in "Eva foam" which I find elsewhere is Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is "a plastic made by combining ethylene and vinyl acetate. It's very soft and elastic and it can be made into a plastic that's like rubber, yet extremely tough. It's considered to be a **safe alternative to PVC**. EVA can also be made into EVA foam, with the use of a plasticizer." POSTCRIPT... Looking more at the Amazon Chinese capsules I find they are variously described as being "Acrylic", PP (Polypropylene), GPPS AND "ABS" (!). This only gets more confusing as I didn't think I needed to become a plastics expert when I started this! All I can get out of this is that none of them seem to be PVC I think that probably settles it for me, unless there's a plastics scientist out there who can give me some more info! |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12286 Posts |
I'll just say two things:
1. Some overseas suppliers have been known to be less than truthful about the "ingredients" of their products. That's not an opinion, it's been in the news.
2. I hope that - in order to save a few pounds - you do not come to regret placing valuable coins in capsules that caused problems in the years to come.
Good luck with whichever way you decide to go!
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
112 Posts |
Agreed on your first point!
I'll keep looking into it.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 11,800 |
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Posted 12/27/2021 1:00 pm
