Coin Supplies

I totally agree that this hobby is for fun and I have enjoyed it for close to 60 years. My brother has thousands of Wheaties and mercs as well as others. He has a room which was bedroom in which he has his coins. The closet is full of coins of all descriptions. It is fun to hoard and collect but I thought the question was how to keep the cost of supplies and use of space to a minimum.

They're good indefinitely if the windows are mylar, which is waterproof, oil proof, and even heat resistant. Some off brands use a soft plastic which includes softeners which can leave residue on your coins.

If you're not sure, use a blunt pointed item like a pen and poke a hole through the window. Plastic will stretch a little before breaking, mylar has a crisp snap.

Completely wrong. If you do not know the exact type of plastic a container is made from it may well be PVC or other harmfull types to metals. Coins are metal and some plastics emit gasses that ruin coins. And never use a metal container to store coins for long times. Direct contacts with dissimilar metals creates an electrical charge and although small, pending the type of metal, it can lead to the coins distruction. Glass is about the safest product that will not creat problems with coin storage although bulk coins in a container of any type makes for the possibilities of scratches due to rubing togetere.
And yes 2x2 flips can be used for long term storage. Many people have had coins in them for many, many years and no problems.