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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,479 |
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Valued Member
United States
307 Posts |
Some time ago you all helped me with a spotting problem that we were having in two gun safes we were using for coin storage. The dehumidifier and gel packs seem to have fixed the problem. We now have the same problem at our bank safety deposit boxes. We used a slew of gel packs and the air condition runs constantly cooling or heating keeping the temp at 74 degrees. These coins not only show some spotting but some have whitish power on them. What are we doing wrong? Please advise, Thanks.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19949 Posts |
How many and what kind of layers of protection are on the coins?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
Are you referring to a white haze-like appearance?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
One of the problems with a safe deposit box is all the other safe deposit boxes all around yours. And although most banks have an air conditioning system, some do not have air ducts into those areas. So when closed at night, all kinds of stuff floats around. And even those that do have air ducts into those sealed, closed in areas, all kinds of stuff could be being emeitted from other boxes right next to yours. Those boxes are not air tight.
Your gel packs can only absorb so much and only moisture, not Fluorine, Chlorine, Oxygen, Sulfur Oxides and on and on and on, only moisture.
If your coins are in Albums, simply put each one in a Zip Lock Plastic bag, push out as much air as possible, bend over any excess and seal. If in those plastic rolls, simply tape the tops shut. Loose coins in 2x2's should be OK as is.
Another possible solution would be to ask the bank to move your box to a new location. Usually they will think your nuts so you might try for a different size box instead of just wanting to move yours.
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Valued Member
 United States
307 Posts |
The coins are in 2x2s, whitman albums for pennies,nickels and dimes, and TPG slabs. There is a partial haze and toning, light spotting and also a white powder like crust on some of the pennies. I never thought of cleaning product being a air born problem. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:The coins are in 2x2s, whitman albums for pennies,nickels and dimes, and TPG slabs. There is a partial haze and toning, light spotting and also a white powder like crust on some of the pennies. I never thought of cleaning product being a air born problem. Again, a safe deposit box is not intended to be like a time capsule. They are far from being air tight. Simply put things in Zip Lock Plastic Bags. If you've you've ever washed your floors with some soaps, some have amnonia in them. Some have all kinds of things that emit fumes. Most products for floor cleanings have warnings on them to use in well ventilated areas. |
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Valued Member
United States
307 Posts |
Thanks Carl. We have done as you recommended in our two little safes with the ZIP lock bags. I don't know why I didn't do at the bank. Brain slow getting in gear. Thanks again.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19949 Posts |
Use multiple protection layers, the more, the better. I have two large boxes. My coins are in airtites, 2x2's, binder pages and tape-sealed plastic tubes. That stuff goes into a heavy ziplock with a desiccant pack and a cleaned cent (sacrificial copper), that goes into another ziplock, finally those bags go into tupperware-type containers.
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Valued Member
United States
307 Posts |
Thad, Would Verdi-Care help protect these coins. I have used it on ancients and had very good results. I have also used it on other coins We took to a flea market and professionals didn't know we had used anything. I want your opinion on copper,nickel,silver and gold. Soaking light rubbing what would be your approach. Thanks for your opinion.
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Valued Member
United States
374 Posts |
My bank must not wax there floors inside the vault area. Most of my coins are slabs, 2x2, rolls proof eagles some sets. Some are in zip locks some in ngc and pcgs box's. Some are in cigar box's. I also have currency in holders. I have documents and stock certs also. I have never noticed any problems with neither of my box's. I have had these box's since the eighties. The bank has changed names 3 times. Any suggestions on were to get some desiccant packs?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3640 Posts |
You can make your own. Just mix some rice and salt together. Rice alone works but can attract rodents etc. Salt also works alone. Mixed they will not attract vermin and act as well as silica or other substances. Baby powder will work also. Have the ol lady umm, wifey or whatever sew you up some packets. Actually I sew myself. Men can sew.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
Get a different bank! Never heard of this, although I do beleive you. I've had some of my coins in one bank since 1971 without any use of dessicants/gel packs or put in any tupperware or baggies. Some of the other coins I have are in a different bank, same thing, no special protection. Banks know that people keep precious jewelry, coins, documents, etc. in their vaults and realize that people like you need to be able to trust their boxes to keep their costomers valuables unharmed.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The problem is the conditions in a bank vault for the preservation of documents is not the same as what is needed for the preservation of coins. Documents need a high humidity to keep from drying out and getting brittle, coins need a low humidity.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
 Many banks actually do humidify their vaults. I know someone who had a BU set of IHCs spotted up in a bank SDB over a period of several years, he ended up losing about $1000 on them. I do not trust a bank at all to maintain the proper climate control for the preservation of coins. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
The problem is the conditions in a bank vault for the preservation of documents is not the same as what is needed for the preservation of coins. Documents need a high humidity to keep from drying out and getting brittle, coins need a low humidity.
I've heard this several times in the past. And not long ago I posted what I found out from several banks about such things. At 5 different banks I was sort of laughed at since all pointed out they have only one A/C system and to have another system for safedeposit boxes is not exactly in their budget. This is true of smaller brach type banks of which today, most are. At a few very, very large banks in the downtown Chicago area trying to find someone that knew the answer or wanted to discuss this was no fun. Most looked at me as if I wanted to rob the place. At a few local Bank of America places where I have safe deposit boxes they did show me the air ducts that went into the vaults. And they are the same ones that were for the entire bank. As one bank officer pointed out to have additional humidity pumped into a safe deposit area would make for massive complaints by employees. Most appreciate the A/C getting rid of humidity. I suggest if you think banks have a separate A/C system for the safe deposit areas, just go there and ask. There may be banks that do this but for normal, everyday, regular banks that are recently pennie pinching, a separate A/C system for one area in the bank is just not practicle. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19949 Posts |
Quote:
Thad, Would Verdi-Care help protect these coins. I have used it on ancients and had very good results. I have also used it on other coins We took to a flea market and professionals didn't know we had used anything. I want your opinion on copper,nickel,silver and gold. Soaking light rubbing what would be your approach. Thanks for your opinion.
VC is only designed for use on problem coins. If only protection is desired, it's always best to use airtites, 2x2's, bags, etc. before resorting to chemical treatment. |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,479 |
Posted 04/04/2011 01:02 am
