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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,372 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4867 Posts |
I busted some coins out of 2x2 cardboard flips today that were 15-20 years old. I noticed some of the coins toned and all of them felt like they had sorta a sticky substance on the coin? I don't know how else to describe it. In anycase it was quite alarming. They were just circulated coins but still... Also the flips that used an adhesive to close, the glue turned to dust and very little to hold the flip shut. Edited by TheForce
08/21/2011 3:30 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
TheForce- I have a feeling that the sticky substance was probably PVC residue. Older flips and 2X2s were made of that accursed material. What has happened is that when PVC plastic is exposed to a lot of humidity or just rapidly fluctuating temperatures the chemical leaches a kind of greenish, sticky residue. This is very tough to remove and often is considered a rather harsh form of damage. Even if it does not look green, the sticky substance will appear green when you try to run the coin's surface with a soft, white cloth. Acetone is usually the best way for getting rid of that gross, sticky PVC damage.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
I have some concern about this myself. I was visiting my brother, and he had the coins we collected when we were kids, and most of them are in 2x2s. They're mostly the sorts of coins that kinds can afford on a modest allowance, but I'm still a little concerned. I pulled out one to photograph it, and it seemed to be weirdly oily, though not sticky (light dabbing seemed to clear it up).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
Like Archraz said, it all depends on the holder and storage. I've bought collections in 2x2's that were so old the staples were rusted and the plastic was so brittle you could pop the coin out with your thumb. The coins that were BU showed nice luster and all of the coins were undamaged. I've also bought collections in 2x2's that contained thick PVC sleeves with a carboard cover. Surprisingly, these coins were also undamaged by their storage.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4867 Posts |
This has really opened my eyes on coin storage. I have always used these flips. Perhaps the newer flips made today would be better but who knows? I am now questioning my storage methods.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
In almost every instance I've seen it is not the flip but the invironment. Regardless of how old, where purchased, what material, etc. if they are stored in a really high invironment, warm temperatures, a 2x2 is not the greatest place for those. Also, some only use 3 staples, some miss the opening side with a staple, some use an old stapler that does not close well. Just to many variables to simply state PVC or glue or anything else.
I've had some coins in 2x2's for possible as long as they have been in existance. Not one coin has changed.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
I've been using 2X2's for almost 40 years and even back then they were made of Mylar not PVC. (forty years ago I did buy some coins that had been in much older 2X2's that actually used cellophane. Most likely the coins had a PVC residue film on them when they were but into the 2X2's 15 to 20 years ago.
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Moderator
 United States
188210 Posts |
Quote:
Most likely the coins had a PVC residue film on them when they were but into the 2X2's 15 to 20 years ago. That is what I think. I have coins that have been in 2x2s longer than some coins have been in my oldest Dansco album (almost thirty years now). I have never had a problem with a 2x2. |
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Valued Member
United States
304 Posts |
Going to open up some of my 20 year old 2x2's tonight to take a look at them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4867 Posts |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,372 |
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Posted 08/21/2011 5:06 pm
