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Complete Guide to Storing Your Coin Collection

Complete Guide to Storing Your Coin Collection

What is the best way to store your coin collection, and why does it matter? What can damage your coins? From choosing the best coin holder to learning about potential threats to your stored coins, this guide will cover everything you need to know about properly storing and protecting your coin collection. Let’s begin!



Why Properly Storing Your Coin Collection Matters

Properly storing your coin collection matters if you want to preserve your coin’s condition and cultural and historical appeal. Coins are vulnerable to damage from various factors such as humidity, air, and temperature changes. Additionally, mishandling your coins can lead to physical harm, such as scratches or dings. Using the appropriate storage materials and careful handling can help prevent these issues.


The Vulnerabilities of Precious Metal Coins

Although precious metal coins are resistant to corrosion and rust, they are not immune. Let’s break down the precious metal types most commonly found in bullion  and collectible coins and what they are susceptible to, particularly those that are alloyed  with other metals such as copper.


 Gold Vulnerabilities

Does gold rust? Gold, in its purest form, does not rust or tarnish. However, alloys, when gold is mixed with other metals, such as copper or silver, can rust or tarnish. Therefore, gold coins containing other metals may appear to rust, corrode, or tarnish over time. For example, if you notice red spots on a gold coin, it likely indicates the presence of a copper alloy.


Silver Vulnerabilities

Silver, like gold, does not rust. But it can tarnish. Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that forms on the surface of silver when it reacts with sulfur-containing substances in the air. When silver tarnishes, it develops a dull, dark coating on the metal. Factors causing silver tarnish include exposure to:

  • Humidity
  • Air pollution
  • Lotions
  • Sweat
  • Sunlight
  • Perfumes
  • Soap
  • Acids

Platinum Vulnerabilities

Platinum is another precious metal that when in its purest form, does not rust, corrode, tarnish, or oxidize. It’s extremely resistant to rust or corrosion because it lacks any iron or other metals that can become vulnerable when exposed to specific environments. This makes platinum a useful commodity often used in jewelry or collectible coins and medals. It should be noted that coins and jewelry are not usually made from 100% pure platinum, which can leave them vulnerable to environmental damage.


What Damages Coins?

Let’s go into more detail about what can damage your coins, assuming they are not stored or cared for properly. Again, your coins can get damaged in various ways, such as humidity, temperature, mishandling, acids or chemical reactions, and air quality. We’ll explain each of these in the following sections.


Humidity

Moisture can lead to corrosion or rust, especially if your coins are made of vulnerable metals such as silver or a copper or bronze alloy. Avoid keeping your coin collection near a place with water or areas exposed to moisture, including places such as water pipes or windows. Even breathing directly on your coins can create spots from your saliva.


Temperature

While heat and cold aren’t necessarily an issue for your coins, the transition between the two can cause condensation (moisture), resulting in rust or corrosion. Higher temperatures can also speed up chemical reactions, accelerating damage to your coins.


Improper Handling

Mishandling coins can include touching coins with your bare fingers. Oils from our fingers can corrode metals, leading to stains and smudges. Throwing collectible coins into a single container is another way that can result in damage as coins scrape against each other, causing dings and scratches.


Acids/Chemical Reactions

Acids or chemicals can be found in all sorts of materials, including cardboard, wood, adhesives, and plastics. Such materials, over time, can leach chemicals or acids onto your coins, resulting in corrosion.


Air Quality

Air containing extreme concentrations of pollutants such as paint fumes and exhaust emissions can chemically react with oxygen, leading to possible coin damage. Pollutants can settle on a coin’s surface over time and react with the metal. Some pollutants will chemically react when exposed to moisture.


Where Is the Safest Place to Store Coins?

The safest place to keep or store your coins is in a dry, temperature-controlled room or location. You might think storing them in your attic or basement is the safest place to store your coins, but this is where they are often the most vulnerable to temperature changes and humidity. Instead, you’ll want to find a spot away from water pipes, windows, and sunlight and least exposed to air pollutants. This space could be your closet or home office, but look for the driest spot you can. You can also invest in a dehumidifier or silica gel packs to reduce the humidity wherever you store your coin collection.

What Can You Do to Prevent Damage to Your Coins?

We’ve discussed  what can damage your coin collection and the safest place to store it, but what else can you do to prevent damage to your coins? Here are a few simple suggestions.


Handle Your Coins Properly

We touched on this briefly, but handling coins with your bare fingertips leaves behind oil residue. Consider wearing cotton gloves to keep your hands from touching a coin’s surface. If you don’t have a pair of gloves readily available, another recommendation is to pick up a coin by its edge to avoid touching its surface. It’s also recommended that if you open a coin holder, to do so over a padded surface such as a towel.


Use a Protective Coin Album or Holder

A coin album or holder is perfect for storing individual coins. It can prevent scratches and dings. However, not all coin storage devices are the same. Some are not airtight, waterproof, or even chemical-free. which means you must still need to implement preventive measures to protect your coin collection from air pollutants, moisture, and chemicals.


Which Coin Holder Should You Use?

The type of coin holder you should use will depend on your budget, the materials your coins are made from, how you want to organize your coin collection, and how much effort you want to put into protecting your coins. Each type of coin holder has its benefits and drawbacks, but let’s look at a few examples.


Coin Albums and Folders

A coin album has the benefit of storing, protecting, and organizing large amounts of coins and allows you to see both their obverse and reverse. However, they may cost more than alternatives, and some plastics may leach trace chemicals onto your coins. So, it’s important to do your research before selecting a coin album for storage. You might benefit from using a coin album if you’re just starting your coin-collecting journey, but some experts also prefer them. 

Coin AlbumCoin Album

Coin Capsules

Coin capsules are perfect for storing individual coins in a protective plastic case. They’re great for keeping your coins safe from scratches, drops, dirt, and other contaminants. Coin capsules also allow you to view both sides of your coin through a transparent plastic. The downside is that they are bulkier and may cost more than other options if you have a large amount of coins to store. They also make it harder to label your coins. While useful for beginners, this option may be best for experienced coin collectors or users concerned about protecting a particular coin.

Coin CapsuleCoin Capsule

Coin Flips

A coin flip is a clear, small plastic container that has two pockets. One pocket securely stores your coin, while the other lets you see the backside. Coin flips are popular because they offer a nice balance of protection and accessibility. They prevent scratches and fingerprints and include labeling space. They’re also relatively affordable. While coin dealers are often seen using coin flips, this option is ideal for any coin collector.

Coin FlipCoin Flip

Coin Slabs

A coin slab stores one coin in a high-quality, protective plastic container. It is often used for grading and authenticating coins by third-party grading services involving professional numismatists, such as Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) or Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). The coin slab is a durable, clear plastic with an airtight seal shielding the coin from physical damage, contaminants, and oxidation. Although expensive, it is one of the best options for storing and protecting coins. Both beginners and expert coin collectors can benefit from having their coins graded, authenticated, and protected in a coin slab, depending on the type of coin and the goal of the collection.


Where to Buy Coin Holders

You can find and buy coin holders through a local coin dealer or coin shop, some hobby and craft stores, or an online coin distributor like GovMint. Coin holders are a great way to store and protect your coin collection. If you need coin holders for your collection, be sure to visit GovMint, where we offer coin holders for storing and preserving coins.




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