Coin Displays

**Mr. Coin Lover** · 08-18-2009, 12:50 PM

I have had this gentleman make a few coin display cases for me recently, and I have been very happy with all of them. Prices are reasonable and the quality is excellent. All are made from solid cherry wood with all inner linings or coin holes felt lined to include the bottom.

He will work with you one-on-one either by telephone or email to build it custom to your specifications as to how you want the display to be set up.

His site is WWW.woodcoindisplays.com

**GDJMSP** · 08-18-2009, 01:22 PM

While quite pretty those are a very bad idea. Cherry in particular puts off a lot gases that are harmful to coins. The only wood that is ever recommended for use as coin cabinets is mahogany.

And before somebody ask, no slabs are not airtight. Neither is any coin holder, made by anybody, on the market today.

krispy · 08-18-2009, 01:44 PM

While those cases look lovely and are made from hard, pricey fruit woods, GD is spot on!

Where GD has mentioned encapsulated coins and the wood giving off gases, storing paper of any kind in a wood case is a very bad idea. The wood is not a neutral pH material and therefore NOT archival. The acids in the wood leach out and over time are absorbed by paper, which can lead to discoloration and make paper very brittle (even the cotton rag used in paper currency.) Wood, even when sealed with oils, waxes, varnish or lacquer, continue to attract insects and moisture alike. Regardless of the wood, even mahogany, that these cases are made from, have numerous identified species of insects that they attract, this includes mahogany (although it is perhaps less susceptible than the others.) The wood sealants used to finish and bring out the grain and color of these woods are themselves capable of inflicting their own dangers as well, primarily as they age or if improperly applied and begin to leach out. These materials can penetrate the felt lining as well as give off gases over time. Toned coins that spent years in old wooden cigar cases are good examples of the dangers.

As an aside, a big eye catching display case like that in your home is an attractive target should a theft occur.

CrustyCoins · 08-18-2009, 01:51 PM

So why does PCGS sanction and sell wood storage cases for coins? If it is so dangerous you would think they would protect thier assests and make the recomendation against this type of storage.

Edited, I take part of my statment back as it appears they no longer sell the wood storage cases but they did up until recently.

**GDJMSP** · 08-18-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrustyCoins

So why does PCGS sanction and sell wood storage cases for coins? If it is so dangerous you would think they would protect thier assests and make the recomendation against this type of storage.

Edited, I take part of my statment back as it appears they no longer sell the wood storage cases but they did up until recently.

Even the US Mint has sold coins in the wood cases Crusty, particularly in cherry. But they, just like anybody else including PCGS, does it for one reason - to make money. They know that some folks are attracted to this type of display and will jump all over it when they are offered.

Why does almost every dealer there is use PVC flips still when they know beyond a doubt that they are harmful to coins ? They do it to save money and because the softer flips do less damage to the coins on a short term basis than the harder non PVC flips.

There are a lot of things that are proposed, used, advertised and sold for use with coins that are without a doubt harmful to the coins. But they are still sold and will continue to be sold.

It is up to the collector to educate himself and find these things out because nobody selling them is going to do it. That you can be sure of.

edit - I've said this same thing probably 50 times on this forum alone. In years past I've said on pretty much every other forum there is, most more than once. But with new members all the time on all forums, the old posts never get read. Guess I'll say it another 50 times.

krispy · 08-18-2009, 02:10 PM

I think that despite the conservation issues, the cases are still attractive for many collectors and may be in some demand. Perhaps PCGS didn't want to void any guarantees with their encapsulation devices down the road by encouraging storage in wood cases they had sold despite the collector demand for the cases. Or perhaps there was no demand for the PCGS cases. Maybe many collectors knew of the conservation issues...

Also, look at the recent mahogany case the US Mint has put together for the UHR. The gold can probably withstand storage in the wood case compared to other metals but many collectors will likely separate the coin from the case for various reasons. I plan on buying a UHR at some point but I don't find the case attractive at all, think it runs up the unit cost and s/h costs and being that it's in a wood case I will promptly separate the case from the coin if/when I buy a UHR for my collection.

krispy · 08-18-2009, 02:11 PM

Right on GD!

CrustyCoins · 08-18-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GDJMSP

Why does almost every dealer there is use PVC flips still when they know beyond a doubt that they are harmful to coins ? They do it to save money and because the softer flips do less damage to the coins on a short term basis than the harder non PVC flips.

This is a question that I have often wondered. I immediately throw away the PVC flips and put coins into the mylar ones. You would think that a dealer would at least notify the customer that they should remove the coin from the flip it was sold in for long term storage.

Edited: whenever I sell a raw coin it also goes into a mylar flip. They are not that much more expensive.

**GDJMSP** · 08-18-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrustyCoins

You would think that a dealer would at least notify the customer that they should remove the coin from the flip it was sold in for long term storage.

See below -

Quote:

Originally Posted by GDJMSP

It is up to the collector to educate himself and find these things out because nobody selling them is going to do it.

krispy · 08-18-2009, 02:26 PM

I think the info about the PVC danger is pretty widespread now and something a collector learns early on, if they are reading, as they should be doing to learn about the hobby and issues. Dealers using a PVC flip to send or handle a coin may just be trying to keep overhead costs down using non-archival holders for the short term that a coin is in them. Like anything else we have to educate ourselves and learn about this hobby the storage an conservation issues are part of it I believe.

**Mr. Coin Lover** · 08-18-2009, 02:32 PM

I'm sure all of you that posted about the woods being a bad idea are absolutely correct. But, I don't know if it helps or not the cases are coated in clear lacquer. I'm just not sure that a coin in an airtite or slab would deteriorate fast enough that it needs to a concern of mine. I guess my sons can deal with it down the road. I mean how much air can be leaking into an airtite anyway if the air pressure is the same on the inside as the outside.

This is just me, but I don't like to buy random coins. I don't buy to resell, but to collect. After saying that all the coins I collect have a start, end, and some type of theme. I look at all my coins at least twice a month or so because I like to do that. I think that a beautiful display of coins adds to the beauty of the coins themselves.

I'll give you an example thatreally blows my mind everytime I look at the set. It is a complete set of Westward Journey and Return to Monticello Nickels from all three mints.
The set in the display case by appearance looks like it shoud be worth about ten times its actual value, very beautiful in my opinion.

I have been around Doug a lot longer than Krispy. I knew Doug would point this out and that is great to forewarn anyone. But, there may be others that feel the same way I do.
Bad idea, I won't disagree with you there are better ways to preserve a coin. Let me just say though they sure look beautiful in their cases, I mean really beautiful.

**GDJMSP** · 08-18-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Coin Lover

Let me just say though they sure look beautiful in their cases, I mean really beautiful.

No argument on that at all. I used to own several of the commem sets sold by the mint in the cherry wood cases, everything from 4 coin sets to 32 coin sets. And there is no doubt, they are a thing of beauty.

Still a bad idea though.

Treashunt · 08-18-2009, 02:38 PM

However!

Ya gotta like those bird houses!

LOL

CrustyCoins · 08-18-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Coin Lover

I'm sure all of you that posted about the woods being a bad idea are absolutely correct. But, I don't know if it helps or not the cases are coated in clear lacquer. I'm just not sure that a coin in an airtite or slab would deteriorate fast enough that it needs to a concern of mine. I guess my sons can deal with it down the road. I mean how much air can be leaking into an airtite anyway if the air pressure is the same on the inside as the outside.

This is just me, but I don't like to buy random coins. I don't buy to resell, but to collect. After saying that all the coins I collect have a start, end, and some type of theme. I look at all my coins at least twice a month or so because I like to do that. I think that a beautiful display of coins adds to the beauty of the coins themselves.

I'll give you an example thatreally blows my mind everytime I look at the set. It is a complete set of Westward Journey and Return to Monticello Nickels from all three mints.
The set in the display case by appearance looks like it shoud be worth about ten times its actual value, very beautiful in my opinion.

I have been around Doug a lot longer than Krispy. I knew Doug would point this out and that is great to forewarn anyone. But, there may be others that feel the same way I do.
Bad idea, I won't disagree with you there are better ways to preserve a coin. Let me just say though they sure look beautiful in their cases, I mean really beautiful.

I understand the concerns but I am with you only for the fact that most of my collection is gold and I don't think these gases would do much if any harm to my set.

That said, I have not ponied up for a nice case and have them all in a big intercept shield box because it holds 60 coins.

**Mr. Coin Lover** · 08-18-2009, 02:55 PM

If I bought or even looked at a coin from a dealer that was housed in something containing PVC he would not be my dealer anymore. I couldn't help but wonder what other "things" are being done to maximize profits.

The other thing Doug my wife really likes these cases. Don't worry though I won't show her all the things you've said about the cases she thinks are so beautiful.

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