Coin Displays

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

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Right on GD!

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

However!

Ya gotta like those bird houses!

LOL

 

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.

 

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.

 

I mentioned the lacquer (and other sealants) above as a danger. It's not 100% capable of sealing the wood and over time the surface will be compromised, especially if handled as often as you mentioned you do and the case is left out in an open area where the case might be bumped, scratched, moved, etc.

It's not just a matter of not being air tight and air/gases leaking but rather that the encapsulation devices the coins are in themselves trap gases leached out by the wood. These gases are therefore very close to the coin. There's not enough exchange of air to prevent gas build up, so it could lead to tone, discoloration, damage, etc,

Despite the aesthetic appeal the conservation issues remain but you do not have to live that strictly tending to a collection in such a way. It is good to know about these factors and the potential changes that can occur due to such storage and handling and to pass that on to others, and to whom ever you pass your collection onto, especially if it will potentially lead to devaluation of the coins due to changes in their condition or alter eye appeal.

[/QUOTE]I'll give you an example that really 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.[/QUOTE]

No doubt about it, presentation has an effect and appeals to many than just holding the coin in a gloved hand or plastic encapsulation device. If you love to enjoy the in display cases in this way, then stick with it and enjoy it.

It's cool by me who you choose to read and get your replies from. You can choose to believe anyone you want, that and who you decide to believe is your prerogative, I don't mind that, but don't take our word for it alone, you can also read up on conservation issues yourself and find the same and even in greater depth of study with related findings.

From me you are hearing mostly about the acidic effects of wood on papers (primarily neutral pH type papers used in documents, fine art and currency) left in long-term, closed atmosphere storage scenarios. I have Interned with Curators and Conservators of print/drawing collections in museums and have learned of the dangers to avoid as well as how to handle delicate works of art on paper. As well how to store/protect them for longevity and to identify early on what types of storage lead to irreversible damage. In general that's my angle and it has helped to inform my understanding of and interests in collecting coins & currency. I enjoy sharing what I can with the forum, take it or leave it. I will say that part of my personal philosophy is to share of myself, my perspective and since I will not own these coins for ever, I will care for them now so that others who come after me will have something I could leave behind in proper care. Thanks for reading.

 

I agree the gold is much safer, less reactive, if at all, in such cases.

 

Thanks Krispy, very informative. I do think I know you well enough that you deal primarily with facts and what you post is accurate information or you don't post.

After saying that take this for its importance, my wife loves them (actually so do I).

 

I guess that's just a humorous comment about not telling your wife, but as you know from me now, I'd pass that info on to others about the potential effects of the cases on the coins. Some here wonder why a dealer wouldn't tell their customers about PVC when using them... why not share the idea that the case while beautiful and decidedly a part of your collection may not be the best for the collection.

 

Oh good. I know you do like them. I just want to share that stuff. Thanks for the note. :smile