Storing coins in Ammo boxes

Hey Ya'll

The other day at a yard sale I was so glad to find NICE Ammo boxes with the rubber seal around the rim for $3 each....these are almost new and nothing seems to be the matter with them....

My question...

If I place some coins in them should I put some silica-gel pack in with them...or since it has the rubber seal around the top would it be ok to go without?

Speedy

 

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I would throw in the silica just to be on the safe side. It won't hurt the situation!

 

I would also clean the ammo boxes VERY well, as the chemicals used for the
propellent in ammunition is corrosive. Even a minute amount of residue could be
disastrous.

 

Depends on what you're going to put in them. Remember that ammo boxes once contained ... AMMO. Gunpowder is corrosive. Make sure you've cleaned the box out really well before you use it. You might also want to make sure the paint isn't chipped. I'd hate to think what a piece of lead-based paint would do to a coin.

That being said, however, I've known a number of people who've used ammo boxes. Just don't put your 1933 double eagle, 1964D Peace dollar, or 1913 Liberty Head nickel in there.

 

Hey Guys!!

Thanks...the boxes are clean....
and I'll toss a pack of gel in just to be safe!

Speedy

 

If you didn't clean them yourself, and carefully inspect the paint for chips or breaks, I wouldn't trust them Spencer.

A wipedown with acetone wouldn't hurt either.

 

Yep Roy...I cleaned them my self...one each box there is about 1 place where the paint is chiping but I think most of the time it is on the out side...

All of the coins will be in rolls and hopefuly I will be selling them all this year.

Speedy

 

Well, I am personally a bit overly concerned about packaging, so I would think of a few things first. What residue is left in these? Nitrites? Sulphur? etc.etc. Second, is the paint or rubber gasket/glue giving off any fumes that could affect coins? I would not hesitate to store non-collector coins there, but I would think carefully about collector coins. For example, I have a wooden stereo cabinet and I stored a lot of new euro coins in the lower drawer – a lot seem to have toned. It is nice toning, but toning just the same. I think it is from chemical fumes in the wood or laminate.

Anyway, they are certainly waterproof and good for storing things to keep them safe but maybe not archivally so. Also, if it is airtight, then you are sealing in whatever humidity is in there when you close it. For that reason, silica gel would be good.

 

I will....lastnight my sister told me she had a few... she didn't think about telling me when I was hunting them

Speedy

 

I use wooden wiskey boxes with silica packs. I have had no trouble finding them at garage sales. They are large enough to handle both books and coin rolls.

 

Thanks Moen1305!

Speedy

 

I have new metal ammo boxes from Harbor Freight. I want to store rolled coins, in a humidity free location. Question: remove the rubber gasket, to avoid any damage from that compound?

 

I lot of wood, especially laminates and particle board, are infused with formaldehyde. That stuff will continue to out-gas for many years if not decades. Granted at very low levels, but it's there none the less. Interesting that it toned them. I'd like to see them. Why don't you start a thread with your toned coin and ask others to post photos of coins that developed toning while stored and tell about the conditions under which them were stored. Could be very interesting.

 

First, welcome to the neighborhood!

I'm not a chemist, but as long as the rubber gaskets do not come in direct contact with the surfaces of the coins, I don't think there would be a problem. Besides, the gaskets would be an extra layer of protection from environmental concerns.

Chris

 

Thanks for greeting and thoughts, Chris!

 

Welcome to the fun. Take a smell of the inside of the box. If you smell paint, I would wait to use them for coins. The ones Harbor Freight sell were made in China. God knows what type of paint was used.

 

Thank you, sir!

 

I have had the exact same experience. I have used US military surplus ammo cans to store ammo for many years and the brass is as shiny as they day they were made. I have never used any kind of silica packets in the boxes. I live in Oregon which is fairly humid.

I have never used ammo cans to store coins but I would think that they would protect the coins well as long as the cans were clean.

 

Just fyi, I have a couple ammo cans, and depending on the can that you have, you'll have to get some padding. PCGS and NGC slabs fit when stacked inside my 7.62 x 200 round can, but there's quite a bit of tolerance - enough to cause rattling when carrying it around. You'll be able to fit 3 columns, maybe 4. If you plan on storing unslabbed coins, then you'll have to plan accordingly to prevent too much rattling and damage from the metal wall.