Coin Preservation for copper coins

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by EatYourWheatPennies, Apr 25, 2018.

  1. EatYourWheatPennies

    EatYourWheatPennies Active Member

    Got this wheat penny that has a red or dark red tint and I don't want the coin to loose it and turn to brown what should I do to stop this?
     
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  3. Dougmeister

    Dougmeister Well-Known Member

    Wait for the experts, but I think you make sure it's free of contaminants (acetone soak?) then put it in an air-tite or similar protective case.

    If it's worth something, maybe consider sending it to a TPG.

    What year/mint mark is it? Post some pics.
     
  4. EatYourWheatPennies

    EatYourWheatPennies Active Member

    I will, would a 2X2 work or not?
     
  5. EatYourWheatPennies

    EatYourWheatPennies Active Member

  6. EatYourWheatPennies

    EatYourWheatPennies Active Member

    it's not really special I just want to keep it nice, like the red too.
     
  7. Prez2

    Prez2 Well-Known Member

    Last time I tried to stop a coin from looking like it was going to look, I turned it bright yellow. It was a decent half cent that now looks like gold instead of brown. Maybe I could ebay it as 'gold half cent'?
     
  8. Oldhoopster

    Oldhoopster Member of the ANA since 1982

    The 2x2 should work fine. If you live in a humid environment, you probably want to keep some silica gel or desiccant where you store your coins

    It looks like you may have used tape to seal the 2x2. I'm not a big fan of tape. I've seen coins slip below the window and then it's a hassle to get them back in place. Plus there is a chance that the adhesive in the tape can react with the coin. Use staples and crimp them so the back doesn't stick up (start pulling 2x2's out of coin boxes and you'll see how the raised back of staples can easily scratch other coins in the box..
     
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  9. EatYourWheatPennies

    EatYourWheatPennies Active Member

  10. Beefer518

    Beefer518 Well-Known Member

    I know this could be considered blasphemy, but didn't the old-timers shellac (or something) their coins back in the day to keep them from changing color?
     
  11. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    First, read this - https://www.cointalk.com/threads/coin-albums-holders-damaging-quality.314189/page-2#post-3046107

    Now that post in particular is talking about albums, but if you read it you'll see where I say that cardboard is bad for coins - that means ALL cardboard, not just albums. And 2x2s are made of cardboard.

    So, if you really want to protect that coin from toning to the best of your ability, the first thing you need to do is get it out of that 2x2 and into a proper coin holder - a hard plastic coin holder, like an Air-Tite for example. Then you have to also store it properly, which I also discuss in that post.

    And do not use acetone on copper coins as that in and of itself is a risky thing to do.
     
  12. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Yes, some did. But what you have to understand is the reason why they did. It's quite simple really, it was to keep the #1 enemy of coins - air - from getting to the coins, and because copper is our most reactive coinage metal. Which means it is extremely prone to toning, more so by far than other metals.

    Back then, the storage methods we have today were unknown and didn't even exist. Collectors knew that air was the enemy, so did the only thing they could think of to keep air from getting to their copper coins - they coated them with shellac and or varnishes.

    Today we know that is bad because coating coins with anything makes them ungradeable, makes them problem coins.

    People have to understand - toning on any coin can never be stopped because there is no such thing as an airtight coin holder. The very best you can do is to slow it down as much as possible. And you do that with proper storage.
     
  13. coinsareus10

    coinsareus10 Well-Known Member

    Has anyone tried using a vacuum bag after using Air-Tite?
     
  14. calcol

    calcol Supporter! Supporter

    A vacuum bag will not maintain a vacuum indefinitely and would need to be pumped out periodically. Keeping coins in an inert atmosphere would be more reliable than a vacuum because there is no pressure differential to worry about. Cheapest inert gas for this purpose would be nitrogen. Even with an inert gas, if the container is plastic, it should be flushed periodically because of oxygen diffusion through the wall.

    Cal
     
  15. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Yes, several have. It helps to a limited degree but only a limited degree. That is because all plastic is air permeable. And for those who don't understand what that means - it means that air goes right the face of the plastic. Plastic is not airtight in other words.
     
  16. EatYourWheatPennies

    EatYourWheatPennies Active Member

    It says in there that the archival safe is fine. The ones that I am using say that they are archival safe or is it still bad for them?
     
  17. EatYourWheatPennies

    EatYourWheatPennies Active Member

    Also I read about the Whitman coin folders. Amazons reviews are really good.... how could it have good reviews if it wreaks the coins that you put in them?
     
  18. calcol

    calcol Supporter! Supporter

    First, not all reviews on Amazon are objective. Some are written by sellers or their employees or their friends or ... I remember just after a book that I co-wrote was published; the publisher sent emails to all the authors encouraging us and our friends and families to write good reviews on Amazon.

    Second, garbage is sold on Amazon. You can buy a one terabyte flash drive on Amazon Prime for $20. Has 2.5 stars out of five with 200 reviews. It will say its capacity is one terabyte when you stick in your computer, but you'll be lucky to put 10 gigabytes on it. I once bought an Amazon brand USB charger on Amazon that was a fake.

    Caveat emptor!

    Cal
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2018
  19. EatYourWheatPennies

    EatYourWheatPennies Active Member

  20. Sullysullinburg

    Sullysullinburg Well-Known Member

    Really the only sure fire way is to put it where there is basically no oxygen. Anything else will just be a bandaid solution. I vote you send it into space.
     
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  21. EatYourWheatPennies

    EatYourWheatPennies Active Member

    Yes.... Just think first wheat penny in space!:astronaut::astronaut::D
     
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