Coin Preservation for copper coins

There are some 2x2s that are made of archival materials. But when they are it very specifically states - made of archival quality materials.

The reason I'm trying to differentiate this is because album makers, 2x2 makers, basically anyone who makes and sells coin storage items, they are all well aware of the issue. So in their ads the might things like "safe for coins", or "keep your coins", or "safely store your coins" - statements along those lines. But none of that means they are actually made of archival quality (inert) materials. And in some cases, maybe parts of an album, like the pages, are of archival quality, but the other parts of the album, like the outer folder covers, are not. Or the outer covers are and the pages are not. But when it comes to being archival quality it's all or nothing. It either is or it isn't - there is no in between or almost.

Coin albums are one of the most, if not THE most, popular storage methods there is. Lots and lots of collectors absolutely love them. So of course they write good reviews about them - and they buy 'em like hotcakes.

The thing is a lot of these folks haven't go a clue if the albums, 2x2s, folders, etc etc are good for their coins or not. All they know is they like the way they look, they like the presentation effect. They like being able to pick up an album that looks all fancy and stuff with embossed letters on the cover, leatherette covers, pretty colors, and share it with their friends. Or they just like the way they look for themselves. But ya see that's just it - they care more about how it looks, and how easy it is to use - than they do about whether or not it actually protects their coins !

Other folks like various storage methods, like 2x2s or flips, because they are cheap - they don't cost much. For those folks the price is the most important thing - not whether it's good for your coins or not.

What I'm trying to tell you is everybody is different, everybody has different reasons, different priorities, for storing their coins the way they do. You can tell them a hundred times - that's bad for your coins - and they still won't listen. Or maybe they will listen but they still won't change. In simplest terms it's the old adage - you can lead a horse to water but you cannot force him to drink !