Whitman Folder Coin Damage

Weighing in on the Whitman folder question--- I just got out my old coins and opened this newer Whitman folder. I have four, the other three are older ones, and for some reason the pennies in those are all fine. But in this one there's corrosion on the edges of about a third of them. I should probably add I live near the ocean. It's a drag. I like to have them in folders, love trying to fill them up. I wish someone made folders that you can depend on not to damage coins.

 

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That is common when it comes to Whitman folders. The coins will start to turn black.

 

Yeah... Sadly that is the case with Whitman folders. I had a Mercury dime book that I started in the 1970's and finished twenty years later. Put it on the shelf and looked at it years later to find many of my coins were now tarnished black. That was one of the things that brought me here to Coin Talk in fact. There is sulfur in cardboard and it is that sulfur combined with the adhesives they use to build those books that attacks our coins over time. Sadly, it is not a reversible problem either. Only redeeming thing is that most of the coins in your 75 and up book should be replaceable at a reasonable cost. Sorry you hard to learn that one the hard way.

 

The older Whitman folders were not as much a problem as some of the newer ones. There was a process change sometime in the past. I have a set of IHC's that are in a folder with Copyright 1940. They are in the same condition as they were when I started putting them in in the 40's. My Canadian Small Cents were spoiled by the folder which was Copyright 1950. The difference, as I see it, was the gluing process. The older folders (CC1940) had the glue put on the cardboard that has the holes for the coins. Someone probably got a product improvement award for the change to putting the glue on the paper backing - process improvement. But, now there is dried glue left exposed to the coin. Thence, discoloring. I think they changed it back later - but I am not sure.

 

Either buy the rechargeable desicant packs or move inland. ~ Chris

 

lol calling realtor...

 

You say you live near the ocean, and all of these appear to be Zincolns. I don't know if I would be blaming the folder.

 

Also keep in mind that the coins you've pictured are copper-coated zinc cents, and those are a lot more corrosion-prone than the older bronze cents.

Hah, scooped by @Conder101, not for the first time.

Everything else being equal, coins in any folder will fare more poorly near the shore, where there's more humidity and (shudder) salt, and Zincolns will fare more poorly in any folder or environment than real copper cents. When a Zincoln goes to the beach, you might as well assume it's a one-way trip, and that the stay will be short and unpleasant.

 

Love it.

 

I have a collection of Canada small cents. I started putting them in a Whitman in the 40's. Here is a photo of the 1937 as an example. The obverse is positioned down so the date can be facing the viewer. As you can see there is a little damage to the date side and the other side is black. They have been removed and being prepped for different storage.

 

I dug out my IHC's that are in the Whitman folder. I will be finding another folder for sure. But, this folder was assembled differently and didn't damage the coins so much.

My wife thought I should leave it as is since I have had it so many years and been patching in with cellophane tape. I think I will upgrade it.

 

Perhaps this needs a new thread & if so please advise:
Has anyone written on the safety of the Dansco coin books. I have a 'budding' Wheat Cent collection and have been adding bits & pieces periodically. Seem that
so far (15 yrs) the plastic on both sides of each coin has kept the toning to a minimum.
If other CT members have had long term experience w/ these, it would be helpful to add their opinions/experiences.
Thanks,
J.T.

 

Turned black?

eBay listing: "GORGEOUS ALBUM TONING!!!!"

 

LOL..... Yeah I do own some fugly Mercs due to that old folder. More lovingly referred to as “terminal”.

 

I have several Lincoln sets in Dansco albums. Over many years the RB coins have turned Brown and the Red coins are now RB. Coins that were cleaned have toned along the rims with funky colors.

At some point I pulled out the valuable early ones and sent them to PCGS. Everything brown, straight graded. Many of the RB coins did not grade.

I learned to never put red copper in an album.

 

Thank Larry,
I was afraid of this but have not invested a great deal into the earlier dates.
(Presently @ the 1930's w/ 90% of the collection Red) I do have a few early 1940's that might grade in the 66-67 range (condition rarity?) but you never know and I still enjoy taking the album out periodically and perusing the collection.
Regards,
J.T./h.g.

 

Now let's not get carried away! Keep it real @GDJMSP