Storage/Organization Question: Coins in original government packaging.

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Ricardo Vales, Jul 29, 2021.

  1. Ricardo Vales

    Ricardo Vales Member

    I have a storage question about all those coins that come in the original government packaging . I was able to solve the issue for the proof and mint sets. Since they sell boxes for those, but how about the small jewel cases like the ones that the proof and uncirculated commemorative dollars or American silver eagles come in? What do most collectors do to organize all those boxes that hold the jewel cases? They take up plenty of room and they need to be stacked, so when trying to search through them it is a pain. I know some people just get them slabbed and sell the OGP and COA, but I like to keep my coins in the original packaging. I would like to know what you the reader uses? Do they sell a box for them or do most collectors use the proof and mint boxes?
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2021
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  3. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

  4. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    Nahh . Just Kidding. Hello and Welcome .
     
  5. Ricardo Vales

    Ricardo Vales Member

    Hello and thank you.
     
  6. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    It takes a lot of room to store all the packaging. I separate the coins from all the packaging. Don't want the coins stored around it. All the packaging is put in large boxes and kept in a safe place. If the day comes to sell, I can put it all back together.
     
  7. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    keep the coins in your safe or SDB then put the junk in a desk in the basement or storage area.
    Include a note with the cons as to where the boxes are for future sale.
     
  8. Ricardo Vales

    Ricardo Vales Member

    That is my issue, I like to keep everything intact. So far we have two for separation of the coins from the packaging.
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2021
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  9. RogerC

    RogerC Well-Known Member

    Interesting question. Figure it out. Maybe there's an untapped market. Maybe something like a drawered box or cabinet having indented inserts that fit the various sizes. I'm too old to be inventing new things. Mine are in boxes and brief cases.
     
  10. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Ricardo, I was a collector of mint products in original mint packaging for 40 years, before I quit collecting US coins. Back in the beginning I didn't know what I know now, of course, hardly anybody else did either. Nobody gave any thought at all to the packaging being a problem, being harmful to the coins. But, they were always asking things like - why are my coins doing this ?, why is this going on ? I don't like all this toning how do I stop it ?

    Well, the simple fact of the matter is mint packaging IS harmful to coins. All that cardboard and paper, it's laced with sulfur and other harmful chemicals like inks and color agents. And those things cause toning, sometimes very ugly toning.

    That leaves you with 2 choices, you can leave everything in the original packaging and store it as you please; or you can remove the coins from the original packaging and place them in inert hard plastic coin holders and then store them properly.

    And, original packaging includes the hard plastic holders the mint uses for the annual sets - yes, the coins need to be removed from those too. The round hard plastic holders the mint uses for individual coins, (the clear ones), those are fine. But the coins have to be taken out of the boxes they are shipped in, including the velvet boxes.

    The idea is to not have anything except inert materials stored anywhere near your coins !

    What you want to know is how to organize everything once you remove them from them from all the original packaging. You have a few variable choices, but only a few. There are a few companies who make albums out of inert materials that will hold the Air-Tite type holders, or the slab type holders. And those are about the only choices there are if you wish practical organization for the Air-Tite type holders. If you use the slab type holders, there are slab boxes made of inert materials that the slabs can kept in. And then proper storage methods are required for any/all of those choices.

    That's about it, there simply isn't anything else. Assuming of course that you wish to minimize toning/corrosion as much as possible.
     
  11. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    Welcome to CT. Great question.
     
  12. Jim Dale

    Jim Dale Well-Known Member

    I'm not as smart as the previous author. I have bought many USM products and I have kept them intact because I don't know of any other way to store the the coins if I take them out of the box. Are there any books or publications that could help me find a "safe" way to store my coins? I didn't start collecting coins until 2008. How long can the Mint purchases be kept in the original packages before damage can occur?
    I bought some cardboard boxes that are for storing magazines, and I have stored my coins in them. Can the cardboard boxes be damaging as well?
    A lot of questions and few answers. We need to get a chemist on board to teach us the best way to store our collections.
     
  13. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    I have been collecting since 1948. My first mint product was 1959 Proof Set. I have never heard about the dangers of damage from mint packaging. That doesn't mean it it is false, it just means that I haven't tuned in to it. Now I am thinking about changes. I will follow this thread and take advice. Here are some photos of one of my heavy storage cabinets.
    IMG_5820.JPG IMG_5821.JPG IMG_5822.JPG IMG_5823.JPG
     
  14. Jim Dale

    Jim Dale Well-Known Member

    Wow! And I thought I had a lot of boxes. I like your storage method. Do you have a lock on them. I know they make file cabinets that are fireproof and lockable. I wonder how much they would cost.
     
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  15. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    This one is fire resistant and lockable. My wife got it for me used from a store that was closing. It has 7 drawers and was originally for index cards or something like that. It, also, was not expensive as it was being discarded. However, I'm sure it was very expensive new. Check some used office furniture stores or stores that are closing.
     
  16. Jim Dale

    Jim Dale Well-Known Member

    We have one of those stores in town that sells used building supplies and other surplus items. It's connected to that outfit that builds houses for low income people. And, thanks for the information.
     
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  17. Mac McDonald

    Mac McDonald Well-Known Member

    Does this include in (inside) it...? Maybe I'm misunderstanding you...help me to understand your thoughts with this...storing coins in close proximity to the OGP, etc. Is there any issue with harming the coins, or...? Thanks.
     
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  18. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    There are no books on the subject that I'm aware of, but over the years there have been many articles written about in the various coin magazines and coin related websites. And I'd guess there have been hundreds of threads and posts about it here on CT. Just do a search using "proper storage" as your key words and you'll find more than you care to read. And pretty much every one of them will say the same things I said in this thread. And that includes numerous posts made by various chemists who are members of CT.

    Nobody likes it, but it's all true.

    There is no short and sweet answer because there are simply too many variables. For some you might start seeing things you don't like in a few months, with others it might take years. But toning is inevitable - all coins tone. Toning cannot be stopped, the best you can do is slow it down.

    Yes, it is absolutely harmful. As I said above -

    All cardboard and paper products are laced with sulfur, it's used when they make the stuff. The only exceptions are archival quality products, and those are few and far between. And no, the US Mint does not use archival quality paper and cardboard - and they never have.

    I would also add that many collectors intentionally buy old coin albums, with every single one of them made with cardboard and paper, because they are famous, or infamous depending on your perspective, for causing toning.
     
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  19. expat

    expat Remember you are unique, just like everyone else Supporter

    I have 1989 Purple pack mint proof set in the hard plastic case. The coins are all as exampled below. I guess it is too late for anything to be done now. Or is it?
    How would one remove them from the sealed case?
    20210707_193759 (2).jpg 20210707_193814 (2).jpg 20210707_193934 (2).jpg 20210707_194009 (2).jpg 20210707_194033 (2).jpg 20210707_194046 (2).jpg
     
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  20. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    If the holder is harming the coins then I photograph and/or scan the original packaging, break out the coins, neutralize them, and store them in inert holders or submit them for grading. If the holder is not harming the coins, or if it is developing pleasing toning then I store them in the holder.
     
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  21. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    What do you mean "neutralize"?
     
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