I am very new to currency collecting (just 1 month) and only own 6 notes. My three prize notes are a Gem Unc 1907 $10 Gold Certificate, a Choice Unc 1896 $1 Education, and an A.U. 55 1869 $1 Rainbow note. I also own a Choice Unc. 1899 $1 Black Eagle, a Gem Unc. 1899 $2 Dual Portal, and an 1859 Dix Note. All bought through eBay auctions. I bought these from some of the top (high volume) currency dealers on ebay. They were shipped to me in very heavy PVC Currency holders (a really nice and heavy holder). I found the supplier of these heavy PVC holders and bought a bunch. Lately I've been hearing some contraversy about PVC holders for currency, that is, they might damage currency notes over the long term. However some dealers think PVC holders are fine. What's the right answer? What would happen to my notes if I kept them in PVC for 5, 10, or 20 years? I've also read that Mylar D and Prolar are much better and more stable than PVC. However I can honestly say the PVC holders are much heavier and seem to provide better physical protection than the flimsy Mylar and Prolar holders I've seen. Does anyone know where I can buy the stiffest, thickest MylarD or Prolar currency holders? Why dont they make these as heavy or stiff as the PVC holders. Last question. When transferring notes from holder to holder ... is it taboo to touch the note with your fingers? (even if you wash and dry your hands?) ... Are you supposed to wear cotton gloves when handling notes? Is that what the pro's do? Could the oils etc on your skin (even after washing) leave a residue on the note that could degrade the note over time? Thank you for your time and advice. An excited new collector
For the notes you have I would send them off for grading... To avoid the natural oils in the skin, yes, I would wear gloves to handle the notes. Welcome BTW.. RickieB
I'm not entirely sure I've got all of this right, but I think it's the general idea: Mylar and its friends are actually rather hard plastics. The Mylar holders have to be thin, or else they'd be too stiff to get the note in and out. Adding PVC to the plastic makes it softer. That way, the holders can be made thicker while still being usable. Thus the PVC holders provide better physical protection during shipping, which is why dealers use them. But, PVC isn't the most stable thing in the world. So if you leave the note in a PVC holder for a long time, there's a potential that the PVC could leach out and damage the note chemically. Thus the non-PVC holders provide better environmental protection over the long term, which is why collectors are advised to use them. (Somebody correct me if I'm mangling this explanation too badly....)
Quite clear. Bottom line: When you get a banknote from someone (presumably a raw note, not a graded note in a holder), remove it from whatever it's been shipped in, and put it in an inert holder of known origin. Perhaps the concern about thick versus thin holders is one of what happens to the note next. I suspect many (including me) put the Mylar holder into pages in binders, so the Mylar holder is actually held in a second, stronger page. Yes, it will still flex some while you're flipping through the pages, but it's not a bad setup, IMO. I was a stamp collector for years, so for historical reasons I use stamp tongs to handle banknotes to transfer them between holders. Dave
Thank you everyone ... all very useful info I'm not entirely sure I've got all of this right, but I think it's the general idea: I was especially interested to read this ... Mylar and its friends are actually rather hard plastics. The Mylar holders have to be thin, or else they'd be too stiff to get the note in and out. It makes me think the Mylar holders I bought were not Mylar at all (they were very flimsy) I bought them from TradeWindsSupplies.com and they were supposedly ... Supersafe Heavyweight Large Currency Sleeves Made from PVC Free DuPont Polyester Mylar But they came loose wrapped in tissue paper. God knows what they were! I wish the currency holder companies would all get on the same page with this. It's CRAZY to sell a holder that actually damages notes.
Maybe "hard" vs "soft" plastic isn't the best way to describe it over the internet... Mylar holders will be thin and certainly flexible, but the material is harder than pvc in the sense that if you jab one with a fingernail, the mylar holder doesn't give you a feeling it'll leave an indentation in it. I'm sure it's tough to get that description over the internet. I get my holders from Denly's - http://www.denlys.com/inventory/holders2.asp?category=Bank Note and Check Holders Dave
Hello, I recently bought Mylar Currency sleeves from The2Buds.com for a good price. These [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]sleeves are open on both short ends and has a fold-over flap on one of the long ends[/FONT]. Are they safe for storing the currency as they are open on both sides? The bills fit in nicely. But I am worried about the open sides. I have a 30days return option. Please check this link for the exact item I bought. http://www.the2buds.com/sumycurr.htm
PVC will damage both coins and paper currency. Paper stored in a holder made with PVC will have a waxy look to it. You can remove that wax like film but the note is already damaged. Unless you are going to treat your notes very, very roughly there is no reason to have them in inflexible holders. With normal handling I do not think you could make a fold in a note that is in a thin mylar holder. A person would have to try (work at it) to make fold in a note in a thin mylar holder. If you fold it over and step on the fold you would be successful in making a crease in the note if desired. I purchase my holders from The Sellitstore. It's my preference to get the large size holder for both large and small size notes. I have no problem handling notes after washing my hands and it's easier to insert or remove notes from the large size holders. A lot of collectors use the holders from The Sellitstore. I have no affiliation with them, I just use their holders.
Wait, so things like these: Will HURT currency? http://www.ebay.com/itm/370512451068?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1515wt_1374 They say: The PVC used contains no plasticizers or stearates. Our high impact grade PVC does not migrate and will not harm your Currency, while offering maximum protection and visual appeal. - Holds 6.5" x 3" Currency - Crystal clear with a slight blue/grey tint - Made of high impact rigid PVC
The sleeves that I bought are Mylar. But I was worried about the openings on the both smaller sides. Are these sleeves good for storing currency?
Dunno what to say on this one. The whole world of archivists says not to store paper in PVC... I wouldn't. Dave
Many dealers use these to ship notes. but I worry about the note slipping out the ends. Personally I prefer something that's sealed on the sides, just for that reason. Maybe use these and see if the notes move around or not, and if not, you're good to go. Dave
Dave, The notes are holding in tight. The sleeves are also rigid. I bought them because, they are Mylar sleeves. This is the description they gave for this item, "[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Sleeve is open on both short ends and has a fold-over flap on one of the long ends (this is the design preferred by the Library of Congress). The currency is completely covered, and the stiffness of the Mylar sleeve holds the item securely in place. Archival quality, no PVC, acid-free Sleeves are crystal clear (you won't find a clearer sleeve anywhere!) Manufactured in the USA from 3 mil Mylar/Polyester*" ------ Prince [/FONT]
