I've noticed that several of my silver eagles have started to tarnish. Do I need to store these in some type of air type container for maximum value? If so can anyone give me a link or example of what I need to get. What about gold? Thank you.
Most here would recommend AirTite holders, such as these: http://www.air-tites.com/ You can buy them from a number of online collecting supply stores, and buying in bulk will help to reduce your overhead. However, don't be deceived by the name - these holders are NOT air-tight. Even with bullion, you should still take care to make sure your storage conditions aren't going to be hurting your coins - a number of factors with your air could be causing the tarnish - too much humidity, pollutants in the air, smoke, etc. If you do a search of these boards for storing coins, a number of posts go into detail on how best to minimize those risks. Good luck!
Do be careful, however, spending significant amounts of money worrying about "tarnish". A vast majority of ASEs and AGEs will carry little to no numismatic premium over their bullion value, and indeed, what premiums might exist will dwindle even more as PM prices increase. So, unless there's physical damage occurring, it is at least worth a bit of investigation into mintages, desirability, condition, etc, before spending untoward amounts of money protecting a premium value that isn't there.
But if PMs decrease, that premium will increase I know from my dealings with bullion stacker/collector type folks, the "BU" ASE/AGE will get a [slight] premium, but those with contact marks, haze, etc will get much nearer spot and even under. And in a market where the premium is easily $5/oz over spot right now, it makes sense to protect that premium - otherwise you might as well just get the cheapest generics you can find.
I ain't sayin' don't protect the premiums...just saying do some research before spending large amounts of money doing so.
Hmm, looked at that site and wonder just how many people spend money for slab holders? Perhaps if someone beats their slabs around alot but for the most part I would not buy those.. Having said that, there are a few items there I actually could use...
A slab box is useful for that if you have a lot of slabs. They sell those there too. However I think that individual slab holders might be a bit of overkill.
They help a lot, but all silver tones over time. If you see an older silver coin that is bright white, you can be fairly certain that it has been cleaned.
Toning really shouldn't impact the value much, not as much as marks on the coin. Some people prefer toning, but I don't. All my bullion is either in a snap tight case, sealed plastic, or unsealed plastic. The unsealed plastic (and some of the others) are in zipped bags with as much air pushed out as possible. I also keep everything locked up with a large bag of silica beads, and I've heard of people making their own bags for relatively cheap. I always just hold on to mine from other items. P.S. Never clean a coin unless you have thoroughly researched it. Even proper removal of toning could reveal imperfections.
^This, and buy a few fresh rounds and leave them unprotected. Unprotected fresh silver will tarnish first and protect the other coins. Another thought would be to just leave them out and sell them on Ebay as "beautifully toned ASE's". Turn lemons into lemonade. Chris
I'm sure silica is the right thing to use in an inclosed space. Humidity is the reason for the toning. For other more reactive metals, storage presents more of a problem, such as the elements lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caestium, and francium. They are best stored immersed in non-reactive oil.
Dang, so storing APE's, (american potassium eagles), should be done in oil? Sorry Owle, couldn't resist.
