How do you store RAW coins?

Hi, I have serious problems with my coin album. After an year of coin storing it looks like PVC damage on most of my coins appeared. In my country there is no grading company and posting fee to US is high. I would like to ask how do you store your RAW coins. I hope this is understable, I'm not good in english language.

 

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I would make sure your coin holders are all PVC free. Personally, I use PVC free flips and store them in boxes, but in the past I used PVC free flips and stored them in PVC free plastic pages in binders.

Coins in no way need to be slabbed in order to keep them safe. They simply need to be kept away from PVC, from damaging chemicals, preferably in a shaded environment, (heat accelerates reactions and can sun fade anything). Cardboard holders have been used for decades as well, and are ok if the plastic film is PVC free. I find the cardboard, though, provides a ready source for coins to tone over time though.

 

I like airtites.

 

I like Kointains.

 

I use 2x2 pvc free flips

 

i use all of the above..

 

Another way to help would be to either purchase or acquire some desiccant to combat humidity. (These are the little silicone packages you find packed in almost everything.) They will help keep moisture away from your coins. But yes, I would agree, definitely make sure nothing you're storing coins in has PVC in it...

For bulk inexpensive coins, I use plastic tubes.

 

Any coin I have that MIGHT be worth something eventually goes into an air-tite (for the better ones) or a kointain. They are stored in a safe with a desiccant container which gets recharged in the oven about every three months.

 

i use paper envelopes.

 

Just dont get sucked in to any of these BS products. You need a dessicant. You need something to reduce airflow. Thats about all you can do. If someone says they have some miracle product that does X Y and Z, run away.

 

? Which BS products? Are you saying with a dessicant and reduced airflow you can use PVC? I would doubt that. Is dissecant and reduced airflow good? To an extent, but they are not the only concerns in storing coins. Heat and PVC can cause a lot more damage than humidity and airflow can sir IMHO.

 

I bought this at coin shop in my city. Coin dealer said its PVC free, but I think it isn't. This is definitely bad holder. For me its not easy to say what holder is PVC free or not. I have some AirTites like product from the same dealer, but I'm not sure it's PVC free. Is it any undestructive method to test if holder is PVC free?

 

Telltale signs that it has PVC is its soft and pliable, and smells like a shower curtain. From your photo sir I am 98% sure that flip contains PVC. Search around for a better dealer. Non-PVC flips will be brittle and hard. If you bend them back and forth a few times they will break, that is why many dealers use PVC flips, since they will not break with customers handling them. The buyers should always remove the coins from these flips when they get home.

Take your affected coins and soak in acetone. That should remove PVC contamination.

 

I think you meant to say NON PVC flips will be brittle and hard.

To OP, if the brand of holder is airtite, than no PVC in the product. I like these better than the non-PVC flips, but that doesn't mean it's better.

 

Yes, you are correct. Sorry and I corrected.

 

No worries. Since OP is from another country, just wanted to clarify for him.

 

i am still trying to figure out how you got that it is ok to use PVC from my post. he specifically said he had PVC damage.

so i guess for medoraman, i need to specify my post this way "because the OP said he had damage from PVC, obviously, DONT USE PVC products, then, use an airtite similar product (again, with no PVC) to reduce airflow, followed up with a dessicant to reduce moisture"....cool? now make sure to unruffle your panties.

 

What is with the attitude? Out of the blue your post said "don't get sucked into buying any of these BS products" on a thread discussing PVC free flips, airtights, and Kointain. You did not reference WHICH products to which you referring. I, (honestly enough I thought), did not know WHICH products you thought were BS, airtights, Kointain, PVC free, or what the OP was buying. I was attempting to clarify for the OP, especially since he is from another country.

 

That looks like a PVC based holder. Definitely not safe for long-term storage. Follow what medoraman said, the best way to remove PVC residue is to use acetone. Hopefully, the coins are not too badly damaged.

In my opinion, the best, first-level protection is airtite brand holders. Beyond that you should use more layers to protection for coins, the more layers you have between your coin and air, the better. Personally, for the stuff I really care about I use quite a few layers:

airtite>ziplock with desiccant pack and sacrificial copper>Tupperware. With some of my coins I'll use TWO ziplocks.

For proofs and stuff I really care about:

1) airtite
2) airtite in a 2x2 (so I can label it and keep it in the pocket page)
3) pocket pages
4) ziplock with desiccant pack and sacrificial copper
5) another ziplock
6) tupperware