I hope this isn't a dumb question but here it is. When storing a slabs (pcgs, ngc, etc), what kind of environment would affect the outside of the slab (frosting over)? I know light would be bad, but would a humid cool cellar be unsafe for the outside portion of the slab? What about a shop that tends to be a bit warm in a Texas August? Thanks
The drier the climate the better. Humidity is no ones friend. Heat neither. "Keep in a cool dry place" are wise words to adhere to.
Put them into a zip lock bag, squeeze all possible air out and zip it. They should be fine then. You can get zip lock bags large enough to get a PCGS/NGC type of storage box to fit and seal.
Thanks, I was wanting to put some ms69 eagles away for a long time (nephew's graduation/college fund in 18 years) and I wasn't sure what environment would be good to keep the slabs in like new conditions.
That's about the worse place you could ever put it. That's not much better. Since you apparently live in Texas I'm going to assume that you have A/C in your home. And assume that you try to keep the temperature in your home fairly constant during summer and winter. So your home is going to be the best place to keep the coin. But there are good places and bad places inside your home. The best choice for coin storage is an interior closet, one that does not have any walls in common with the exterior, meaning outside. But there is more to it than that. You also need a container, preferably a safe, a good one not the Sentry safes you commonly see in stores (they are a bad idea). But if you don't have a safe and don't want to buy one, a good sized Tupperware container will do. You keep it sealed and keep your coins inside it, and store it in the closet. But you also have to fight humidity. The small Ziplock bags mentioned will help with that. But you also will need some silica gel packs like these - http://www.jpscorner.com/silica-gel-humidity-control.html - the 40 gram size will work well for you. You put it in the Tupperware container. But you have to check it and re-charge it as needed. That's about it.
Note that the OP is asking about taking best care of the outside of the slab (so that they stay looking like new) not necessarily the coin inside the slab.
Yeah, but that may well be because he thinks the coins are safe inside the slabs from outside influences. They aren't.
I don't know. I hope some of it will help me retire. Since he'll be my only nephew, for a while, I want him to have something of value when he is old enough. I have some slabbed eagles and some slabbed Morgans, and I hope to help raise him to be wise with any wealth that he will build upon.
I have an older house that doesn't remain constant year round. Would the silica work in an ammo can with a good seal instead of a Tupperware container? I have a safe but it's a bit small and has documents inside (deeds, insurance, truck titles). I want to get a bigger one but haven't worked a budget for it yet.
Choose something else, besides coins. Not much you can do then, safe deposit box with the coins inside Tupperware and silica gel pack may be your best option. No paper in the box though. Ammo can would be OK, AFTER it's cleaned properly. That means soap and water to get rid of dirt, and then wipe down (inside and out - but none on the seal) with a rag wet with actone, and not fingernail polish remover - acetone from the hardware store. And put nothing else in the ammo can but coins and the silica gel pack. Safe with documents is no good, you don't want any paper or cardboard products inside the container with the coins. No they are not. Unless stored properly even slabbed coins can turn in the slab.
you mentioned you bought ms69 eagles...specifically. and to help you retire. now, in your defense and before some of the more ruthless folk sink their teeth into you, may i ask why and how many? keep in mind he may have gotten them for melt. if thats the case, i believe silver to be a very good store of value. however, one would need a 4x4x4 cube of these slabbed 69ers to retire. but we didnt hear, or need to hear, any of his other investments. but GDJMSP is right, dont invest in coins as a retirement source. dont take this the wrong way, but buying 69s as an investment is the opposite of "the right way", and before you go sinking real money into it, you need to understand it much better. again, its not an insult. walking into any unknown arena, it is hard to do well unless you know the mechanics thoroughly, and more importantly, are PASSIONATE about it.
I have one West point, one San Fran, and one regular 2014. They're in a box in my closet along with my 2 GSAs and my dime and Seated collections (non-slabbed). I just want to put some away for a long period of time so my nephew to have them.
