Silly or smart to store bullion in Air Tites?

I was storing some ATB coins in Air-Tites but just recently discovered they are tarnishing anyway. Is there a better way? I have them in airtites, inside a plastic bag that came from the dealer, inside a cardboard box. What gives?

 

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Well having any coin in a cardboard box is bad. The cardboard emits fumes that are bad for coins. That could be why your coin is tarnished.


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I see, thank you for that!

 

I have a foodsaver, but to be honest I don't really want to put my stuff in bags. I just think it will be less fun to look at them. I want to maybe use a vacuum sealed container (solid), does anyone have any recommendations on that front? I would store my air-tites in the container with a gel desiccant and vacuum the air out. Then I think I'd be able to check things out regularly and simply reseal.

I'm annoyed that my coins have already started showing signs of tarnish, but I was not really storing them properly. Trying to figure a good way for my new purchases...

Thanks!

 

Make sure you're using silica gel packs & non pvc containers.


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Thank you, that's definitely helpful, but when you say "non-PVC containers" what specifically are you referring to? Airtite tubes? Some sort of inert plastic airtight box? Vacuum sealed food storage canisters? this is where I am struggling...

 

Soft vinyl 2x2 flips contain PVC. Flips that smell like a new shower curtain most likely contain PVC. Hard plastic, lucite, inert plastic, plastic tubes, hard Mylar 2x2 flips, plastic capsules such as Guardhouse and Airtite, Capital, and food containers do not contain PVC.

Also, Mylar flips may not say Mylar. Mylar is a brand name for the material polyethylene terephthalate which is safe.

 

Thank you. I am so concentrated on preserving numismatic value for these particular coins, probably because my first round are basically now at melt value. I think it was because I failed to keep the airtites in a sealed environment with a silica gel pack. I'll note make that mistake again.

Any other advice? My new plan is to remove the capsule from the plastic bag, place in a vacuum sealed container with silica. If this doesn't do the trick I don't know what will. I keep them in a corner of my house, which I suspect might be subject to temperature and humidity fluctuations, which may be contributing to the problem, but it's the best option I have for maintaining discreet location.

I've wavered between simple stacking (in which case I don't care much about tarnish) and numismatics. But numismatics seem to excite me more.

 

Heat and humidity will affect coins. As will moisture from concrete or block. And ultimately the most you can ever do is slow down the toning process. You can't stop it completely.

 

I want to slow it down as much as possible, as you can imagine. Are there any other apparent steps I can take (other than the ones I've already outline?)

 

The steps you outlined sound good. The cardboard you mentioned before may have been the problem.

 

Don't forget silica gel has to be changed. Or canisters have to be cooked out if your using those.

 

FWIW the reason I don't care for proof coins is because there is only one direction that perfection can go. And all that can be done is to slow it down. I'd rather just have toned coins from the start.