As long as you don't store guns in the same safe. It's also best that the safe is not lined with carpet.
The chemicals used to clean and maintain guns contaminate the atmosphere in the safe (if you can smell it, it's there). That is not good for coins.
A separate container w/ silica gel for moisture, sealed, and placed in maybe. Or another, smaller safe within that gun safe?
I have a very large gun safe, in which I store many guns. I also store many coins in that gun safe, and have done so for forty two years. I have no tarnish on my coins, no corrosive films... I do not get milk spots on my ASE's.... I have observed zero ill effects on my coins and the coins have had no effect on my firearms. This is fact.
If the safe is bought new and never had oily guns or anything else but coins, you should have no issues. +1
Like RickO, I have stored coins in my gun safe for at least 30 years with no issues. However, the few guns I actually have in it are also in cases, so that may be why. One thing I have seen in a friend's safe you shouldn't do is store bullets and coins together, unless you like yellow patina on everything.
This is a very interesting thread becasue I've been considering buying a gun safe to store both guns and coins in. I'd love to hear more details from those who DO store both guns and coins in their safes. Like in the case of those who have been doing this for many, many years, what are your safes like on the inside? Do they have capet or plastic of any sort on the inside (like plastic shelvling)? Do you use and clean yours guns often? And then on the other side, anyone who has had any bad experences with storing the two together.
I use gun safes, but guns go in one and coins only go in the others. Mine have the factory installed material, not plastic, a felt like material. I have used them for years with no issues noticeable.
Great topic! I have been contemplating using a gun safe as well, only for coins. Are than any brands of gun safe that you guys recommend?
I've bought all Winchester brand. 1200# empty, very large safes with the ability to arrange shelves as needed and they can be mounted to a wall or floor.
I have a Cannon. Never had a problem with it. Build my own shelf out of 3/4" wood because the one it comes with was not strong enough for heavy boxes of coins.
What some people said about vapors coming off the guns and affecting the coins makes perfect sense, but that doesn't seem to be what happens based on people's real world experenices. Anyone have any bad experiences? Coins turning odd colors or crud forming on the coins?
I bought the first of my gun safes about 25 years ago, and is my nature, I crammed everything that I could that had value in with the guns. I've not seen any ill effects to the coins, or anything else for that matter. I also have them in a gun room with a dehumidifier for that room only. Why do you say not to store with cartridges? (I think that is what you meant).
Just because one thing happens and not to another, does not mean it will not happen to someone else. Think about con albums for a minute, thousands upon thousands of coin collectors use coin albums. But the coins of some collectors develop beautiful toning while the coins of another do not, and while yet others develop downright ugly toning, and while yet others develop no toning at all. And yet they all used the same coin albums. Now the same thing is true of any coin storage method, every coin storage method. Different things are going to happen to different people. That is because of the almost infinite number of other variables involved. Bottom line, storing coins and guns in the same safe together is not a good idea. As a matter of fact it is not a good idea to store anything but inert materials in a safe with your coins. But there is never any guarantee of what will happen regardless of what storage method you use. The best thing you can do is not take chances, not expose your coins to possible risks. And any time there are non inert materials involved, risk absolutely exists. Doesn't mean it will happen, but it very well might ;-)
Didn't happen to me, but a friend that did this had much of his collection turn a nasty yellow color. I heard this was due to sulfur content found in ammunition. I keep mine in a separate location, just to be safe and because I don't really use my guns.
