ok I read here that even airtites are not actually airtite so I thought I would ask the experts if placing a simple piece of scotch tape around the outside of the airtite would HELP or HURT , or should I just leave it alone . I ask because I want to place more then a few RAW coins in storage for long term (new presidential coins) and I want to keep them as nice as possible , I was going to place the airtites in tupperware and then place the tupperware inside safe and thats it leave em alone til who knows when... well what do you guys think , THank you
If Airtites are not air tight (and I suspect that's correct), then you DEFINITELY don't want to put tape or any adhesive around the edge. The glue most probably contains some nasty chemicals, so if air can get in, then so can those chemicals. Think of things that have had tape on them for a while. What did they look like when the tape was removed? Tupperware-type containers on the other hand are a good idea along with some silica gel packets. That's assuming that the container doesn't contain plasticizers (PVC.) Glass or hard plastics are better.
but none of these will protect the coin..............if it was contaminated before it was encapsulated. example, a fingerprint, if it were handled by someone clumsily. the print may not show up immediately but later, even if it is encapsulated.
A coin stored inside an airtite and stored in a low humidity environment is about as good as you can do. You can go to extreme measures to try to defeat Mother Nature, but you will lose in the very long run. It's easier to learn to appreciate a little toning on coins as they age. There are many reasons to collect coins - for the art, history, scarcity, condition, value, etc...; but perhaps the worst reason is because they are shiny.
i use a product called j-b weld to seal all of my air-tites . it can also be used on mylar and card board flips. j-b weld creates a zero gravity vacuum within it's seal and prevents any toning or etching from environmental contaminants. some master collectors j-b weld all of their pcgs, ngc, anacs, and sgs slabs to prevent/detect tampering. http://jbweld.net/products/index.php
Unless done in a perfect vacuum, wouldn't this still trap the humidity and air quality of that given day ? Does the J-B Weld pull the moisture from inside ? I am VERY familiar with J-B Weld, but I am ignorant of the chemical process in which it solidifies. Furthermore, does the fumes from the chemical reaction make it into the slab ? Do high-end epoxies work the same, or is there a pvc element to them ? Dang, now I have to go looking into all of the compounds in these things...lol
