Coin Albums/holders..damaging quality?

It surprises me that Whitman is still in the business of albums after dumbing down their line so drastically and not offering slip cases for protection. The price difference is not all that much for a better album.

 

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You just have to stay very aware of the coins environment, just the right amount of humidity and keep a close eye on them. Gel packs and canisters can help a bit with these, but they have to be monitored and dried out on a regular basis.

 

I recently started collecting again and I had a safe that I didn’t open for about a yr and a half and the staples on my 2x2 were rusted out same with my steel cents. Know how to prevent this?

 

Seems like albums are on the way out and mylars are in.

 

Completely wipe down/sanitize the entire inside of the safe and make sure it is completely dry, then try using the silica gel canisters. They are rechargeable by drying them out and reusing them. This will help but you must monitor the condition of these canisters on a regular basis. But nothing is guaranteed.

 

Great information on the questions posted. Yes I do keep all my items in a dark dry and cool area in my house and do use gel packs to draw moisture away from them. Especially here in Florida where the humidity is the worst. You're right nothing is going to be perfect but I do look over many of my items that are on display in my albums to to make sure there are no issues. Thanks again.

 

I just got a Froven Sieg folder from Norway for 10 ores and just like Whitman some slots will pop out. The Bertrand folders from New Zealand are great.

 

Do you have any links to companies that sell these? I could not pull anything up on the internet. Wondering what their full line of folders is. Thanks. Tom

 

I got the Sieg folder off a Norway coin auction website QXL.no. For the Bertrand folders eBay.

 

This thread is very confusing and contradicts a lot of the information provided by other reputable resources. I recently began to build a high-end collection of Peace Dollars, Franklin Halves, Washington Quarters, Kennedy Halves, and multiple other sets. I have completed most of the albums and those left are only missing a few coins. All of the coins I have acquired are in BU/MS condition.

With that said – before I purchased the coin albums I watched a video on YouTube produced by Coin Week, a reputable publisher of hobby information. In the video they were talking about coin storage and mentioned that many high-end dealers/collectors use coin albums to store their collections. One such person that was provided as an example was the founder of Stack Bowers (I believe that is the name of his company). The video went on to provide various reasons why this form of storage was one of the better options.

Now that I have read this thread I am second guessing that information. From the information you all have provided, if I understand it correctly, I am screwed no matter what (yay). This has prompted a few questions:


1. Is there no album that could be recommended for long-term storage of quality coins? Albums, even the many of the more expensive ones I could find online, are incredibly cost-effective (much more so than all other options).


2. I understand the Sulphur in the cardboard, glue on the backing, and vinyl/PVC on the album covers can destroy coins (according to one of the posts contained in this thread). How could Whitman, the Littleton Coin Company, and a sleuth of others all claim they have “archival safe” albums if that isn’t the case? I mean… that just doesn’t make sense, these are reputable companies that have been around for ages. The same poster goes on to recommend air-tight capsules. I have seen a lot of testimony from others in the community that storing coins in air-tight capsules for a long period of time can be very damaging. Everything is made in China these days and I question anything I receive from China that says “archival quality” even if it features the name of a reputable company. I feel more comfortable with the idea of storing my coins for a long-period of time in a non-PVC coin flip or a coin album than I would a plastic capsule for this reason.

I am a young collector who is considering this as much of an investment as an enjoyable way to pass time. I want to hold on to the coins I have for decades before selling some of them off to help provide extra cash later in my life. I would rather find out how to store my coins correctly now and be certain that the information I am “running with” is correct so I do not look back with regret down the road. Any help would be much appreciated.


Jordan

 

"Archival" is used as a relative term, not an absolute.

 

Whose are you now using? There is no "best". Some are better at some things, others at others. My best advice is buy the best coins you can afford and keep a watchful eye on how they're doing. Be ready to change direction as new products evolve.

Almost ALL the experienced collectors I know put their best pieces in plastic capsules, at least the ones not in TPG slabs. It may help you to know that the American Numismatic Association keeps its 1913 Liberty nickel AND its 1804 silver dollar in Kointain (brand name) coin capsules.

 

I am using Whitman Albums now. Good advice, I guess I will just pull them out and check every so often. Too bad there isn't an "early-warning" guide on things to look for. I imagine that you likely don't know a problem is occurring until it is visibly too late (with maybe the exception being toning (if you consider that a problem at all)).