Airtite sizing, Smaller or larger is better when fitting inbetween sizes ?

So as the title suggests I need some help sizing for airtites I want to fit my rare 16.5 silvers but unsure whether to go with 16mm or 17mm artities inc foam inserts.

This would also be good to know with other inbetween sized coins that I need to buy airtites for as well.

Help as always is appreciated.

Regards
Odd

 

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I've never used AirTites but I believe the intent was to leave NO wiggle room.
16mm MEANS 16mm for a 16mm coin.
They were designed with the thought in mind that a coin would not slide around inside.
(Movement inside a holder is a good way of turning an MS coin into an AU coin.)
Therefore with your 16.5mm coin you need a 17mm AirTite with an appropriately sized foam insert.
BUT an 0.5mm foam insert probably can't be made.
Go with something like a 20mm AirTite (or larger); you should be able to correctly size an insert for it.

 

If only AirTites came in fractional sizes. I have experienced this identical problem many times with these capsules and I often err towards the smaller size because the larger size sometimes won't properly hold the coin, allowing it to rattle. It does depend on the coin, but I have more than once tucked a 20.5mm coin in to a 20mm AitTite. Usually it works fine. Dealing with an x.7 becomes even more annoying, so thankfully you only have a x.5.

 

You can cut a mylar flip into stips the same thickness as the foat insert, then put them in between the edge of the airtite and the foam - like a shim. This will push the foam in a little bit to grab the coin.
Being clear plastic, you won't notice it at the edge. Just add as many around as needed to do the job.

 

If you are using the direct fit, you need to use the next size up.
If you are using the foam fit, you would want the exact size or next one lower.

 

If your coins are truly 16.5mm, then that is the same size as the US $5 Gold Eagle bullion. A16 direct fit capsules are meant for that particular coin.

If you have a B&M dealer in your area that sells them, you should have no problem taking one of your coins to him to make sure they would fit properly.


edit:
I should answer your question, also. The suggested size for 16.5mm coins for air-tite foams from suppliers that I have used has been the 16mm size. So, I would suggest using the more snug fit. As well, as Kanga pointed out, coins rattling/sliding is not a good thing. Then again, you're only looking at a 2% size difference either way, so I'm not sure how much "slide" you would get. Perhaps a trial and error would do good by testing one of your coins in both a 16mm and a 17mm to see which one you prefer.

 

Just To Be Clear: The only difference between the 16mm and 17mm foam-ring airtite is the inner diameter of the foam ring.

They both use the same Model "A" capsule. (Same capsule for coins 10mm - 19mm.)

For a 16.5mm coin, the AirTite Size Guide recommends the 16mm ring.
(Yes, the foam is compressible.) Probably best for most folks.

Then why would I get the 17mm ring? Rather than snug-and-difficult-to-remove, I prefer a slightly loose fit for small coins.

And if necessary, it's easy to add a foam shim:

The above shows my 1853 dime (17.9mm) in a 19mm ring with a shim at 12:00 o'clock.

 

Understand what you are saying, but I don't agree.

If you put a 16.5mm coin in a 16mm ring it compresses the foam trivially.

If you put a 16.5mm coin in a 17mm ring, the coin will rub its rim on the capsule.

Sure you can shim it to hold it rigid in the larger ring, but it's just as easy to remove the coin even when it is held snugly.

 

I would use the 16mm ring for a 16.5mm coin. You don't want the coin moving around. No need for shims with this size coin.

 

Definitely 16mm. The foam rings have plenty of stretch to them. If you use 17mm, the coin will rattle around in the capsule.

All of my raw coins are in Air-Tites, so I've dealt with this issue many times.

 

Air-Tite also makes a 16mm for the larger "H" capsules as well.

Except for crowns, I keep all my raw coins in "H" capsules for storage uniformity. For smaller coins, that sometimes requires double ringing. For example, a ring sized for "A" capsules will fit perfectly inside an H-26 ring. A ring for "T" capsules fits inside an H-30 ring.

 

Thanks for all the great feedback guys, always appreciated.
GD, You arent wrong.....I have some stuck silvers that I have to somehow get out of those direct fit capsules......though I am tempted to just leave them as is.

 

Thanks for that tip, much appreciated.