Storing circulated coins

Here's a general question for the forum member experts:

What's your recommendation re long-term storage of circulated coins? Specifically duplicates that are not already in an archival-type album or slabbed. Just regular old garden-variety G to XF American copper, nickel or silver coins...

Soft plastic flips are good for short term, but they can cause PVC damage.

Hard plastic flips won't cause PVC damage, but can scratch a coin.

The PCGS grading book cautions that using cardboard holders (with a window) can damage a coins due to little flecks of cardboard caught between the clear window and the coin.

Plastic coin tubes can scratch up surfaces as the coins rub together flat to flat surfaces.

A cloth bag might be ok, except its a devil to find the one coin you want if you have to go through a whole bag of oddball coins.

Years ago, they used to use little paper envelopes sometimes. They often "toned" a coin: similar to the way the old Whitman folders used to on the reverses of the coins "pushed in" to the cardboard side of the folder.

What's your verdict? I've been out of coin collecting for many years, but really getting back into it now.

Houston_Ray

 

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I collect "dark side" coins by krause number so I put each one in a 2x2 regardless of condition. sounds a little extreme but, I'm an organization freak and it makes them a lot easier to look at if you put all the 2x2's in a mylar pages and then in notebooks.

 

Well Ray, PCGS is right, but there is a way to minimize the risk. Just stop by your nearest computer store and pick up a can of the compressed air they sell for keyboard cleaning.

Then just before placing your coin on one of the windows in a 2x2 give a short blast of air from an upright can at the mylar, close up the 2x2, staple it and clinch the staples.

 

What do you guys think of CoinEdge holders? I went and bought some last week, and they came last night. They are supposedly safe for long-term storage and are made out of archival plastic with no PVC.

 

Curious myself. I saw them (coinedge) advertized and they sure look nice. I bet the coins really look sharp in them.

Currently I store all my better grades and rarest coins in the ANACS style coinworld slabs. A bit expensive but the best possible protection and long term storage, and they stack well and look SUPER displayed. My lower grade and common stock goes into 2x2's then into mylar pages in a binder. My rolls are stored (wrapper and all) in square plastic tubes and then into storage boxes. In every drawer, box, carton, etc. I also place a packet of silica gel for extra protection.

If the coinedge holders are as good as they look, I might use them instead of the 2x2's. Let me know what you think Palindrome.

 

"Or you can look at it like this - when you bought the coin, if it was 50 cents more would you have said no ?", GD
Sums it up for me as well but better. Airtites all the way.

 

What you mean with (or what is) "dark side" coins ?

 

I think they mean "foreign" coins--non USA types---I think--

 

You all make some good points. With the cardboard specs though all I do is just whipe the flip with my shirt and it looks nice and clear.

 

NOS,

You sure get a lot of use from your shirts. What brand and fabric are they????

 

Just regular brands from regular stores I guess and most all are 100% cotton.

 

If you wipe your 2X2 with your fingers get ready for a nice finger print to show up on your coin..
After seeing fingerprints showing up on NICE coin and knowing I didn't place my fingers on them I've come to believe that if you use your finger to wipe the dust off the flip the flip takes your fingerprint and puts it on the coin...

Speedy

 

Nonono hehe. I was afraid of that kind of thing from the get go so I always use my shirt.

 

Thanks GDJMSP! One learn something new every day!

 

I've been collecting for amost 40 years. I've tried a lot of different ways of storing and organizing my collection. This is what seems to work for me:

1. I keep my primary collection in either slabs or albums. The slabs go in PGS or NGC boxes. Unfortunately their not compatible. I'm preferential to Intercept Shield albums but I have some Dansco and Whitmans. IS albums aren't perfect and they are a bit more expensive, but they do store in my safe. I really like the fact that they are square and not angled when closed.
2. Everything else goes into 2 x 2s with crimped staples. I don't like the long term effect of the glued 2 x 2s as glue will outgas as it cures. This could cause haze or artificial toning. I use compressed air to remove any cardboard from the mylar before mounting the coin. I have had no problems so far.

I've tried tubes, bags, flips and folders. The album and 2 x 2s work for me.

Hope this helps.

Jack

 

Welcome to the forum Jack

Well Jack, apparently you and I have been wasting money on compressed air for all these years.

 

Anyone know if those little apple brand plastic ziplocks bags do any damage to a coin?? Both long or short term storage......?

not sure what plastic they are made from.....

 

I was thinking that with those compressed air machines that they may not be powerful enough to get every bit of paper off of them. By whiping them I make them look very clear and nice.