Silver melting

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Spider, Mar 26, 2005.

  1. Spider

    Spider ~

    i was wondering, in case of a fire. (btw i have my silver coins in a fire safe box) would my coins melt? (my dad said they would but i dont know if he was kidding with me)
     
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  3. OldDan

    OldDan 共和党

    At about the same time as most home safety boxs. :D
     
  4. Spider

    Spider ~

    so whats the point of a box anyways when it wont stop anything, btw its no ordinary box, its a fire proof tool box with fire proof material around it (like ceiling tile)
     
  5. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    With fire safes, they will keep the temperature inside the safe at or below 300 degrees as long as the temperature outside the safe does not exceed 1500 degrees. That's about the best that any of them can do.

    But in an average house fire the temperature can reach 3000 - 4000 degrees. So I think you can see what may happen. While the coins may not actually melt, they can easily be severely damaged. And not just by heat. There is also smoke damage & water damage to consider.

    I'm afraid there is not much you can do to protect coins from fire, but a fire safe will help. Insurance is your best option.
     
  6. Spider

    Spider ~

    that sucks, id lose my morgans, peace dollars, and a bunch on ASE and my franks, walking halves, silver kennedys and other silver
     
  7. Spider

    Spider ~

    should i distribute through out my house?
     
  8. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    No - I'd say you have done about the best you can do. You other option would be to keep the coins in a safety depsoit box at a bank. But there can be other considerations for doing that - like temperature and humidity. They can damage coins too.

    The reality of the situation is there is only so much one can do to protect their coins - nothing is foolproof. Your only other option, as I stated, is insurance.
     
  9. Cu101

    Cu101 Member

    If the fire is big enough and hot enough to melt your coins, and that is all your worried about, then you have some big problems.
     
  10. NOS

    NOS Former Coin Hoarder

    Okay I have long had contigency plans for this possible senario. Here's what you do: You keep the coins all close to eachother such as in a way that you can grab most in just an armful or two by the window and if you are awaken in the middle of the night or are at home when a fire starts you open the window and drop them all out. My bedroom is on the second story so the coins could very well be damaged by the fall but would be 50X better off than melting into oblivion. It does not guarantee 100% protection sinse you are not home 100% of the time but is better than just leaving them in a metal box even if you were home.
     
  11. OldDan

    OldDan 共和党

    Here is an idea for you Nos! There is this guy out here in a neighboring state that places all his coins in an old red coffee can and buries it in the back yard, right next to where his Rottie is tied up. Boy, he sure don't worry about it burrning up. :rolleyes:
     
  12. Spider

    Spider ~

    ya well id feed the dog and take the coins, lol just kidding :D
     
  13. Cu101

    Cu101 Member

    You can feed that dog all you want and he still will not be your friend.
     
  14. Spider

    Spider ~

    any dog will be ur friend for a treat
     
  15. ndgoflo

    ndgoflo Senior Member

    Dogs eat so fast that I'm starting to wonder if they even chew (I know mine don't. I think she is part snake!) You'ld have to take a butcher's shop with you to keep the dog at bay for as long as it would take to locate and dig the cache!!! In the meantime, the rightful owner has done snuck up behind you, shot you in the back, and buried you in the hole that you dug thinking that the coins were located there!! :eek:
     
  16. Metalman

    Metalman New Member

    Want to feed my Rotties a treat? where do you want the left overs sent?

    I will let you in on a little secret about Rotties they own everything they can see and then some, are very possessive and dont take kindly to bribes ,its just their nature.

    Rick
     
  17. cwtokenman

    cwtokenman Coin Hoarder

    Depending on the alloy, most steels will melt between 2000 and 2930 degrees F. Melting points for some coin related metals (deg. F) - brass 1650-1830, silver 1760, gold 1945, copper 1975.

    Most of the high temps will of course normally be at the ceiling. The floor temp will be substantially less, possibly a thousand degrees or more. Some of the highest temps in a fire accompany glowing coals, so if the structure fails (collapses), and coals/burning debris accumulate around the safe, there may not be much left to salvage.
     
  18. NOS

    NOS Former Coin Hoarder

    That is quite interesting. What CWtokenman says makes 100% sense and I didn't think most house fires got up to 4000 degrees(and still don't).
     
  19. cwtokenman

    cwtokenman Coin Hoarder

    Eons ago, I used to sell fire alarms. If I were to go with what I remember from the sales training, I would have said 3000 degrees. But, the number could just as easily been 4000. Sounds like a topic that a little bit of research on the web would yield an answer.
     
  20. NOS

    NOS Former Coin Hoarder

    I agree 100%.
     
  21. Cu101

    Cu101 Member

    Chances are you have to worry more about water damage from the fire dept., than you would get from the fire itself.
     
    Dougmeister likes this.
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