Best place to store your coins ??

I use ammo cans to store coins, in a non-humidified room. It's best to store coins in a dry environment so the metal doesn't have any serious reactions with their surroundings. Also keep in mind to regulate temperature. If you live in a really hot climate, best keep air conditioning running as frequently as possible. There is no set parameter, but any temperature we all feel comfortable in at home is also good for coins.

And do not store anything in basements. They can be very moist, and often times can be warmer and cooler than your main floor. And personally, I've discovered my basement to be a home of many pests. Any crack or opening in a box, they can get into. If any bug were to mass produce where my coins are, boy that would be a whole other problem to deal with

Generally your bedroom is a good idea, but how you do this is up to you!

Edit: Definitely okay to use any ziplocs meant for food storage. I have all my coins stored in ziplocs, and then I put the ziplocs in my ammo containers. Loose outside of bags might be dangerous.

 

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Agree, but with some extra steps. Use ziplock bags, they make huge ones that can hold an entire binder/album. Inside that bag I put desiccant and a harshly cleaned copper cent (sacrificial metal). Then put the ziplock bags into tupperware.

Air is the enemy, the more layers you have between your coins and the outside air, the better!

 

I don't like those "slab-type" holders, they don't seal good enough and they're expensive. IMO, airtites are the best thing you buy when you consider bang-for-the-buck. I buy them in bulk (100 ct) and, as I recall, they're like 22 cents each.

If you have common circulated coins to store, by far the best option is the polyethylene coin tubes. I like the square tubes, they are easier to organize. I can fit 52 Lincolns in one of these tubes. Then I tape around the cap with black tape to really seal it. I store my tubes in ziplocks with desiccant and a cleaned copper cent. Then, finally, those go into tupperware-type containers.

IMO, this will protect those coins for 100+ years.

 

I've purachased a few Tupperware type container and have put all my slabbed coins in those with a desiccant in each container .. So now I need to start working on the circulated coins, I've stuck a desiccant in and around each of the folders holding my cardboard flips until I can get them into something better. I believe as a few have suggested , I'm going to order the round airtites as they are a lot cheaper than the slab type holders. It's going to be a bit of a job getting all my coins in proper holders , but will be worth it in the long run.
I appreciate all the help , thanks everyone.

 

Keep in mind, that's the first place hit in a burglary. I know from experience. Living in a low-crime area is not enough.

I'm thinking maybe a hallway linen closet, or even entryway coat closet, might be a better option.

 

The volume of coins I have will outweigh theft. Just a single one of my ammo cans weighs more than the average person, not to mention I don't just have 1. That would be impossible to carry out of the house if the thief is alone or with only 1 other person. You'd also likely be spotted by a neighbor attempting to lug all of this weight out of the house, especially if it requires more than 1 trip back and forth. The likelihood of a thief being a huge body builder is very low. lol

Another tactic would be, always leave a vehicle on the property if possible. If the burglar thinks someone is always home, they probably won't attempt to break in. As well as not telling anyone in real life that you collect coins. I do live in a neighborhood where burglaries happen weekly, sometimes every 2 weeks on a slow period.
And a vehicle theft will regularly happen in the area. (something else in our favor, we don't own fancy vehicles, nor is the house fancy either)

These aren't 100% sure to prevent burglary but they can cut your chances.

I've also heard of some burglaries being the result of the owner telling people they love to collect coins (or other things).

Last year I actually saw someone walk into a local coin shop, saying his house was broken into, everything stolen. Collectible guns totaling $100,000, coins totaling more, etc. And the guy was a total loud mouth, probably told everyone he knew that he was big on collecting things. Not long before this happened, the guy invited a bunch of people to his house, to some party. I am almost certain word of mouth was what caused this particular incident.

I realize burglars do enter not knowing a thing about the owner or their possessions. But taking preventative measures helps.
You can also create "lure tactics" if someone does enter your house. For example, put some zinc bars in a mock-up safe right on your bedroom wall. They think they just found a bunch of silver, and they'll likely not spend much more time in the house.

 

A retired veteran living in a retirement type condo was the victim of a burglary - homicide in Tacoma, Washington a few years ago. Police believed he was specifically targeted for his coin collection, which he was very fond of, and boasted of regularly. For a long time I didn't tell anyone I collect coins but over time I've become less "shy" about it. However, I always add that my collection is worthless. Hopefully anyone who hears me say I collect worthless coins won't break into my house for them.

 

I have to ask...what's the point of collecting coins you never get to see, except when you peel back the 42 layers of protection every 100 years to see if your system worked?

 

Crikey. My $20 DANSCO album filled with circulated, pulled from change, Lincoln Memorial cents (P, D, 1959 to date), would cost me $72 in airtites, probably another $5 to $10 dollars in boxes to store them (or equivalent pages to put into a big binder without each hole labeled, unless I wasted spent time and money to label them myself). I guess it's a matter of where you want to spend your money and time along with how you intend to enjoy your coins.

I opt for the Dansco. Collect your own collection!

 

That isn't worth it for my collection. For example, I have many coins that value 10-20 cents each. Some worth even less.

And I have somewhere in the realm of 70,000 to 80,000 coins. Ziplocs is the best way. lol

 

Inside closets are not the best places to hide coins. Go deep in your attic or basement to hide coins. And don't put all your eggs in one basket.

 

As previously mentioned in this thread, and in others, from what I understand, attics and basements are the worst places since they are subject to wide changes in temperature and humidity, as well as the easiest access for critters and animals.

 

I have a rather large collection, they are but a fraction. Those are coins I don't need to see all the time. Do you really need to ogle over rolls of BU Lincolns, wheats and such? LOL

 

I'm much more worried about burglars than I am moisture or spiders. Half of my coins are in a SDB at the bank. The rest are well hidden and not in my closet.
I've known people who have had thousands of dollars in coins stolen in short order.

 

Don't need to but I sure do enjoy ogling them!

 

It's also fun to "ogle". Ogle ogle ogle.

Wonder if that is where Google came from...Go Ogle?

 

Take really good photos of your expensive coins to look at and enjoy. Then put them in a safe deposit box in a local bank. The pictures can be stored anywhere.

 

A general guideline is that any place that has a relatively constant environment and is comfortable for humans will be okay for coins in terms of temperature and humidity. Bank vaults work well.

 

That's the challenge with coin storage — finding a balance between protection and accessibility.

That said, as someone else suggested, if you have some extremely valuable coins, spare no effort in protecting them from both atmospheric elements and the criminal element. And if that means they're difficult for you to get to, be content with looking at photos of them.