Is it OK to store coins in a non heated non air conditionned basement?

Hi

I don't have a lot of room in my home. I was wondering if storing my coins in a non heated/non air conditioned basement is ok or will it accelerate stuff like toning?

Thanks

Pat

 

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Where in the country do you live?

The non-climate controlled area is undesirable, both because of the temperature and because of the humidity. If you live in a dry area, it's probably ok (heat is always bad, though). If you live in a humid area, I would absolutely not store them in a place like that.

If you get really lucky, you might get some attractive toning. Storing them in a warm, humid environment is far more likely, however, to produce ugly environmental damage.

 

I keep my Cents in a basement, and make sure I keep the humidity under 50%.

 

Don't have much to add to @physics-fan3.14's post.

Humidity is bad, especially if it's ever condensing humidity (where dew forms on surfaces). We get that in our unheated garage here at least a few times a year, like today -- a warm front comes through, and suddenly the dewpoint is higher than the temperature in the garage.

There's also the possibility that some of that "basement smell" is due to sulfur-containing compounds, which would be likely to cause toning.

 

You answered my question, I won't store them in my basement. I am in very hot and humid summer Atlanta Georgia USA.
I will move other stuff in the basement and keep my coins indoors.

Thxs

Pat

 

Very familiar with that environment - Charleston, SC here myself.

 

Depending on what you want to put down there, it might be worth adding some weather-sealing and putting in a dehumidifier. In addition to coins, I need to store electrical and mechanical gear, glass stuff, and paper (so very much paper); the only one of those that really tolerates humidity swings very well is the glass. Even that's a problem, though, because it's packed in cardboard boxes, and they don't hold up very well.

 

Well, what are you storing? If it’s bags or rolls of junk silver, I wouldn’t worry too much. Really just depends on what you have.

 

Basements tend to get damp and musty. It all depends on where you live but I would avoid them for coin storage.

 

worked out well for the Battle Creek Collection....

 

The atmosphere surrounding the coins is more important than temperature (within limits). Best atmosphere is none at all (vacuum) or an inert gas like argon or nitrogen ... not too feasible for most folks. Second best, is pure, dry air ... air free of water vapor, sulfur compounds, etc. Main generator of sulfur compounds around most coins is fiber ... paper, cloth, wood, cardboard, etc. Fiber may be good for your intestines, but it's not for your coins!

So, best semi-practical preservation is coins in plastic (no PVC!) and stored in a glass or plastic chamber with desiccant and minimal amounts of fiber in the chamber. Really won't make much difference if it's 50F or 90F. However, if there are unreacted contaminants (like PVC plasticizer) already on the coins, a higher temperature will accelerate the nasty reaction.

Happy New Year to All! May your first coin of 2019 be an unexpected cherry.

Cal