My dad had coins stored in a small (1 cu ft) safe. He had not been in it for quite time. The safe has a musty smell and going through some of the items I noted mold? Spots mainly on some of the OGPackaging. I’m trying to figure the best way to remedy the situation and save the contents from getting ruined or halt spread of the mold. I do have the metal silica packs to put in after the problem is solved. What is best way to go about this? Remove all items from safe and air it out and clean insides? If so with what? Remove mold or noticeable spots from packaging like cardboard etc. if so what to use to clean or stop it? There are coins in Whitman folders sets, some in stapled 2x2, some proof and mint sets and some of the newer mint items in the blue boxes. I’m afraid to transfer any of these to lockbox because I have never had and issue there, and don’t want any of these coins to negatively impact things in lockbox. Ideally I would like to clean and air out the safe and air out or clean the items in there and return them to the safe with the silica packs and recharge them regularly. Anyone that has experience with solving this problem. I would greatly appreciate any advice.
As for the coins in 2x2s, you could get new 2x2s and transfer them. Just watch out for the staples. I use my finger nail to cut the plastic then fold the 2x2 in half so i can take the coin out by the edge. No worry about staples and scratches.
The coins in folders could be removed and put into new folders too. Hard to save paper with mold on it.
Humidity is a major problem with the small, inexpensive safes sold at discount, home improvement and office supply retailers. Best advice I can offer is to leave the safe open, and only close and lock it when you're away from your house.
