Paper Wrapped Rolls Corrosion

I have seen some uncirculated rolls of steel 1943 cents take a beating that were stored in paper rolls. These are highly susceptible to oxidation and the paper acts like a sponge to absorb humidity and harm the coins inside.

 

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I can attest to "bank-wrapped" cent rolls suffering corrosion. I just opened up about 20 or so rolls from the early 90's that were in the typical red and white String and Sons wrappers. Almost half of the coins showed signs of black spots or corrosion, and a number of them were very badly stuck together with the corrosion. Now, it must be said that the outer box they were stored in was also not in pristine condition, showing signs of improper storage (mainly heat and possible humidity, but no visible heavy water damage), but some rolls were fine inside, while others have the issues.

 

I would agree. I cannot think of a worst material for a coin tube, (though I am sure there are), than aluminum. You are just asking for severe corrosion.

If it helps, I did buy an old flashlight one time with some pieces of copper in it, (like electrical connectors). It was corroded so badly the copper was a pile of green goo sticking to the aluminum.

Not good.

 

Originally Posted by GDJMSP
What you are apparently unaware of is that when copper and aluminum are in contact with one another when moisture is present is that an inevitable electrochemical process occurs. This is what causes the copper coins to corrode.


Read more: http://www.cointalk.com/t222336-2/#ixzz2KccXF2Y7

Somewhat agree with both, but #1 The corrosion should occur on the more active metal (keepers on ship hulls) although it could spread and #2 In old battery operated devices the main problem is that the battery leaks acid on the surrounding parts indiscriminately.

 

Yes, I should have been clearer. It was from an old hardware store and the flashlight had never had batteries in it. I have myself had batteries go bad in flashlights. This though was just some copper pieces, (I believe fuse box couplers if I remember right), put into a new aluminum flashlight tube. You could tell it was not from battery acid leeching, just corrosion of metal to metal contact.

There is only one thing I have ever seen that is proven to never adversely affect coins in storage. Glass. I have seen different coins put away in glass jars, with the old glass lids. Those coins were about as pristine as I think anyone could ever hope. I was never able to buy them, but always wanted to. One canning jar I remember specifically in an auction about 1994. It contained about 4 rolls of WL halves from the mid 20's, still all BU. Beautiful coins still VERY white. I am sure they all ended up in slabs somewhere, but I doubt the slabs will protect them as well as that canning jar did.

 

IDEA. Slabs made from monster glass.

I thought of it first. PM for instructions on how to make out the royalty checks.

 

Since Rick is giving up his patent idea, how about this - an inert plastic (polyester) cointube with a silver wafer at the bottom connected to a zinc or aluminum sacrificial anode on the outside of the tube so that all the corrosion would occur to the metal on the outside. I really think it would work, but the market for such a thing would be pretty small.

 

I absolutely concur - controlling the humidity is the best means to long term preservation, no matter what the storage medium. I have a safety deposit box with nothing but PCGS slabs in it, and I go there every two weeks in the summer and four weeks in the winter to replace the silica gel desiccant packs. In my basement, where I have coins of lesser value and my man-cave where I play with the coins, I have a large dehumidifier (with a drain hose to the sink) running down there 24/7...

 

Makes you wonder what the S mint ATB quarter rolls will look like in a few years. TC

 

I’m thinking about cracking mine open and storing them in tubes, as I’m waiting for a decent individual coin price before I’m selling and I’d like to cherrypick the higher grades..

 

Hamlet - Act 5, Scene 1

GRAVEDIGGERWhy, sir, his hide is so tanned with his trade that he will keep out water a great while, and your water is a sore decayer of your ***** dead body. (indicates a skull) Here’s a skull now. This skull has lain in the earth three-and-twenty years.

 

Now that was a cool experiment! Thanks for sharing it Doug.

The key to his storage was keeping everything dry. The aluminum simply provided an additional barrier from the wrapper and air. Aluminum has a galvanic potential that would favor it, in other words, it would receive the brunt of the corrosion should it occur galvanically. Was the foil brittle on the old rolls?

 

Yes, I have opened many corroded OBW rolls. I blame the keepers more than the paper. It's important to store paper rolls VERY well protected from air.