I just identified cowen brand sheets for holding 2x2 mounts, i took the mounts out and threw the sheets away; should i toss the mounts oo and rinse the coins in water then remount them or no? the cowen brand said made in u.s.a too which i found odd that they used pvc. any ideas or answers to how to restore these coins before spotting occurs would be greatly appreciated... or are those coins doomed?
I'm thinking most all of the older sheets made for holding 2x2s had PVC. The new ones probably still do. The 2x2 should have kept the coin from actual contact with any PVC. I don't see any need to reholder everything.
Sounds right, but my thought was that the pvc could have released its hydrochloric acid in the time the coins were in there and that vapor found a way into the mounts :desk:.
The actual PVC plastic is not the concern as much as the plasticizers that are used in making flexible vinyl products. Once the sheets become inflexible and even start to crack, the plasticizers have for practical purposes left the scene. If that is the case, I would check the coins through the 2x2 window and look for PVC damage. If the coin is worth more than a few $, I would probably change the 2x2 anyway myself, especially if copper coin. If no damage I would just transfer the 2x2. Realistically, collectors have probably used millions of those sheets, especially foreign coin collectors who have few album choices, with a low % of bad PVC problems,since external factors contribute , and the coins were in 2x2s. IMO. Jim
