Hi, being a n0ob at coins I figured I'll ask some basic questions. I'm planning on getting a monster box in not to long. (Just waiting for some money to come in first.) I'm not much for playing with my money so I'm considering just leaving it untouched. Now, my experience with silver is that it'll eventually tarnish if left out in the air and I haven't seen any indication that the boxes are air tight. So, is it ok to just leave it in the box or should I try and come up with an air tight storage container?
I think buying 500 airtites might be a little extreme to protect standard bullion. Tarnish does not take away from their intrinsic value, which is really the only value standard bullion has.
What he is trying to tell you is that to 95% or more of the numismatic community, bullion coins will never, ever, be anything but chunks of bullion. So it doesn't matter if they tarnish or not. But if it matters to you, then get yourself a big Tupperware container, remove the cardboard box around the outside of the plastic box the coins came in, and put that inside the Tupperware container. Put some properly sized silica gel packs inside and change them or recharge them as necessary. Then store it in a cool, dark place where the temperature does not fluctuate. That's about the best you can do.
I've been doing the tub/gel thing for my 2011 ase set and while they are still in the ogp they seem to be holding up well. I check them and the gel every month or so.
This. Its about the best you can do. If you like, throw a few pieces of new silver on the outside of the container. If they start to tone it will tell you there is an issue you need to address, (plus gives you an excuse to buy a little more silver, always a good thing ).
You could send them to me for storage. LOL! Buying 500 air-tites is a lot of money which could be better spent for your collecting interests and a waste of money to store bullion in. Tarnish, patina, toning are different words for the same thing is a result of humidity and temperature changes reacting to the metal content of the coin and the materials it is in direct contact with. However they are stored the things you want to remain constant are temperature and humidity. If they are in direct contact with cardboard, any other acidic material or fabrics the coins will tarnish much quicker regardless of the environment they are kept in.
