So, I got my recently acquired coins in air-tites (I'll bring my old ones - kept in 2x2's or in velour trays - from home and do the same). Thanks to all the people that helped me with on-line stores ideas. Now I need to think about getting either an album or a box to keep them. My first option would be some sort of display box, but on the websites I've been browsing, they have them for slabs, for 2x2's, and for unprotected coins, but NOT for air-tites. All I could find was this album: http://www.valleycoin.com/index.php?cPath=300_561&osCsid=7e62d8a3feda8f2570f5716c67ffe1a5 However, I noticed that the album contains vinyl. Are the coins absolutely safe from PVC damage on the air-tites? Should I go ahead and buy this album? Also, if you have links to other albums or boxes, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
This is strictly an opinion, not fact, but this is how I would approach your question. Airtites are very good but I suspect not perfect. If the vinyl is soft (pliable), then PVC is most likely present.
Another thought that may or may not be fact is I beleive that the PVC material has to be touching the coin to damage it over time. So my thoughts are that the binder should be just fine holding the airtites.
If it is vinyl then PVC is present whether it is pliable or not, that is what vinyl IS Polyvinyl chloride PVC. Having said that I would think that the coins in airtites would be pretty safe. What causes "PVC" damage on coins is the plasticizer used to soften the PVC. The oliy plasticizer gets on the coins and then it absorbs the HCl that PVC plastic outgasses as it ages. It also absorbs water vapor from the air and the two combine to form Hydrochloric acid which the plasticizer then holds against to coins and it attacks the metal. To a lesser extent PVC outgassing can also react with water vapor in the air and cause some hazing on exposed coins. In either case the airtites will prevent plasticizer from getting on the coins and will also tend to keep outgassed HCl from getting to the coin.
