Essays & Show Reviews Home
6/5/05
A Note on Storage
Over the years of my collecting, the question of storage
has come up many times. I can’t
think of a single collector that has not greatly considered, and reconsidered,
their storage techniques. There are
a lot of things to consider, and this is my amateur take on a few
subjects.
Environmental Safety (safety from outside factors that could adversely effect the condition of your coin)
There are countless ways to store a coin collection. These are just a few:
Air-Tite
As I have mentioned before, I recently converted most of my higher value coins to air-tite containers. I would highly recommend this to anyone who asks. They are a little more expensive than your 2x2 options, but as a friend of mine pointed out: if you’re going to spend 50 dollars or more on a coin, you shouldn’t have a problem spending 50 cents to keep it safe.
In my opinion, this method not only looks good, but it offers the best protection from rub wear and environmental reaction.
2x2 Cardboard Folds
Cardboard flips are probably the most common coin storing technique. I used them since day one, and still use them today. They slide into pages well, so you can store many coins in a single binder – which is a definite benefit for presentation, but a soft piece of clear plastic doesn’t offer a whole lot of protection from the environment. I use them for my lower value pieces – which represent the majority of my collection count.
The real danger in this technique is carelessness – particularly from the staples. Removing a coin from a cardboard fold can be hazardous, if you don’t pay attention.
2x2 Plastic Flips
Plastic flips sometimes contain PVC, and should be avoided by all collectors who don’t want to open their binder one day to find green ‘gunk’ building up on their coins, causing damage that will greatly affect the value of their coin. PVC deteriorates over time, and as it breaks down, it can cause irreversible damage to your coin. You’d be better off tossing your coins loose in a cigar box.
I used non-PVC plastic flips for a while. I thought they looked nice, and I could make my own identification card that could easily slide in the second pocket. But this technique allows for too much ‘slide room’ for the coin, and over time, this will cause rub wear on the coin, unless they are left alone and not handled too much. I don’t use this technique any longer, and I would not recommend it to others.
Tubes
I can only see these used by people who collect multiples of the same coin. I can’t see people using tubes for various dates, but I guess you could – though I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve never used these, but I’ve purchased a few.
Fire/Theft
Safety
In House Safes
Sooner or later, most collectors will eventually wonder how safe their coins are from theft or fire. Up until this year, I kept my collection either in binders on a shelf or in boxes in a desk. I finally purchased a safe for theft protection. Many safes can be cost prohibitive, but they can also be affordable and still manage for decent protection.
I’ve read some on the subject, but I don’t know enough to recommend any one over another. My safe, to my knowledge, does not protect from fire. Shop around and purchase whatever makes you sleep better at night.
Safety Deposit Box
A safety deposit box at your bank offers great protection, and many people use them. Personally, I don’t like to visit my coins, so that prompted me to purchase a safe for my home. They’re cheap, and my bank offers them free for ‘preferred customers’.