Whether you buy gold and silver coins as an investment or purchase a unique coin you’ve wanted in your collection for years, you must handle them properly to build and maintain the value of your collection.
Having coins with blemishes, contact marks and other worn features can reduce the value of your investment, sometimes significantly, especially if the coin is relatively rare. This fact is especially true for numismatic, proof and brilliant uncirculated sets.
Gold itself can be very fragile since it’s an extremely malleable metal, meaning that it’s really easy to tarnish or scratch a “pure” gold coin. This is one reason why gold coins like the American Gold Eagle have a copper alloy.
Regardless of the coin’s purity, it’s best to get in the habit of proper coin handling from the start.
Check out our latest knowledge center article – 6 Rules for Properly Handling your Precious Metal Coins – for more information on proper coin handling.
Besides handling, you also need to think about how you’re storing your coins. This is where your coins will be 99% of the time anyway.
PVC for example decomposes when reacting to heat and light. Hydrochloric acid is released in this reaction, which is a substance that will eventually eat away at the metal in your coins.
Plastic capsules and holders are good choices, as are coin albums and flip books.
More valuable coins can be put in air tights or a coin slab, which is a hard plastic case that’s usually reserved for coins certified by one of two grading services.
To learn more about proper coin handling and storage, including 6 rules for ensuring you minimize scratches, smudges and dings, we encourage you to check out the article linked above. And while you’re there, learn more about specific coins and investing in precious metals.
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