Coin collectors are a group of hobbyists that can range from the amateur to the expert. You might wonder which type of coin collector you are, and that is a good question, as it will often determine how serious you are about the venture. Perhaps you’re an investor who also likes the thrill of collecting, or maybe you’re a collector who is fascinated by the history of each minted coin but could care less about the money involved. Whichever of the coin collectors you are, there is the undebatable benefit to guaranteeing that your coins are protected.
It is for this reason that most collectors try to better understand the various methods and means in which coins can be safely displayed and stored. We are going to discuss this topic today, providing you with an overview of how to store your coins, what displays work best dependent on how serious you are and just why it’s important to take the time to provide your coins with some protection.
Keeping Track of Your Valuables
Before you begin storing your coins away, whether in folders, deposit boxes, or safes, you want to make sure you have a record of what is in your possession, along with your bills of purchase and sale and more. Although this might seem unnecessary, there is a benefit to keeping track of what you have in your possession.
Not only will this allow for easier conversations with other coin collectors, it will allow you to double check the condition and location of your coins, ensuring that they have not degraded or been misplaced. If any discrepancies were to ever come up, you would have a record on hand to access, making it easier for you to understand how your coins have been aging, as well as how your coin collections are accruing.
Coin Storage Devices Are a Must
Just like above, before you begin developing your collections, you’ll want to ensure that you have the necessary supplies required to take care of your coins. One of the first items you will require is a storage device, most of which include the usual coin albums or folders.
Coin collectors tend to gravitate toward these devices, as they provide them with a private way to store their collections safely, where they can be protected from the environment. Consider this: If you’ve been collecting various mints of the American Golden Eagle in all denominations, would you want to have them just lying out on your dresser? Furthermore, would you be okay with leaving them inside a cigar box?
By having a container specifically designed for their protection, you’ll be to sleep soundly knowing that your coins are more secure than they would be otherwise. With just this simple step, you can increase their longevity while reducing the likelihood of them being damaged by natural wear caused by human handling and environmental factors.
Understanding the Safest Spot for Your Coins
When coin collectors are searching for a spot within their home to store their coins, there are a few factors they’ll want to consider: sun exposure, humidity, chance for interaction with oils and greases, and general safety. Sun exposure is a significant factor that tends to go overlooked. When coins and most all objects come into interaction with sunlight, they are hit by ultraviolet rays.
These ultraviolet rays bring radiation with them, which will cause damage to the outside of the object it comes in contact with, whether that is human skin, cotton, acrylic paints, or precious metals such as gold and silver. For this reason, it is imperative that you either store your coins in a place where they are safe from UV light or inside of a folder/device that reflects UV light, ensuring the coins are protected for the long term.
Humidity is another cause of common wear seen within coin collectors’ items. Materials such as metal and wood do not fare well when in contact with high amounts of humidity—think of how music stores with expensive acoustic guitars often have them stored in a closed, humidified room. Moisture can damage the layers of materials, by causing rust, warping, or physical degradation and fragility. Rely on a place in your home that is well-humidified or which doesn’t experience great changes in humidity throughout the year.
Although we don’t normally think of it, oils and greases are often detrimental to the surfaces of items. While they can be used to preserve some objects—think of countertops, wood, etc.—it is very dangerous for your coins. The oils and greases held on the human hand are transferred when coming into direct contact with the face of a coin, and these can cause serious damage, either smudging, scratching, or wearing away at their surface. When handling coins, it is best to have something between your hands and your collection.
Last of all, the primary way you’ll want to protect your coins is to ensure that they are safe from other beings. You wouldn’t want to have them out in the open where they could be easily touched by your children or guests; you wouldn’t want them placed somewhere your dog could easily snatch them off the counter; you wouldn’t want them in a visible area where a robber might make them one of the first things they steal. Devices like a floor safe, a locked filing cabinet, and a storage cabinet placed within your closet can allow you to safely secure your coins while still having them around your home.
The Softer the Better When Handling
As stated above, coin collectors’ hands are some of the most dangerous things to directly come in contact with their coins. The oils, greases, and texture of the hands can be detrimental to the quality and value of the coin. For this reason, it is a safe move for coin collectors to use a protective material to handle their coins.
The best option for use is a pair of clean cotton gloves. Cotton is especially appreciated for its non-abrasive properties, along with being moisture wicking, rather than spreading moisture to other surfaces. With a pair of clean cotton gloves, you’ll be able to safely handle your coins, moving them about your coin collection, as well as appreciating them for what they are.
Displays for the Public
Collecting coins can be a hobby that’s fun just for you, but there’s no doubt you’ll eventually want to show your coin collection off to some of your friends. In this case, it might be in your best interest to purchase a storage device that will allow you to show your coins off to others. These are some of the most common ones seen, along with their general uses:
Snaplock Holders
These little coin holders, often measuring two inches by two inches, are made to be corrosion preventative. They are often designed to have a gel spread throughout the inside of the material, which will help to offset any gases or humidity that might attempt to interact with the coin. With their protective outer layer, these coin holders allow for collectors to still show off their encased coins while keeping them safe.
Glass Encasing
If you have decided to rely on the above coin holders meant for singular coins, you might want to have them stored in another case to keep them especially safe and viewable. Further, you might have some coins that have been certified by a service like the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), which, upon verification and certification, will encase them in a vacuum-sealed plastic container.
If you have coins protected in either way, a glass case might be a good option for further storage. Although these can be bulky, this will provide you with another means of protection—a guarantee that your coins will be both seen and safe. These installments can become expensive, depending on the size, so consider seeing if any used cases are in your area.
Whitman Folders
One of the most common methods used by coin collectors to store and present their collections, Whitman folders have a classic look: the blue-cardboard pages with spaces for your coins, with each slot listing the specific mint, date, and series of the coin. While these are common, they are not the most practical. There are a few reasons for this, which include the cheap materials used to make the folders and their inability to protect the coins from the environment and you: oils transferred from your fingers to the coins, damaging their surface, or allowing them to interact with open air, humidity, or ultraviolet light. These folders are particularly fit for “common” coin collections: mass circulation coins that are collected—e.g., U.S. state quarters. If you have anything more valuable than this, consider using one of the other primary options.
Dansco Albums
While more expensive than the Whitman folders, Dansco albums are preferred among veteran coin collectors. The particular advantage of these albums is the ability for a collector to view both sides of their coins while ensuring their safety from the environment and physical interactions.
Whitman folders have shallow punctures that are made in the cardboard, where the coins must be pressed in with the thumb, and only the obverse or reverse side can be seen; the pages of a Dansco album are punched all the way through and allow for plastic sheets to be placed on either side of the whole. With the Dansco album, you can appreciate the entirety of your coin while also ensuring that it is protected from ultraviolet light, oils that are transported by human hands, and more.
Counting on the Bank
If you don’t have any concerns about storing your collections for other coin collectors to see, or you don’t feel comfortable having your coins stored within your home, you should know that storing them at the bank is an option. Similar to how local or regional banks will allow you to store your gold or silver bullion with them, you can decide to have your coins stored safely in a deposit box within the bank. The only downside some collectors see is that it doesn’t allow you to regularly interact with them as you would be able to inside of your home. But, if you have especially valuable coins, you might want to consider storing them in a place with heightened security.
In Storage, Use Silica Gel Packs
As mentioned earlier, moisture and humidity are a corrosive trap for your coins. The last thing you want to do is allow your coin collection to interact with the open air. If you’re storing your coin folders inside of a box, have your coins solely stored in a box, or have some of your collection stored in a glass case or a deposit box within a bank, you’ll want to consider purchasing some silica gel packs.
Acting like a dehumidifier, these little devices will help make sure your coins are protected from the elements, keeping away the corrosive properties that tend to come along with air within both homes and buildings. After coin collectors put in all of the work above, the last thing they want to have happen is for the environment to get an upper hand on them. By taking preemptive measures, you can protect your collection for years to come.
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