Coin collecting is a notable hobby – one that requires a keen eye and care for antique items. While coin collecting might attract a rare breed, due to the meticulous nature of the passion that drives this hobby, it is a task that is enriching beyond words. It is the idea of holding history within your hands, coins that have passed through the hands of the many who have come before us and to pass them on to those who will come.
To preserve your acquisitions for the time to come, you should consider following some coin collecting best practices. Even if you’ve been collecting for many years, there is a benefit to taking the time to reevaluate how your collection currently holds up. And if this is a whole new passion for you, consider taking a look at some of the beginner’s items you should acquire before learning just how they’ll help!
Stock Up on Coin Storage Devices
Before you even begin fastidiously searching for rare and valuable coins, you want to ensure that you have a perfect place to preserve them. Singular coin holders, albums or folders make it possible for you to protect and preserve your coins once they have been acquired. This will give you the option to appreciate your coins while they are protected from natural wear, taking care to keep their value secured while lowering the chances of damage.
Finding the Right Storage Location
Once you have secured your valuables within coin storage units, you’ll want to find a place that is right to physically place them. Your best option is to place your coin holders, albums or folders in the safest and most secure location you know. This means that they should be placed in an area that is secured by a locking mechanism—floor safe, storage cabinet—or an area in your home that features little foot traffic and is not notably visible.
Furthermore, it is in your best interest to store them in a controlled environment, somewhere that will not undergo extreme humidity conditions, receive large amounts of sunlight or come into contact with greases and oils that might be present in either a garage or kitchen.
A Deposit Box Might Be Right for You
If you’re unsure of whether you have the right type of storage within your home, it might be worth your time to store your valuable coins within a deposit box. While this might prove more costly than the one-time purchase of a home safe or storage cabinet, a deposit box is a notable way to guarantee that your collected possessions are protected.
Silica Gel Packs Go a Long Way
Moisture is a concern for any collector of antique items as it can lead to serious wear and tear over time, thus depreciating both the quality and the value of said item. If you are worried that your home, storage unit or deposit box might not be safe from unwanted humidity and moisture, you should place some silica gel packs inside your coin storage unit. Once you’ve spent enough time coin collecting, you don’t want your hard work to go to waste. Better to take precautions and protect your assets.
Relying on Soft Cotton
Even before handling your coins, you want to make sure that you have cotton gloves and cloths on hand. Cotton is the primary material you want to use when handling your coin collection because of its non-abrasive properties. While other materials will cause damage to your coins, cotton will allow you to easily handle them without the worry of creating wear on their surface.
Keeping a Record of Your Valuables
Lastly, it is important to keep track of just what you’ve found in your coin collecting adventures and what items you’ve decided to save and place in your coin storage. Not only will this allow you to keep an eye on what coins are in your possession, but you can mark their grade and quality upon first taking them into your possession. Moreover, you can keep a checklist to itemize what coins you are still searching for.
Coin collecting is a fulfilling hobby to immerse yourself in, but you want to make sure that you are prepared before you begin to get exceedingly serious about it. If you need any tips and tricks or have any questions for veteran hobbyists, feel free to reach out. We at Provident Metals are excited to see what you find along the way!
Judy Hartsfield says
Thank you for the information. I was wondering if there is a coin collecting software that you would recommend. Specifically, software to categorize a coin collection that also includes a place for the coin’s value in the software.
Sherry says
I take all my coins out of the individual holders and put them in coin tubes or squares. Is this ok or is it damaging the coins?