Hi all,
I have some $1 coins and I 'feel' like the lustre of the coins is decreasing more rapidly than what they should.
What is the *ideal* way of preserving the lustre of the coins?
What should they be stored in?
Where should they be stored?
What temperature/humidity should they be stored at? And how is the most practical way to do this?
I remember that the Mint used to (or still do?) put a protection on the coins in mint sets that would enhance the protection of a coin. Is this something that can be done?
Thanks!
One reason why these coins loose lustre is of the environment.
One would have to store ones coins in a temperature and humidity controlled environment at all time me thinks.
I am having the same problem that is why I am considering moving all my UNC collection into new albums that PPH sells and sealing each individual coin into SAFLAPS that PPH also sells.
Haven't made my final mind up yet by seriously considering the move.
I have already purchased some SAFLAPS and a heat sealing machine for trials.
This product/capsule is probably worth a try :-
They claim to create a safe micro climate. :angel:
http://www.onlinecoinsandcollectables.com.au/collections/coin-capsules-quadrum/products/new-protection-lighthouse-quadrum-intercept-square-coin-capsules-1-only
For silver coins it is sulfur in the atmosphere that causes toning, but for the aluminium-bronze alloy we make our $1 and $2 coins from, oxygen itself is the problem; the alloy is not long-term stable in air. If you wish the coins to keep their lustre, whatever you house them in has to be airtight. The little folders the NCLT $1 coins some in are nowhere near airtight. Stapled 2x2s can be almost as bad (especially for the rim) if the storage conditions are poor. A self-adhesive 2x2 does a reasonable job, even better if the 2x2 is then stored in a sealed box or container. A heat-sealed flip would be an even better option. The more expensive options (such as having the coin slabbed) also work quite well.
Moisture will probably accelerate any such toning reaction, but an airtight box ought to also be a moisture-tight box too. Keeping the humidity as low as possible always helps, as does keeping the coins at constant temperature. It is the up-and-down temperature cycle that causes condensation of moist air onto the coins and such a thin layer of water can greatly accelerate the toning process.
I have just rcvd 2 boxes of 2014 MOR coins I am yet to open these boxes, 1 will have 10 rolls the other 5, would it be best to just put these unopened boxes away, rather than open and handle the rolls?? the answer is probably as obvious as the nose on my face?
You should have been at the last MNS meting where I spoke for an hour about this. ;)
You need to exclude as much air as possible.
The cheapest way to do that is in sealed bank LDPE bags. They're free. Just use some acetone to remove the printing. Use a vacuum sealer if you have one, but if not, there won't be much air in the bag anyway... just try to do it when humidity is low.
And do the same with your rolls. Paper affords zero protection, and the edges of the coins WILL corrode. The corrosion then spreads onto the faces of the coins.
Sheets which you buy, regardless of the brand (unless they're dodgy PVC ones) are all made out of PP. Polypropylene offers no extra protection vs PolyEthylene. Its just stiffer and looks nicer is all.
And by the way, BoPET, which is sold under the brand name Mylar, is used in 2x2's, and is not impermeable to gasses. That's why its metallised in food packaging and helium balloons. Keep your chip packets and seal your 2x2's in them if you want to protect the contents. :dodgy:
Quote from: 'Coins from Vending' pid='55056' dateline='1405833290'I have just rcvd 2 boxes of 2014 MOR coins I am yet to open these boxes, 1 will have 10 rolls the other 5, would it be best to just put these unopened boxes away, rather than open and handle the rolls?? the answer is probably as obvious as the nose on my face?
Here y'go...
These are hand-built, but the same works for paper rolls, obviously.
http://www.australian-coins.net/showthread.php?tid=1515
Quote from: 'Fordprefect' pid='55047' dateline='1405825401'This product/capsule is probably worth a try :-
I looked into that and it actual looks very good. So much so that I brought a bunch of all sizes for the coins that I would like to protect, but don't want to send away for slabbing. I must tell you - they are very good.
The coin fits very snugly in the capsule and there is only a very small amount of air in it to start with. Not only that it really brings out the 'shine' in the coins. I was a bit disappointed with the current results of how I was storing them, but once I put them in the capsule I was actually taken back on how nice they look. Perhaps the pages of the album I was using was not as clear as it was when I put them in - I'm not sure. But they look heaps better.
I will certainly move everything over to these if I think they are worth storing for the long term. Thanks for showing them to me.
Another good thing is that I found a dealer on eBay who is selling them $9.95 for 6 - so they are only about $1.50 each. If a coin isn't worth spending $1.50 on to protect then it's probably not worth looking after it all that much anyway.