Just had an interesting conversation, and it seems appropriate to start a thread like this to discuss it.
I was wanting some of those coin capsules the mint is sticking in their cards, so I looked up the tender documents, and rang the manufacturers in Cheltenham. Two things came out of the conversation.
1. They're not theirs to sell. The RAM owns the tooling and they just make them to order for them. So the options are a) Get the Mint to sell some, b) Source some out of China or wherever, or c) Replicate the tooling and get some made. C is ridiculously expensive, A is unlikely, so B might be the only option.
2. I had assumed they were Polypropylene, but they're not. They're actually Polystyrene! :(
This is a potential issue for several reasons:
• PS has a higher gas permeability than PP, though not as high as LDPE.
• PS has a much higher water vapour permeability
• PS is soluble in Acetone and many other chemicals
* PS is brittle and scratches easily
While PS won't damage your coins the way PVC will, it also won't protect them as well as other plastics. Particularly in hot, humid climates or in proximity to airborne contaminants. Remember my foam cushion and carpet disasters with LDPE?
I'm now thinking about the best way to deal with long-term storage of these things... maybe remove the capsules and store them in a PP or PET jar with Silica Gel and Oxygen absorbers? Or in BoPET (Mylar) bags maybe?
Oh, and just a reminder that the News Ltd capsules are only one sided. The Obverse is in contact with the cardboard.
I have known all this for years, the question is WHY would you be wanting to use mint packaging or similar for coins, that well for the only reason would be to produce or replicate mint products for re sale or something to cash in on
Quote from: 'Australian coin' pid='80893' dateline='1445404550'the question is WHY would you be wanting to use mint packaging
Because if the capsules were PP, they would be a good way to hold coins, as they would be functionally identical to Saflips without the need to seal them shut.
I have considered Polycarbonate capsules, but they're prohibitively expensive for all but the most valuable coins.
Now however, armed with the knowledge that they're PS I'll take appropriate steps to protect my carded coins from likely degradation.
QuotePS I'll take appropriate steps to protect my carded coins from likely degradation.
If you are totally serious about protecting the coin then remove it from that cardboard crap and heat seal them in saflips.
You can always keep the cardboard with the now safely protected coin to amuse those collectors that suffer from "Packkyboxitis" :):good:
Quote from: 'trout' pid='80898' dateline='1445414905'If you are totally serious about protecting the coin then remove it from that cardboard crap and heat seal them in saflips.
Yep. Works especially for the older Mylar MYO cards if the coins aren't already stuffed.
Won't work with coins like the News Ltd ones, as you'd have to destroy the cards. So PP sleeves are the go there.