Whether you are collecting for investment or for fun, coins need your care!
Whether your priority is presentation, prevention of damage, preservation of value, or all of these factors, there are ways to care for and protect your coin collection.
Firstly, minimise and avoid handling your coins! If you must handle your coins, it is important to hold them by the rim (the edge) rather than their face with soft woollen protective gloves. Secondly, do not clean your coins, as it may strip away germs and grime, but it may strip away the value as well. If you want to wash your coins, there are appropriate ways to approach this. Lastly, no matter the type of coin you collect, whether it is circulated, uncirculated, proof, made from precious metals, or antique, it should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry location.
To ensure the best storage and preservation of any or all of the United States coins in your collection for the long term, it is important to understand and follow essential guidelines.
First Things First with Coin Care
Firstly, minimising and avoiding the handling of your US coins will help preserve them better in the long term. No matter how clean you believe your hands to be, damaging skin oils can transfer to the coin’s surface and cause a corrosive reaction over time. If handling your coins is required, it is crucial to hold them by the rim (the edge) rather than their face. Investing in soft woollen protective gloves is also recommended to avoid transferring oils and fingerprints from your fingers to the coin. As mentioned above, even if you consider your hands to be clean, the transfer of germs, fingerprints, and oils is unavoidable, which is why it is best to avoid holding coins altogether, although it can be challenging.
Should You Clean Your Coins?
In addition, it is generally not recommended or ideal to clean any United States coins you collect, even if they appear dirty or show deep age colouration. There are numerous recipes available that aim to restore the clean sparkle of coins using substances like soda, baking soda, or other chemicals. However, using these methods can render the coin undesirable to most collectors, stripping away its value. Cleaning coins can erode and scratch their delicate surfaces, negatively impacting their value. All the grime, dirt, stains, and deep age colouration on the coins contribute to their natural charm and demonstrate that they have been in circulation and have aged, which can be appealing to collectors. Therefore, it is advised not to clean your coins. no matter how unclean. However, if you would rather keep your coins clean, coin dealers can offer advice on the most appropriate way(s) to approach and reach your desired outcome. Generally, warm water and a light, mild soap will clean coins successfully and most gently. Never scratch the surface of your coins by scrubbing them to give them a shiny polish; instead, pat wash them and pat dry them softly.
But How Should I Store My Coin Collection.
However, when it comes to storing your coin collection, there are several options depending on your wants, needs, and preferences. For example, loose coins can be stored in capsules, slabbed in containers, or slotted into the sleeves of a coin album. However, keep in mind that all three options involve plastic materials, so it is essential to avoid using plastics made from or containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC plastic reacts with coins and can damagingly discolour and negatively alter the appearance of coins over time. If you prefer storing your coins in a cardboard box, ensure that it is made of acid-free cardboard. Similar to PVC plastic, the corrosive acids in regular cardboard can eventually discolour and negatively impact the coin’s appearance, thereby reducing its value.
Storing United States coins in PVC-free folders can be an effective way to organise, display, and store your coins. However, it is important to take care to prevent the metal of one coin from impacting another coin when flipping the pages in the folder. Another drawback of using PVC-free folders is that the sleeve pockets are not sealed closed, allowing oxygen to come into contact with the coin surfaces over time. This can lead to a natural process called toning, which changes the colour of the coin.
To prevent the oxygen from reaching the coins and causing toning, capsules are a great option. Capsules seal the coins, preventing air and oxygen from touching them. However, when using capsules, it’s crucial to ensure that you purchase the correct size and shape for each coin, especially considering that United States coins come in a range of sizes. Capsules can be costly, and keeping track of all the coins in capsules can be challenging. That is why many collectors prefer storing their coins in PVC-free coin sleeves within a folder, as it provides an organised and cost-effective solution.
Alternatively, acid-free cardboard boxes are suitable for long-term coin storage to preserve their appearance and value. By storing loose coins in PVC-free capsules and placing them inside acid-free cardboard boxes, you can both preserve the collectability of your coins and keep track of their location. However, displaying the coins in capsules within a box may not offer the same level of clarity as using sleeves and folders, which can be more ideal if display is your primary goal.
All the United States coins you collect, whether they are circulated, uncirculated, proof, made from precious metals, or antiques, should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry location. Any exposure to a hot, wet, and sunny storage environment can cause discolouration and, in turn, devalue your coins. The shining light of the sun also carries UV rays that fade and damage the collectable packaging of your coins and the coins themselves in general.
If your US coins are presented in their original packaging, it is best not to remove them from the presentational packaging. It is also important to keep all certificates of authenticity and appropriate documentation that come with the coin, as this can add to their value. Without these certificates and documents, the coins value can decrease.
If your US coins are presented in their original packaging, it is best not to remove them from the presentational packaging. It is also important to keep all certificates of authenticity and appropriate documentation that come with the coin, as this can add to their value. Without these certificates and documents, the coins value can decrease.
If your US coins are presented in their original packaging, it is best not to remove them from the presentational packaging. It is also important to keep all certificates of authenticity and appropriate documentation that come with the coin, as this can add to their value. Without these certificates and documents, the coins value can decrease.
Whether your priority is presentation, prevention of damage, preservation of value, or all of these factors, there are various ways to best protect your coin collection while still maintaining its natural charm, valued appearance, and collectability.