Is intercept shield worthwhile??

majorbigtime

I've never used the stuff, although several coins I purchased came in the IS boxes that surround a slab (I simply took the slab out, and set the "shield" aside).

Somewhere, maybe on these boards, I read that there was a mixed reaction to the so-called proctective value of intercept shield, with some even saying that it caused coins to deteriorate.

Opinions please?

coinguy1

As a previous part-owner of one of the product distributorships and having read reports about the technology, I firmly believe Intercept Shield offers excellent protection for coin preservation. Nothing is perfect but I would strongly recommend it.

Here is a link to an article which will provide some information on the product:

Link

majorbigtime

Thanks, but this reads like an ad .

I would be interested in forum members' experience with the product.

Owl

My experience with Intercept Shield technology has been very positive.

Cameonut

I have all my cameo proof copper in the product designed for slabs. I have noticed no deterioration of the coins in the 18 months they have been protected. I am also using it on some silver proofs - also no noticible changes.

I always wonder if there really is any difference in protection for slabbed coins- with Intercept or without. In my case, the products seem to work fine.

Cameonut

lava

For what it is worth, I asked David Hall the same question, and his response was bacisally he didn't see the need if the coin was slabbed.

lathmach

The intercept shield will help to protect coins. It stops the formation of silver sulfide on the coins surface.

Ray

lathmach

Lava, I'd like you to ask David Hall that in the Q and A Forum, and see what his reply is.

Ray

BAJJERFAN

Its basically the top half of a box that is a slip fit over the bottom half so unless its airtight I don't see how it can offer much additional protection to the coin over and above what the slab can.

Steve

In my opinion, the jury is still out on the Intercept shield material. What is missing is TIME and experience from many, many collectors. I would say by 2010 or so we should know if there is a problem. As far as slab protection goes and Dave Hall's comment, he has put his money where his mouth is by guaranteeing the coin's grade in his holder. I don't know of any monitary guarantee that Intercept shield has made. Steve

ColonialCoinUnion

David Hall has been asked about intercept technology a couple of times in the Q&A forum -

coinguy1

BAJJERFAN, this is not necessarily an issue of whether a given holder is air-tight or not.

Even so-called air-tight holders do not always prevent or inhibit reactions (which have often begun BEFORE a coin has been slabbed) on and to the surface of a coin. The Intercept Shield product absorbs the gases which can seep through holders (even PCGS and NGC holders) and keeps them from contaminating the coin's surface.

Steve, offering a "grade guarantee" is very different from guaranteeing that the coin will not change/tone/turn in the holder. PCGS offers the former, but certainly not the latter.

Steve

<< <i>

Steve, offering a "grade guarantee" is very different from guaranteeing that the coin will not change/tone/turn in the holder. PCGS offers the former, but certainly not the latter. >>



Mark, very true but what kind of guarantee does the Intercept shield folks give?
Steve

Barry

From what I have read about it, and my science/engineering background, I'm not convinced they are useful.
There are quite a few red coppers and white silvers out there that very much predate the Intercept Shield. They made it on their own.
I've seen no data on the useful life of the Intercept Shield. The material that absorbs the contaminating gasses can't do so indefinitely. How long does that take? 10 minutes or 10 years? Once the pores are saturated, you're back to square one.

Show me a study comparing coins, over time, in slabs or 2x2s with coins in Intercept Shields, then I'll be a believer.

nankraut

I've decided to encase my PCGS-slabbed 1936-1954 proof sets in the Intercept Shield holders/boxes. I guess time will tell if it makes a difference? Anyway, It will protect the slabs from scratches, and the I.S. boxes are easier to stack in/remove from the safe than the plastic slab boxes.

BAJJERFAN

One would have to think that in many of today's contaminated environments the intercept shield material would get saturated fairly quickly unless it is impermeable to the passage of contaminants thru it.

boz

Sacrificial agents have been around a long time. They are used wherever corrosion is a high risk. The intercepts work on the same principal. They give a better target so the coin is spared. Nothing is absorbed, or gets plugged, it is neutralized, and rendered harmless

lathmach

Boz is correct.
The elemental copper in the intercept shield reacts with the damaging hydrogen sulfide so it does not cause silver sulfide (corrosion) on the coins surface.

Ray

BAJJERFAN

Then a new copper penny 1981 or earlier shud serve the same purpose.

boz

No to the above

Shamika

Also, everyone should remember that the Intercept technology isn't supposed to last forever. The manufacturers say that the boxes should be replaced after ten years if not sooner.

If the inside surfaces of the box turns black, then the material should be replaced immediately.

Of course the problem is that the inside of each box starts out very dark brown so it's hard to tell when the material turns black.

Shamika

I'd like to also add that I use the product and am satisfied with it, but find that the boxes are very poorly constructed.

The boards start to warp after a year or two. Perhaps they've fixed this problem by now.

Barry

<< <i>The elemental copper in the intercept shield reacts with the damaging hydrogen sulfide so it does not cause silver sulfide (corrosion) on the coins surface. >>


Copper Sulfide is formed in the I.S., sparing the silver coin. There is only so much elemental copper available in the I.S. to combine with the Sulfide ions. At that point, the silver is no longer protected, whenever that point occurs.

And Boz said:
Nothing is absorbed, or gets plugged, it is neutralized, and rendered harmless

Not true. See above. Once the elemental copper has combined, there is no protection. Nothing is neutralized. It's not recharged in any way, such as heating silica gel to dehumidify it.

SarasotaFrank

their albums are handsome, and the quality absolutely sucks

ldhair

I feel sure the product works but knowing how long is what bothers me.
I know when it's time to pop the silica gel in the oven.

BAJJERFAN

FWIW silver reacts more readily with sulfur and sulfur compounds than copper does so the IS concept might seem to be of more value if you are storing coppers. Of course there are other damaging molecules in the air besides sulfur and in that cases copper reacts faster so hopefully IS membranes/films contain both copper and silver.

keoj

I use the double box Intercept Shiled system and am happy with it. My coins have been in the boxes for 2-3 years and they look stable. The reason that I use them is that I have important papers in the box with my coins and I'm sure there is some low level of sulfur emissions from both them and the many other boxes around my coins. Do they really work? I assume so, but the protection is relatively cheap, so why not.

keoj