PCGS Cherrywood Storage Boxes - IMPORTANT INFO
magikbilly
Posts: 6,780 ✭
in Q & A Forum
Hi All,
in the Registry threads people are talking about the new cherrywood PCGS Storage Boxes. Some were concerned that the wood might somehow damage the coins - others thought that impossible nonsense. In the interest of sharing what I think is important information (the storage of coins for preservation/and future collectors), I will paste my post on the subject.
Hi all,
is is quite true that wood releases acidic vapors as it ages - this is called "outgassing" and oak is the worst offender in this respect. I will not hazard a guess what cherrywood or cherry finish/varnish will do. This usually comes up in framing valuable works of art in wood frames. Countless works of art and prints have been damaged from outgassing. Unless this issue has been addressed or resolved and we don't know it, my solution (C) for the PCGS Storage Box is to liberally coat the inside surfaces of the storage boxes with an acrylic "gesso" (not true gesso which is slaked plater of Paris) - the CaCo2 in acrylic emulsion will act as a neutralizing buffer. It could be black and serve it's purpose under the velvet material (compositon?). These gasses damage paper and fabric; I wonder what the effect on the various coin metals will be, let alone the delicate surfaces of a proof copper coin. As I read that PCGS slabs are not hermetically sealed I will never know. I would not put my coins in anything made of wood. People talk about slabbed coins toning "all by themselves" (especially in NGC holders I think I read) - if this is happening on its own from "regular" exposure or storage why expedite the process by storing coins in a concentrated organic acidic environment?
My .02
Best,
Billy
in the Registry threads people are talking about the new cherrywood PCGS Storage Boxes. Some were concerned that the wood might somehow damage the coins - others thought that impossible nonsense. In the interest of sharing what I think is important information (the storage of coins for preservation/and future collectors), I will paste my post on the subject.
Hi all,
is is quite true that wood releases acidic vapors as it ages - this is called "outgassing" and oak is the worst offender in this respect. I will not hazard a guess what cherrywood or cherry finish/varnish will do. This usually comes up in framing valuable works of art in wood frames. Countless works of art and prints have been damaged from outgassing. Unless this issue has been addressed or resolved and we don't know it, my solution (C) for the PCGS Storage Box is to liberally coat the inside surfaces of the storage boxes with an acrylic "gesso" (not true gesso which is slaked plater of Paris) - the CaCo2 in acrylic emulsion will act as a neutralizing buffer. It could be black and serve it's purpose under the velvet material (compositon?). These gasses damage paper and fabric; I wonder what the effect on the various coin metals will be, let alone the delicate surfaces of a proof copper coin. As I read that PCGS slabs are not hermetically sealed I will never know. I would not put my coins in anything made of wood. People talk about slabbed coins toning "all by themselves" (especially in NGC holders I think I read) - if this is happening on its own from "regular" exposure or storage why expedite the process by storing coins in a concentrated organic acidic environment?
My .02
Best,
Billy
0
Comments
We believe the wooden storage boxes are not a problem. We are doing some accelerated life-cycle testing to make sure.
Thanks,
David