PCGS Wooden Storage Boxes - IMPORTANT INFO
magikbilly
Posts: 6,780 ✭
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 plaster 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
PS - sorry for posting this twice. After responding to a post, I thought this info would get better exposure as a new thread. I think it is potentially very important.
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 plaster 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
PS - sorry for posting this twice. After responding to a post, I thought this info would get better exposure as a new thread. I think it is potentially very important.
0
Comments
you're welcome!
Best,
Billy
ps. Welcome to the boards!!!
I too like them - but I don't think I'll be using them. I keep my slabs in archival postcard sleeves which I fold over (perfect size), which are then put into "4 pocket" archival pages sideways (the page sized for postcards fits the slab PERFECTLY - slides in snug and can't slide out easily)...these pages then go in an archival binder, which goes in a safety dep box (the DRY kind - with a bit of silica gel as well). Fits NGC as well as PCGS too. Works for me!
And, thanks for the welcome to the forum!
Very best,
Billy