1793 strawberry leaf cent and storing coins for preservation...

lloydmincy

...over the years.

Here you have a cent that was kept in an envelope for 60 years in a safetybox, and looks from pictures well preserved. Are the plastic holders and the doctoring of coins messing with nature, or is the ole' "put them in an envelope" a better way?

Pistareen

Hi Lloyd:

I have the Strawberry Leaf in my hands as I type this, taking a break from burning the midnight oil cataloguing the coin.

Circulated large cents are pretty hearty animals. I've seen pieces go through some pretty abysmal storage conditions for decades on end and come through AOK, particularly if the surfaces retain some natural dirt (sometimes called "copper wax") which acts as a shield against the environment.

A copper coin that is perfectly clean -- no dirt, no buildup -- can be susceptible, but only if the poor storage conditions last a long time. A choice EF/AU large cent that is allowed to build up 50+ years worth of dirt can end up with permanent inactive deposits. A red coin will be spotted, stained, or worse. But the fact is that long-term build up or the sort of pollutants that can affect red coins exist inside and outside slabs.

In the case of the Strawberry Leaf, the coin enjoyed benign neglect, in other words, it was just plain left alone and it was perfectly well preserved as a result. With some exceptions (Proof red coppers and others), coins are perhaps a lot tougher than we give them credit for. More coins have been damaged while trying to improve them than have seen ill effects from just being left alone.

Just my two cents. By the way, you are right -- the coin looks lovely after all these years, just the same as it did when plated in the 1890 Parmelee sale!

dorkkarl

personally, i believe old copper needs to breathe. the paper envelope is the way to go.

K S