Question on proper coin storage in a safe????

BECOKA

OK, I know that fire safes in general are not the safest place for coins.

I know that they are not as strong as Jeweler safes

I know if you have a crow bar you can pull the smaller ones out of the floor

I know that they have moister problems and can damage coins.

I know it is safer to put coins in a safety deposit box.

Unfortunately I don't want to keep all of my nice coins at a bank that has hours that I can't be there at. I want to keep some at home from time to time.

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I know the moisture thing should not hurt gold but how bad is it really?

Is it OK if I put the little moisture absorbing packs in and change them every few months?

Should I put a heater next to the safe with the door open for a few hours before putting the coins in to dry the air out?

I am really just looking for the best known method to store old silver coins in a nice Safety First Fire Safe.

EDITED: How about using packing tape around the lid of a PCGS Blue Box. Would that limit the moisture to what is in the box? Maybe put a silicate pack in one of the coin slots?


Thanks ahead of time.

mozin

I had a problem in my home fire safe, the document envelopes sealed themselves, and the paper money got moldy on the edges. I was using a whole bunch of those little desiccant packages found in new shoe boxes. They did not do the job.

Here is the site where I bought my currently used product. They appear to no longer offer the 4 oz packets that I use. The one pound packet currently offered should really do the job inside a safe, even a large gun safe. The problem with the home fire safes is that the fireproofing material slowly gives off moisture. Leaving the safe door open, whenever convenient, avoids most of this problem. I would still hesitate to long store raw coins in a home fire safe. I even stuff a couple packets inside my bank safety deposit boxes.

Beach Filter Products

MrSpud

If you put the coins in airtight jars or cans with dessicant in them and then put the jars/cans in the safe, they would be easier to protect from moisture damage.

morgansforever

I vacuum seal all my slabbed coins, using the food saver unit.

Have had them in a safe for years, no issues, still bright white.

BECOKA

<< <i>If you put the coins in airtight jars or cans with dessicant in them and then put the jars/cans in the safe, they would be easier to protect from moisture damage. >>



They are in PCGS Slabs and much easier to store in the blue boxes. Maybe if I use packing tape around the lid of the PCGS Blue Box?

BECOKA

<< <i>I vacuum seal all my slabbed coins, using the food saver unit.

Have had them in a safe for years, no issues, still bright white. >>



Not a bad idea. I will think about this one.

MrSpud

<< <i>Maybe if I use packing tape around the lid of the PCGS Blue Box? >>



I don't know if that would work or not. Some adhesives in some tapes are supposed to give off something bad too.

I would think that the empty steel cans that you can get in the paint department at Home Depot would seal airtight and you could fit a whole mess of slabs in them. See
Link for more info

MrHalfDime

The subject of proper storage of coins is a recurring subject on this forum, and there seems to be no shortage of opinions expressed. But you know what they say about opinions. Opinions are like ...... well, like belly buttons. Everyone has one. But perhaps nothing is more important to the well being of your collection, and accepting bad advice can be potentially devastating. My advice to anyone with questions on this and related subjects is to read Susan Maltby's column in Coin World on "Preserving Collectibles". Susan is a professional conservator, and covers this and related subjects in her monthly column. She recently wrote about preserving coins in safes, and what to do about the moisture problem in various types of safes. I always read her column, with the assurance that I am receiving professional advice from someone who can be relied upon. I am not certain, but perhaps Coin World has an archive where one can look up old articles for the answers to your questions. Over the years she has covered this very subject quite extensively.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Coin World, nor am I related to Susan Maltby.

Raufus

I couldn't agree more on the opinions statement!

With that said, I offer the following: As if coin collecting weren't expensive enough, I collect firearms as well, and have in fact done so far longer that I have been collecting coins.

Firearms have many of the same storage considarations as coins, esp. regarding moisture issues. I have found that the safes made by Fort Knox Security Products, www.ftknox.com, are simply outstanding. They make various grades, and make each grade in most sizes. The dehumidifiers which are made for them, and for any safe that has an electrical outlet in it, is a heated element that one places on the floor of the safe. The heat (warm to the touch, not hot) causes air to constantly circulate in the safe which prevents moisture deposition on the contents. Of course, one can combine this with rechargable dessicant packs as well.

I keep my slabbed coins in Intercept Shield containers/boxes.

The higher grade Ft. Know safes are just outstanding - extremely secure, well lit, changable interiors, electronic locks, highest fire rating, highly drill resistant, etc.. I highly recommend them. (I am in no way connceted to the company. I'm simply a very satisfied owner of their safes!) Of course, they are not cheap, but as with most things, you get what you pay for.

My 0.02