Coin Storage

Loonie

hi all, is pcv-free flip a good choice for long term storage? Is it better to seal the flip? thanks

Ciccio

A PVC free flip is a good solution. If you can heat seal it, even better.
Otherwise you can choose to put your coins in airtites (blowing the dust away before you put the coin in).

fivecents

PVC free or mylar flips can become brittle and crack open at the bottom of the flip overtime. This can allow the coin to fall out of the flip.

Hotfootspin

And make sure it's really PVC free. My own experience with both flips
and cardboard 2x2's is that they are both lousy choices for long-term
storage. Soft flips are of course bad for the coin and we all know that.
Mylar or other harder-plastic flips are hard to seal. The 2.5x2.5 (like
you'd use for a PCGS submission) may be easier to seal, but they'll
also require a larger (non-standard) box. Cardboard 2x2's, even if they
use inert plastic, can develop pinholes in the plastic through which the
coin can become toned or corroded. These pinholes usually happen
because of the staples on adjacent holders. You can prevent this by
putting something between the 2x2's in the box, either a piece of
cardboard or an unused flip.

I like to use Whitman (or equivalent) snap-together plastic holders.
They are hard, they protect the coin, they don't have staples.

With any kind of storage that uses plastic, a real problem is that a
little speck of dust on the inside of the holder can cause a spot later.
I've seen this happen with 2x2's and also with Dansco albums.
Perhaps those kinds of storage generate more static electricity due
to moving plastic. Some dealers have told me they get rid of the
dust by wiping on their (polyester) shirts. My thought is that gets
rid of the dust now, but it also imparts a static charge that is going
to attract more dust in the future. My solution is to use a can of
compressed air like you'd use for cleaning out a computer. You can
buy these at office supply stores like Staples. I blow all the dust off
flips, 2x2's, the Whitman holders, and the Dansco albums and
their plastic slides. The compressed air may also generate static
electricity as it blows across the plastic, but so far I've had good
luck with it.

Mark

19Lyds

<< <i>PVC free or mylar flips can become brittle and crack open at the bottom of the flip overtime. This can allow the coin to fall out of the flip. >>

This doesn't take as long as one might think.

Long term storage should be with 1½ x 1½'s for 25 cents and smaller, 2x2's for 50 cents and 2½x2½ for one dollar and up. Use a clinch stapler and flatten the staples. Don't stuff the boxes full leaving plenty of room to remove coins.

It's a lot of work and your hand gets tired but its well worth it.

Thats my opinion.

LanLord

<< <i>

<< <i>PVC free or mylar flips can become brittle and crack open at the bottom of the flip overtime. This can allow the coin to fall out of the flip. >>

This doesn't take as long as one might think.

Long term storage should be with 1½ x 1½'s for 25 cents and smaller, 2x2's for 50 cents and 2½x2½ for one dollar and up. Use a clinch stapler and flatten the staples. Don't stuff the boxes full leaving plenty of room to remove coins.

It's a lot of work and your hand gets tired but its well worth it.

Thats my opinion. >>

Dang, that's my mistake, I've had 4 boxes explode on me recently. I thought it was a terrorist plot to ruin the hobby

Teva

If its silver you may want to try those little manilla envelopes.

scottgardener

I've found that the 2.5x2.5 flips can fit neatly inside a PCGS plastic storage box. You can generally fit two comfortably in each slot where one PCGS slab would go. You can even that way store your raw and graded coins together. And, if you're like me, you probably have a PCGS Blue Box breeding program. They're very prolific.

pursuitofliberty

I like to use Whitman (or equivalent) snap-together plastic holders.
They are hard, they protect the coin, they don't have staples.


This, to me, is the best long term storage for singles. I have had coins in these for 14+ years that have not changed at all, including red copper ... while many of the coins in my albums have ... and they have been stored in the same locations.

The only downfalls are for very inexpensive coins, as the snap-tite's run at least 40c each (last I checked, which was a while ago) ... and for odd and off sizes, as only the most common US sizes are produced (to my knowledge).

rmpsrpms

Yep, those Whitman snap together holders are the bomb. Store all my "permanent collection" in them.