Very pretty coin cabinet
Mark
Posts: 3,580 ✭✭✭✭✭
I was looking on eBay and came across a stunning coin cabinet for sale here. I hasten to add that I have NOTHING to do with this item--I do not know the seller and am not going to bid on the chest. (If I was, I sure wouldn't be posting about it here!!! 
) I also hasten to add that I, personally, would never keep my coins in a wooden enclosure because I worry about the fumes the wood might emit. But others may not share my concerns. And the cabinet is really exquisite.
) I also hasten to add that I, personally, would never keep my coins in a wooden enclosure because I worry about the fumes the wood might emit. But others may not share my concerns. And the cabinet is really exquisite. Mark
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Comments
<< <i>I, personally, would never keep my coins in a wooden enclosure because I worry about the fumes the wood might emit. >>
I think some of those old time cabinets are responsible for some of the vibrant toning seen on some coins these days.
JJ
Wood is fine to use as a cabinet, as long as it is not one of the oily woods (any evergreen etc.)
Traditionally coin cabinets are made of mahogany.
John
siliconvalleycoins.com
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I keep my silver bullion at home in a cigar humidor (never used for cigars) They're air tight and have removable trays to provide air circulation & 'may' contribute to nice toning in the future
Cashback from Mr. Rebates
Wish I had the time to make one!!
<< <i>What about cedar. Is that an "oily" wood? >>
Yes.
Oak, maple, birch, beech--white hardwooods, are good.
<< <i>anyone know someone that can make a cabinet like that? >>
I can. but do you know anyone who had time to make a cabinet like that. My woodworking tools have been almost dormant since my oldest was born.
<< <i>Point of conjecture, "finest cabinet grade birch" is not very fine from furniture or cabinet perspective. Taking a month to build doesn't mean much unless it was 1 hour per day. >>
Birch is good that it is stable. It doesn't have interesting grain--thus it has been stained. Stained birch can look like mahogany which a previous thread says is standard for coins. (Mahogany is also a boring wood in my opinion). The amount of labor is irrelevant to the retail value on something in this class. I'd say at $500 it's already a little overpriced. --Jerry
<< <i>I wonder if I can sqeeze that cabinet into a safe deposit box... >>
Notice the coins it is designed for don't really need to be in a save deposit box. I has special drawers for mint sets. You could put your common or less expensive coins in it and keep the more expensive ones safe somewhere else.
It is more a piece of furnature than anything else.
If you're one of these minimalists who tries to squeeze a million dollar collection into 16 coins, then this wouldn't work for you.
--Jerry
I'll make it out of solid cherry as I am a wood bigot and prefer North American hardwoods. These pictures give me some ideas that I will use.
I'll do only dovetail joinery, but I will need to research what finishes would be appropriate for coins.
Cool cabinet.
Tom
Right now I'm researching and testing finishes on various metals to see what will be the stablest. Incorporating Intercept Shield into the design is also a possibility.
Fred, Las Vegas, NV
The cabinet is very nice. I like how the drawers seem to be lined with the felt yet looks like an insert. Not exactly my style, but otherwise very nice. My father-in-law has made some cabinetry for me including a small cabinet that has 7 drawers holding 18 slabs each. I do like the lock on the ebay one, but it likely wouldn't do that much to prevent a thief.
I would not let the "gases" from the stain or finish worry me. I would, however, give it plenty of time to cure/dry. It could likely take weeks to fully reach the point to be safe. I wouldn't worry too much about the gases from the wood itself. Not likely to be a problem as coins have been stored in wood cabinets for centuries.
tmot99 is correct- if both the wood and stain has had sufficient time for drying then the 'gasses' won't leach onto your collection, and yes it really does depend on the type of wood used.
as for the ebay seller working on it for a month- well I have been 'working' on a cabinet close to 9 months now, and when it is finished it can serve not only as a storage for my collection, but can be used as a dsiplay set up at a show. As for the wood of my choice- I chose African Mahogany- very expensive when bought by lineal footage, it will have inlays of Canadian cherry and some boca wood, and some 10kt gold that will be melted into the wood for an inlay.
the ebay case is worth 500-650 IMO. and looks nice.
Hey everybody- I get to be a granpa AGAIN!!!!!
Coins have been stored in wooden cabinets, but they have also been made out of solid woods way back then and not compressed glued laminated cabinetry woods. I do not see any harm for coins but there are chorlides in the glue that will eventualy evaporate and disperse.
As far as birch not being a furniture grade as mentioned before, it is in cabinetry I beg to differ and it will take more than 1 hour per day for 30 days to lay out/build/finish a cabinet such as this. This is a custom cabinet and your going to pay a bit more money just for that reason alone...and the locks, it was mentioned in the ad that they are installed to keep childrens fingers out...not a masked burglar.
Even my wife would allow me to keep this cabinet out in the open because of the design and nature of the finish...keeping her happy is in part keeping me happy while persuing this hobby.
Gobble Gobble!
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
off more gas then the cabinet.
Camelot
<< <i>The average collector, probably gives
off more gas then the cabinet. >>
I love it, Bear!
http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005RJAS/ref=pd_rvi_gw_1/104-5258787-1176708
Only $50
<< <i>While browsing Amazon.com found this
http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005RJAS/ref=pd_rvi_gw_1/104-5258787-1176708
Only $50 >>
LINKED
That cabinet looks great! I predict a few Christmas orders for that one.
Funny you should post that. I'm using one almost exactly like it for my coins that don't need to be kept in a secure location. Note that none of the drawers are really deep enough to hold a closed 2x2 box but the bottom two drawers are deep enough for an open 2x2 box with 2x2's upright in it. But the drawers are not deep enough front to back for a standard 2x2 box either so you'll have to trim them.
The workmanship on these import tool boxes isn't bad considering what you pay.
Cheers,
Jerry
Another option for those with a few extra bucks is a "pressman's chest". I really don't know the correct terminology, but this is a cabinet that kept the lead letters and such for printing. They usually have a lot of thin drawers and some of the drawers are divided. There are sometimes even deep drawers in them. I've looked at fairly large chests in antique stores and they sell from $500 to $1000. But, these are huge chests.