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Should I be worried about coin damage?



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 31st 03, 07:24 AM
Ron
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Default Should I be worried about coin damage?

My uncle gave me a "A Silver Story" a couple of years ago.
It has a silver cert, 1 oz silver "nuggets", 1 morgan and 1 peace
dollar.
I haven't seen the rev of the coins since there is plastic over them.
I have it on the mantle as it isn't expensive and it is nice to look
at.

My question is: Should I be concerned about PVC damage or anything to
the coins? I live in the pacific northwest so we have humidity here
and I think that is a negative as well.

If I should be worried about PVC damage, is there a way to keep the
items together and still have my nice thing to look at or should I
count it as a loss?

Thanks,

Ron
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  #2  
Old July 31st 03, 08:21 AM
ftecaw
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Default


"Ron" wrote in message
...
My uncle gave me a "A Silver Story" a couple of years ago.
It has a silver cert, 1 oz silver "nuggets", 1 morgan and 1 peace
dollar.
I haven't seen the rev of the coins since there is plastic over them.
I have it on the mantle as it isn't expensive and it is nice to look
at.

My question is: Should I be concerned about PVC damage or anything to
the coins? I live in the pacific northwest so we have humidity here
and I think that is a negative as well.



The humidity in your area can be a problem. Purchase an appropriate holder,
such as one of these
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3037195635

(Or for you Tiny URL lovers, http://tinyurl.com/8t5 )





My question is: Should I be concerned about PVC damage or anything to
the coins? I live in the pacific northwest so we have humidity here
and I think that is a negative as well.

If I should be worried about PVC damage, is there a way to keep the
items together and still have my nice thing to look at or should I
count it as a loss?

Thanks,

Ron



  #3  
Old July 31st 03, 08:44 AM
Ron
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Posts: n/a
Default

Thanks!
That's the most insightful post you have done yet. I guess that your
stale sense of humor is running dry (either that, or you had to behave
since your mommy was looking over your shoulder.....tell us, how is it
to be a frustrated 50 year old male still living at home with mommy
and having to do what she says? Or else you are sent to your bedroom,
by yourself, with no desert and no computer access?

Anyway, the link you sent is almost an idea...if I could put your
picture in the middle of the bottom part of the seat

Now, frustrated little boy, just run back to your web-browsing of
inane things and go troll some other group.



n Thu, 31 Jul 2003 07:21:47 GMT, "ftecaw"
wrote:


"Ron" wrote in message
.. .
My uncle gave me a "A Silver Story" a couple of years ago.
It has a silver cert, 1 oz silver "nuggets", 1 morgan and 1 peace
dollar.
I haven't seen the rev of the coins since there is plastic over them.
I have it on the mantle as it isn't expensive and it is nice to look
at.

My question is: Should I be concerned about PVC damage or anything to
the coins? I live in the pacific northwest so we have humidity here
and I think that is a negative as well.



The humidity in your area can be a problem. Purchase an appropriate holder,
such as one of these
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3037195635

(Or for you Tiny URL lovers, http://tinyurl.com/8t5 )





My question is: Should I be concerned about PVC damage or anything to
the coins? I live in the pacific northwest so we have humidity here
and I think that is a negative as well.

If I should be worried about PVC damage, is there a way to keep the
items together and still have my nice thing to look at or should I
count it as a loss?

Thanks,

Ron



  #4  
Old July 31st 03, 12:17 PM
BAJJERFAN
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Posts: n/a
Default

Ron wrote in message . ..
My uncle gave me a "A Silver Story" a couple of years ago.
It has a silver cert, 1 oz silver "nuggets", 1 morgan and 1 peace
dollar.
I haven't seen the rev of the coins since there is plastic over them.
I have it on the mantle as it isn't expensive and it is nice to look
at.

My question is: Should I be concerned about PVC damage or anything to
the coins? I live in the pacific northwest so we have humidity here
and I think that is a negative as well.

If I should be worried about PVC damage, is there a way to keep the
items together and still have my nice thing to look at or should I
count it as a loss?

Thanks,

Ron


No worry about PVC as it is likely no PVC based product was used to
make the display case you described. I wouldn't worry about humidity
unless you are near the ocean where salt spray can be a problem.
Usually those types of cases are fairly well sealed.
  #5  
Old July 31st 03, 12:25 PM
High Plains Writer
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Default

Ron wrote
My uncle gave me a "A Silver Story" a couple of years ago. ...
My question is: Should I be concerned about PVC damage ...


It sounds like a nice little presentation with the nuggets and all. I
do not know the particular set you are referring to, however. I think
I do know the _kind_ of presentation and to answer your question:
Probably not. The plastic around the coins is hard, right? Hard
plastic is not usually a problem with silver coins. The soft plastic
is. The plasticizer is PVC (poly vinyl chloride -- correcly written
as one long word) which breaks down with time, with heat, etc.

Moisture per se is not usually a problem with silver. (Your set does
have paper dollars, also.) Silver tones mostly because it reacts
primarily with sulfur in the air. You aaid that you live in the
Pacific Northwest. How's your air?

You can find a lot of information about this here on RCC, if you are
willing to do some nasty reading of long threads about "COIN HOLDERS."
  #6  
Old July 31st 03, 02:44 PM
Reid Goldsborough
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Default

On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 23:24:56 -0700, Ron
wrote:

My uncle gave me a "A Silver Story" a couple of years ago.
It has a silver cert, 1 oz silver "nuggets", 1 morgan and 1 peace
dollar.
I haven't seen the rev of the coins since there is plastic over them.
I have it on the mantle as it isn't expensive and it is nice to look
at.


The short answer is that if the plastic is rigid (hard), you typically
don't need to be concerned with PVC damage. Here's the long answer, a
post about coin holders in general I leave here periodically:

What follows is a distillation of many people's opinions and
observations, including my own. Additions and corrections are
welcomed. This document is copyrighted -- please don't republish
elsewhere. HMTL version available he http://rg.ancients.info/guide.

How to select a coin holder -- periodic post

- - -
IN A NUTSHELL: With coin holders, it's largely, "To each, his own."
But each type of holder has its advantages and disadvantages. And you
should quickly remove any coin you buy that's in a soft vinyl flip to
avoid causing damage to it.
- - -

We buy coins to look at them, and the coin holder through which we
look can greatly affect our viewing pleasure. It's common knowledge
that there's no such thing as the perfect coin holder, but that's
never stopped coin collectors from searching.

Much about coin holders is subjective. My preferences may be different
from yours. The information below resulted from talking with coin
collectors, coin supply dealers, coin holder wholesalers, and coin
holder manufacturers as well as my own experiences in testing out or
using each of these holder types.

Your choices in coin holders include but aren't limited to the
following, in order of estimated popularity:

2x2s

These holders consist of white cardboard with a clear Mylar pocket to
let you view the coin. You can attribute and describe coins on the
cardboard with pen or pencil. These holders are called 2x2s because
the holder's dimensions measure 2 inches by 2 inches, though most coin
holders are this size as well. (In Europe larger and smaller sizes are
used more commonly than they are in the U.S.)

One problem with 2x2s is that paper dust from the cardboard can cause
spotting over time. Some holders, however, advertise that they're dust
free. The staples on the staple-type holders can potentially scratch a
coin if you're not careful when removing it or rust and leach
chemicals onto coins. You should also flatten the staples. The
adhesive on self-sealing 2x2s can potentially damage coins over time,
and the adhesive can wear out as well, causing the holder to pop open.

2x2s are somewhat chintzy looking, but they're inexpensive, relatively
safe, and popular. They're often used by coin dealers because of their
low cost and because it's easy to write on them.

Safety flips

With these all-plastic two-part holders, you flip up the part of the
holder holding the coin to view the coin's reverse. You can choose
flips with one pocket (for the coin) or two pockets (one for the coin
and the other for a paper insert on which you can attribute and
describe coin, optionally using a computer). Unlike many other
holders, safety flips let you view edge of the coin. They're called
"safety flips" because they're relatively safe for long-term coin
storage.

There are two kinds of safety flips, generic safety flips and Kointain
Saflips. Generic safety flips are made from low-plasticizer PVC.
They're often mistakenly called non-PVC flips, PVC-free flips, or
unplasticized flips despite the fact that they do contain PVC, which
is an abbreviation for the plastic with the name polyvinylchloride (or
vinyl for short).

Generic safety flips are much safer than ordinary PVC flips for
long-term coin storage because of their low levels of plasticizers.
It's primarily the plasticizers used to soften the PVC, not the PVC
itself, that can damage a coin's surfaces over time.

Generic safety flips aren't perfect. Their hard edges may scratch a
coin when you insert or remove it if you're not careful. They may
crack with repeated opening and closing, forcing you to replace the
holder. They may turn pale color over time, also forcing you to
replace them. Generic safety flips shouldn't be used with proof coins
because they can outgas small quantities of hydrogen chloride gas
(hydrochloric acid), which can cause microscopic pitting, leading to
hazing. This outgassing probably occurs more if the holders are
exposed to excessive heat, humidity, or sunlight.

There are several different kinds of generic safety flips. The Super
Safe brand (sometimes called Madison coin flips since they're made by
Frame-A-Coin of Madison, N.J.) are available at many coin shows and
through Brent-Krueger Coin Supplies at http://www.brent-krueger.com.
They come in sheets -- you tear off the individual flips.

Other generic safety flips are made by International Plastics of
Altadena, Calif., and are available from Jake's Marketplace at
http://www.jakesmp.net. They're thicker and sturdier than the Super
Safe flips (and they consequently make nice mini-coin stands), but
they crack more easily and are thus not as practical for large coins.

Still other generic safety flips are made by various manufacturers in
China, including those sold by Brooklyn Gallery Coins & Stamps at
http://www.brooklyngallery.com.

Generic safety flips are attractive, relatively inexpensive, and
popular.

The other main type of safety flip is the Kointain Saflip. These flips
are made from Mylar, which is one brand name for the plastic with the
name polyethylene terephthalate. Mylar is thought to be somewhat safer
over the long term than low-plasticizer vinyl. It's also not as prone
to cracking.

One negative of Kointain Saflips are their horizontal striations,
which are unsightly and can interfere with viewing of the coin inside.
These flips also have sharp corners. Kointain Saflips are more
expensive than generic safety flips but can be a good choice for proof
coins.

Flips

Flips, also called soft vinyl flips or PVC flips, are commonly used by
dealers to sell coins and by grading services when people submit coins
to them because they make it easy and safe to insert and remove coins
from them and because they're inexpensive. However, regular flips are
unsafe for long-term coin storage.

Flips consist of PVC (polyvinylchloride, also known as vinyl),
stabilizers (to prolong life), and plasticizers (to soften the
plastic). Plasticizers mixed with the PCV can damage coins over time,
causing "PVC damage," which looks like green goo. Damage occurs faster
when flips are exposed to excessive heat, humidity, or sunlight. Early
PVC damage can be removed with acetone. More severe PVC damage can
corrode a coin's surfaces, causing permanent damage.

If you buy a coin in a soft vinyl flip, you should remove it and place
it in another storage medium. One rule of thumb is that no coin should
sit in a soft flip for more than six months.

Air-Tites

Air-Tite holders are the most attractive coin holders next to slabs,
and depending on your views about slabs, you may find them more
attractive. You can choose various color combinations to best
highlight your coins, whether copper, nickel, silver, gold, or other
metal.

The Air-Tite system consists of a snap-together acrylic inner holder
that fits snugly around the coin; a polyethylene white or black ring
that fits around the inner holder; a black-, blue-, burgundy-, red-,
or green-colored velour-covered cardboard display card into which fits
the holder and ring; and a black polystyrene frame holder with a wood
finish and stamped with gold- or silver-colored lettering.

You can optionally use a host of other accessories, including storage
boxes, display easels, albums, display boxes, wall frames, and
presentation cases.

The Air-Tite system is relatively safe for long-term storage. The size
is nonstandard, with the 2-3/4 inch by 2-3/4 inch display cards being
larger than the 2 inch by 2 inch size of most other holders.
Air-Tites are considerably more expensive than most other holders, but
they may be worth it. You can find out more at
http://www.airtiteholders.com.

Intercept Shield holders

These relatively new holders are made with a material that's designed
to intercept and neutralize sulfur and other contaminants and thus
prevent toning. This can be beneficial or not. Many people regard
nicely toned silver coins as the ultimate in eye appeal. On the other
hand, coins that have toned unattractively just look tarnished or
stained, and brown copper coins are generally less attractive and
worth less than red ones.

Intercept Shield holders measuring 2 inches by 2 inches are made for
different sized coins as well as for coins that are already in slabs.
You can also buy different sized Intercept Shield boxes and albums.
You can optionally use the Intercept Shield boxes with other 2 inch by
2 inch coin holders.

On the negative side, it can sometimes be difficult to place coins
inside the flexible gasket of the Intercept Shield holders. The
holders are also relatively expensive. Check out
http://www.interceptshield.com/products.html for more information.

CoinEdge holders

Formerly called CoinSafe holders, these all-plastic holders let you
view the often neglected third side a coin, the edge. Whether
lettered, reeded, or flat, a coin's edge can tell you a lot about a
coin, including whether it may be a cast or electrotype counterfeit or
whether it was once used in jewelry.

CoinEdge holders are made from Mylar (polyethylene terephthalate) and
are safe for long-term storage. They're not the most
impressive-looking coin holders but not the least impressive either.
You can buy optional accessories, including albums and boxes. To find
out more, go to http://www.coinedge.com.

Whitman (or Gallery) holders

These all-plastic holders consist of polystyrene, a relatively safe
plastic for coin storage. Made by either Whitman or Gallery, these
snap-together holders are an inexpensive way to store you coins. The
downside is that coins can slide and bang around inside the holders,
potentially causing damage over time.

Whitman or Gallery holders are widely available at coin shows and coin
stores and through coin supply dealers.

Eagle holders

Made of polystyrene encasing with Mylar (polyethylene terephthalate)
windows, these holders are relatively safe for long-term storage.
They're attractive, with the encasing available in white or black.
They also come with optional accessories, including attractive display
boxes and albums.

On the negative side, it can be time consuming to insert coins into
these holders. The smallest coins, such as silver three-cent pieces,
don't always remain in position within the holder, even when you
follow the directions for small coins. Large coins such as American
Silver Eagles and Bust dollars can sometimes cause the holder to pop
open. The company has recommended that you glue shut the holders to
keep these very large coins from causing the holder to pop open,
though this is stop-gap rather than permanent solution, as there's the
possibility that the glue can damage the coin over time. Check out
http://www.eaglecoinholders.com for more.

Capital holders

These plastic (Lucite) holders come in two varieties, one that you
screw together, one that you snap together. They're similar to Whitman
(or Gallery) holders but are both more impressive looking and more
expensive.

Inserting and removing coins, however, can be labor intensive. Coins
can also slide or bang around inside, potentially causing damage. You
can find out more at http://www.capitalplastics.com/coins.

Kointain holders

These holders consist of just a round shell that fits snugly around
the coin. They're similar to the Air-Tite inner holders. They're made
of non-PVC plastic and are relatively safe for long-term storage. The
company advertises that some museums use these holders for coin
storage. Kointain holders can be used alone or inside other holders or
albums.

Coin World holders

This is a new type of coin holder from Amos Press, the publisher of
Coin World, too new to fairly be ranked in terms of popularity. These
are slab-like holders, the size of ANACS slabs but easy to open and
close, which lets you to insert coins yourself. Coin World holders are
made of clear acrylic, the black inserts of inert polyethylene. Both
are safe for long-term coin storage.

Like slabs, these make handsome holders. Twenty different size holders
are available, which fit most U.S. coins. You can write descriptive
information on the supplied coin labels, which like the holders are
fairly conspicuously imprinted with the Coin World logo. Also
available are Coin World coin cases that hold 25 Coin World or ANACS
coin holders.

The above aren't your only options for coin storage. Others include
slabs, coin albums, coin folders, paper envelopes, poly bags, coin
cabinets, coin cases, coin frames, coin tubes ... and pockets and
purses.

Recommended coin supply dealers:

Brooklyn Gallery Coins & Stamps
http://www.brooklyngallery.com

Jake's Marketplace
http://www.jakesmp.net

Stanton Books & Supplies
http://www.stantonbooks.com

Roy Reynolds Coins
http://www.royreynoldscoins.com

Brent-Krueger Coin Supplies
http://www.brent-krueger.com

--

Coin Collecting: Consumer Guide: http://rg.ancients.info/guide
Glomming: Coin Connoisseurship: http://rg.ancients.info/glom
Bogos: Counterfeit Coins: http://rg.ancients.info/bogos
  #7  
Old July 31st 03, 02:45 PM
Reid Goldsborough
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Posts: n/a
Default

On 31 Jul 2003 04:25:45 -0700, (High Plains
Writer) wrote:

The plastic around the coins is hard, right? Hard
plastic is not usually a problem with silver coins. The soft plastic
is. The plasticizer is PVC (poly vinyl chloride -- correcly written
as one long word) which breaks down with time, with heat, etc.


This is not correct. The *plastic* is PVC, polyvinyl chloride,
commonly called vinyl. The *plasticizer* -- another chemical or more
than one chemical (phthalates)-- is added to the PVC to make it soft.
Not always -- not in PVC pipes, for instance. But always when the
plastic is soft when it's made of PVC. PVC is not a plasticizer, it's
a plastic. And it's the plasticizer, or softeners, that primarily
cause PVC damage in coins, breaking down over time. PVC itself is very
durable, hence its use in construction, medicine, the automotive
industry, the toy industry, and so on.

And you again make an awfully definitive statement there when you say
that polyvinyl chloride is "correctly" written as poly vinyl chloride.
It's not written this way by the Vinyl Institute -- the PVC industry's
trade association -- or by Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary,
the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Cambridge
International Dictionary of English, Oxford Paperback Dictionary and
Thesaurus, or Encyclopaedia Britannica.

--

Coin Collecting: Consumer Guide:
http://rg.ancients.info/guide
Glomming: Coin Connoisseurship: http://rg.ancients.info/glom
Bogos: Counterfeit Coins: http://rg.ancients.info/bogos
  #8  
Old July 31st 03, 06:52 PM
Edward McGrath
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Default

Reid, Is it ok to store silver sets in a hard clear plastic container?
TIA

  #9  
Old August 1st 03, 03:38 AM
Ron
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Default

Thanks.
Sounds like a few people have seen/know the set I am talking about.
It is SOFT plastic with the cardboard backing.

The morgan and the peace dollar are common, and i am not worried about
the silver "nuggets", but, I do hate to violate the display

I just need to figure out how to do it to preserve the display
too.....I would hate to hurt my uncle's feelings on the piece and like
I said, it does look nice....


argh!


Thanks to those who answered with helpfulness.

Ron


On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 12:32:27 -0400, "J. A. McNerney"
wrote:

Ron wrote:

My uncle gave me a "A Silver Story" a couple of years ago.
It has a silver cert, 1 oz silver "nuggets", 1 morgan and 1 peace
dollar.
I haven't seen the rev of the coins since there is plastic over them.
I have it on the mantle as it isn't expensive and it is nice to look
at.

My question is: Should I be concerned about PVC damage or anything to
the coins? I live in the pacific northwest so we have humidity here
and I think that is a negative as well.

If I should be worried about PVC damage, is there a way to keep the
items together and still have my nice thing to look at or should I
count it as a loss?

Thanks,

Ron


Yes! Get the coins out of that PVC plastic holder as soon as you can. Many nice silver dollars have been damaged by the plastic in those cheap folders.

JAM


 




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