Coin collecting is a hobby that has fascinated people for centuries.
Amassing a valuable collection of rare coins can be immensely rewarding. However, properly storing and displaying your prized numismatic pieces is crucial to preserving their condition and value over time.
Follow these helpful tips and tricks for keeping your coin collection secure while still being able to appreciate the artistry and history represented in the coins.
Choose Archival-Quality Holders And Albums
The most important rule of coin storage is always to use archival-quality supplies. Avoid PVC plastics, which can interact chemically with coin surfaces. Use inert plastics like Mylar and polyethylene instead.
Album pages, cardboard flips, and plastic capsules explicitly designed for coin collecting like NA coins are best. Look for “archival-safe” or “inert” on the labels. Handle coins with cotton gloves to prevent skin oils from corroding the surfaces.
When purchasing albums and folders, opt for ones with a hard outer shell for protection. Leather or vinyl covers also look attractive on display. Sealable albums help keep out dust and debris that could scratch coins.
If you want to preserve the toning on valuable coins, choose airtight capsules that prevent exposure to oxygen and humidity.
Country Or Region
Group coins geographically in albums or storage boxes. This allows you to showcase and learn about different coinages worldwide. You may have subsections for continents or specific countries you collect heavily from.
Era Or Historical Period
Arranging your collection chronologically illustrates the progression of coin art, design, and production techniques over the centuries. Ancients, medieval, modern, and contemporary are familiar eras to divide by.
Store In A Cool, Dry, Secure Place
Coins should be kept in an area with a steady temperature of around 70°F and stable humidity of about 40%. Avoid attics, basements, or garages with extreme temperature and moisture fluctuations. A closet, cabinet, or safe in a climate-controlled home area is ideal. Ensure the storage space is high enough to be out of a child’s reach and locked for security if valuable coins are housed there.
Ideally, store coins lying flat rather than on the edge, which can cause rubbing and scratches. Placing cotton or microfiber cloths between albums or storage boxes provides cushioning and prevents rubbing during stacking.
Use Silica Gel Packs
To control moisture, use silica gel desiccant packs in storage areas. These absorb excess humidity that could cause coins to spot, tone, or corrode over time. Change the packs out every 6-12 months when they have absorbed moisture and turned from blue to pink.
Use the ratio of one 5-10-gram pack per 20-30 coins. Place packs on the bottom, between shelves, and on top of the storage space, securing them with museum putty.
Take Precautions When Handling
Always hold coins by the edges to avoid fingerprints on the surfaces. Wearing clean cotton gloves provides the best protection. Never use any liquid, including water, to clean coins. Instead, use a soft artist’s brush to dust off debris gently. You can breathe lightly on a coin and use the brush to clear away dirt if necessary.
When removing or replacing coins in holders, do so over a soft surface like a towel to cushion a drop. Avoid touching the surfaces with your fingers to prevent scratches or corrosion.
Display Coins Securely
If you want to exhibit some of your collection outside of albums proudly, there are secure ways to do so:
- Coin stands: Clear plastic or acrylic holders can display a coin upright in an airtight chamber while protecting it from handling. Stands come in various sizes.
- Wall mount shadow boxes: These framed display cases recess the coin slightly for a floating effect. Felt or velvet backings provide a regal appearance.
- Straightforward capsules: Airtight archival capsules allow coins to be handled and admired without directly touching them. They come in various sizes to fit different-diameter coins.
- Numismatic jewelry: Coin bezels can hold your favorites and allow you to wear them as pendants or rings. Opt for 14k gold or sterling silver metals.
Always keep rare and valuable coins in a locked safe when not on display. Avoid leaving pricier pieces out unattended. Mounting displays high up and using security devices can further deter theft.
Maintain Proper Inventory
A coin collection inventory is essential for insurance and market value tracking. Document each coin with the following:
- Description (denomination, country, year, mint mark, condition, etc.)
- Grade, if professionally evaluated
- Image
- Purchase date and price
- Current market value
- Serial number of certification or holder, if encapsulated
Update details like value and grade periodically. Store the inventory on your computer and back it up externally. Keep photocopies secured separately from your collection as an extra precaution.
Insure Your Collection
A coin collection often represents a considerable monetary investment requiring insurance coverage. The best protection comes from collectibles insurance providers offering coinsurance policies explicitly tailored for numismatic treasures. It helps cover or theft of your coins, whether in storage, on display, or loaned to others.
Ensure your coverage has no caps and the policy covers the collection’s current appraised fair market value. Read all details carefully to verify your coins are covered when housed in bank vaults, museum exhibitions, in transit, or if disaster strikes.
To secure this insurance, you’ll need a written appraisal from a reputable coin dealer or certified appraiser stating your collection’s value. Update this every 3-5 years, especially after significant acquisitions.
Meticulously document each coin with photographs, descriptions, and receipts proving ownership and worth in case of an insurance claim. Store records securely.
Conclusion
Coin collecting has enthralled people for ages, linking us to the past in a tangible way. But a collection’s legacy depends on how well it is cared for.
Like artifacts in a museum, coins require archival housing, controlled conditions, meticulous documentation, stringent security measures, and thoughtful exhibition.
