Coin Storage for a Beginner

[Lucas H]

Hi all, 

I wanted to fish about storage.  I've read many of the older threads here, and some information about storage at other sites.  I don't have the space or money for the nice cases and trays yet.  What I've settled on is archival safe flips from here at the forum to put the coins in, and then I keep them in pages in a 3 ring binder. 

This setup works for me.  I can flip through the notebook to find what I want.  The notebook is easily portable, and easily concealed.

With the archival safe flips, is there any chance any chemicals from the pages the flips go in could damage the coins over time?  I live in the Hotlanta area, and it is frequently very humid here.  Should I keep some type of moisture absorption medium in the notebook?  If so what and how? 

I like my coins, and I want them to be as nice in 2000 more years as they are now.  Any thoughts or input is greatly appreciated. 

[benito]

This could be useful.  http://rg.ancients.info/guide/holders.html
Silica gel is good against humidity.

[Lucas H]

Silica gel is good against humidity.

Any idea where I could get silica gel short of waiting for a gift giving holiday and pulling them out of the children's presents?

[benito]

There are different types of silica gel. And the conditions of use can differ. The following link refers to the use of silica in museums. Nevertheless its interesting. It even gives you some formulas to calculate your needs.
http://talasonline.com/photos/instructions/silica_gel_info.pdf
As I collect precolumbian textiles I have always been very interested in questions of heat,humidity,dirt.

[Lucas H]

http://talasonline.com/photos/instructions/silica_gel_info.pdf.

Thanks Benito, but that's a little hypertechnical for my purposes.  Any general, basic, advice for my coin storate method?

[areich]

I like trays, Lighthouse I think they're called in the US. Much more easily accessible than plastic flips and cheap.
I have often found them either lightly used or even new, discounted because the particular version was not usable for Euro coins for 8€ a piece.

[benito]

I have always used trays. Very similar to those of Andrew McCabe. Six trays fit in a plastic box. There are many varieties.
Silica gel can be bought in a hardware store. Place some near your album in a drawer.
The worst thing for antiquities is humidity and heat combined.Even worse,rapid changes in H and H. For some materials,.i.e. paper or textiles ,excess dryness
can cause problems.

[renegade3220]

I use a gem storage case.  I cut the styrofoam inserts down and the coins fit nicely.  They come with different size holders as well.  Very cheap, and it is a safe plastic to use.

[Lloyd Taylor]

If your serious this is the way to go....  

He subsequently sold his collection.... for $56.9 million!..... which probably means he started with about $100 million.

[Lucas H]

I use a gem storage case

I've never heard of such.  Do you have link to show an example.

If your serious this is the way to go.... 

Now that's what I'm talking about!  I could put the guns, coins, and books in there with room to spare.  I'll show that picture to the wife and see where I can put that in the house.  I assume the basement from the weight.

[renegade3220]

Lucas, I have two crappy photos posted in the thread I use to direct people to my new aquisitions in the members gallery topic area. I would post the link but I'm on an iPhone right now.

Instead, I will try to take new and better photos tonight and post them here.  I got the idea from Romanorvm If I remember correctly and he has dome nice photos posted of his. His trays are full. Mine only had a few.

I did rsearch on it and the plastic is safe if you are concerened about that. I bought a largerecabinet style but they have single tray styles as well. It looks great and is very cheap!!!!

You can get white or black colored trays too. The black is great for silver and gold coins amd the white for bronze.

I will post later tonight after I finish my yard work.