There is a type of Hippocratic Oath used implicitly among coin collectors:
First, most especially, do no damage.
Strictures on making clean coins are familiar in
collecting circles, although there’s continued debate
about how and when. Despite that, there’s general agreement on the
way to store coins.
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To avoid the harming issues with oxidation, finger oil,
scrapes, etc, coins should at any rate be stored in Mylar plastic containers, one coin per compartment. They enter a mixture of
styles.
Inexpensive Mylar-lined cardboard holders can be purchased. The
holders have a small, round cut-out for placing the coin so it can be held up and seen from either side. They enter a
form sometimes called two-by-two’s. They are frequently
two inches by two inches.
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Some holders are sheets that will hold various coins, but
each in its own separate area. Others are tiny,
personal sleeves that will hold one coin
each. Several styles have holes punched in the edge so that coins can be stored in a binder, but
these aren’t ideal. Coins should be
displayed.
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Cabinets, from small, glass and wood cigar-box style holders to large,
floor-standing Chippendale types, can be bought to
hold and show off your collection. The costlier
types are virtually air-tight and some need archival-style dehumidifiers.
Aged mahogany or rosewood both make superior wooden cabinets.
You should avoid any wooden cabinet, such as oak, that
emits organic compounds into the interior. Many types of tree, long
after being chopped down and whether
not coated with varnish, will produce volatile, organic
compounds. Some of those compounds are
detrimental to coins.
Many collectors, for that cause, will recommend a metal
cabinet instead. Several styles exist, some with
a coating that helps to prevent
scratching and oxidation. Plastic or polystyrene containers are likewise available, though they rarely display as
nicely.
Whichever style of cabinet you acquire, apart from those with
in-built dehumidifiers, it’s helpful to have a
supply of silica gel packages or
other desiccant. They draw moisture that
contributes greatly to oxidization.
Some collectors will coat the coins with vegetable oil or wax before storing, but these
practices are contentious. Oil can
attract contaminants and wax may give a false sense of protection, since it can easily
wear off or dull the view.
Beyond what to do or use, there are several
medically that can avoid.
While avoiding exposure to air is good, it’s not
true that any type of packaging is superior
to none. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) sleeves are generally not recommended. They can cause the
coin’s surface to become coated so with a greenish
sludge that’s detrimental and
hard to remove cleanly.
Though exhibiting coins is desirable,
storing them away has been termed essential. Paper envelopes can be used to do this, but avert standard
office supplies. Get envelopes specifically made for coin
storage. The sulfuric acid in common paper can harm
coins, especially ones containing copper.
Never store collectible coins in any type of bulk container, like penny rolls, plastic tubes, etc. That results in scratching and
denting and doesn’t keep out damaging air.
Specially-made sealed containers that hold a collectible are
best, though they add to the
up-front cost of the coin. In the
long-term, however, they will keep your coin in good
condition for long run storage and display.
