If you are a budding coin collector, learning how to properly care for and store your collection is essential for preserving their longevity and value. As you can tell from the change in your wallet or piggy bank, standard storage conditions wear coins down over time. The guide below will help you protect your rare coins from damage.

How to Store Your Coin Collection

1. Use the Right Coin Holders

There are many coin holders on the market that claim to provide protection, but some are better than others. Whether you choose to use individual holders, albums, or folders, make sure each coin is stored separately. They should not be kept loose in a single container, where they can scratch one another and wear down their emblems and inscriptions. 

Your main choices for coin holders are cardboard 2-by-2s with Mylar windows, “flips” with two plastic pouches, and hard plastic holders. Avoid any holders containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or acids. These substances can degrade the surfaces of coins over time. If you are compiling a themed collection, coin folders and albums with individual slides will serve your goals. Coin albums with rigid slides and hard plastic holders generally offer the most airtight protection.

2. Handle Them Carefully

When you must touch your coins outside their holders or slides, it is absolutely essential to handle them with caution. Move slowly to avoid dropping them, and never handle them bare-handed. Most coin collectors use a clean cotton cloth, cotton gloves, or powder-free latex gloves. Leaving fingerprints on collectible coins significantly diminishes their value and appearance. 

3. Store Them in Ideal Conditions

Although they are common storage areas, basements, attics, and garages are not ideal environments for coin collections. In order to preserve your coins, you need a cool, dry location that maintains a consistent temperature. Desiccant or silica gel packets are a good way to reduce humidity if moisture is a problem. The safest way to store coins is in a safe in a climate-controlled room, or a safe deposit box at the bank.

For professional coin storage advice, contact the knowledgeable team at Coins Plus. As the premier coin dealer of Cincinnati, OH, their partners have more than 100 years of combined experience with rare coin appraisal and trading. Each member is a nationally recognized industry expert, so novice and seasoned coin collectors alike can rely on their guidance. Call (513) 621-1996 or visit their website to learn more about their services.