How to store your coins: capsules, holders, albums and boxes

A coin can survive a hundred years in a drawer and be damaged within a year in an unsuitable album. Proper storage is the cheapest “insurance” for a collection. The choice depends on two questions: how valuable the coin is and how often you want to look at it.

The basic rule: what touches the coin

Metal reacts with the materials around it. Safe are:

• rigid, transparent PVC-free plastics – acrylic, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene and inert polyester (known as Mylar);
• acid-free card and paper;
• undyed textile linings in coin cases.

Dangerous are:

• PVC (polyvinyl chloride) – the soft, flexible film of many cheap albums and pouches. Over time it releases plasticisers that form a green, greasy layer and eat into the surface;
• ordinary acidic paper and cardboard, as well as envelopes with glue;
• rubber bands, wool and felt – they contain sulphur and tarnish silver.

If an album is soft, smells of “plastic” and its film is sticky, it is most likely PVC.

Capsules

Rigid round capsules are the best protection for individual valuable coins. The coin is isolated from air and fingers, is visible from both sides, and the capsule fits easily into a box.

• Choose a capsule with the exact inner diameter – the coin should not roll around inside. You will find the diameter of every coin in our catalogue.
• Capsules with a soft foam ring let one capsule hold coins of similar sizes.
• Insert the coin with plastic-tipped tweezers or by holding it by the edge.

Cardboard holders (2×2)

Square cardboard holders with a window of inert film are cheap, easy to label and convenient for large collections of circulation coins. You can write on them the year, face value, condition and where and when the coin was bought.

Be careful when closing them. Stapled holders are the classic, but the staples must be pressed flat, otherwise they scratch neighbouring holders. Self-adhesive holders are more convenient, but the glue must not touch the coin.

Albums

Albums are the most pleasant way to browse a collection. They are suitable mainly for circulation coins – for example complete sets of stotinki by year.

• Prefer albums with rigid pages with slots or with pages of inert film. If you have inherited an old album from the 1970s or 1980s, check the coins for green spots.
• Do not overfill the album – pressure between the pages can leave marks.
• Store the album upright, like a book, not lying flat under weights.

Cases and boxes

Cases – boxes with sliding trays with slots – are the standard for serious collections. They are suitable for coins in capsules or holders, protect them from dust and light and allow a quick review.

BNB proof coins

BNB commemorative coins are sold in a capsule, a box and with a certificate. The best thing you can do is:

1. Do not open the capsule. A proof surface is extremely sensitive. A single fingerprint can leave a spot that shows up months later.
2. Keep the original box and certificate. They are part of the value at resale.
3. Watch for white (“milk”) spots on silver. They sometimes appear even with proper storage. More about them in the article Milk spots on silver proof coins.

Where to keep the collection

The place is as important as the packaging. The ideal is a dry, dark place with a stable temperature, without sudden changes. Avoid basements, attics and bathrooms. Do not keep coins next to radiators or outside walls. You can put a sachet of silica gel in the box and replace it periodically. More about humidity and temperature in a separate article in this series.

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