Non-gerrous and ferrous metals corrode when they react with gases such as Carbonyl Sulfide (COS), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Hydrogen Chloride (HCI) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S). These gases are formed by a variety of natural sources such as decaying vegetation, the burning of fossil fuels, and wetlands. These common gases invade virtually all environments. Over time, they can cause damage to coins.

We have listed below those coin supply items that will give you added protection for your coins from the dangers of environmental and handling damage.

Coin Albums

Although considerably higher in price than your basic Coin Folders, Coin Albums are the Deluxe way to go when building a coin series. Coin albums offer you a greater degree of protection for your higher priced coins because the coins are protected from the surrounding air by acetate slides and the albums are made from a more "archival quality" material.

The Intercept Shield albums have built-in corrosion protection that will neutralize corrosive gases before they come in contact with your coins. There are also Corrosion Protection™ pages available that can be added to most deluxe coin albums that also neutralize corrosive gases. See the Corrosion Protection™ page information below.

Corrosion Protection™ Pages

Littleton Coin Co. has a Corrosion Protection™ page that can be added to their albums that will neutralize corrosive gases before they come in contact with your coins. These Corrosion Protection™ pages will also fit into most of the popular coin albums on the market such as the Dansco Supreme, Whitman Classic and Lighthouse coin albums.

Coin Holders

Most all coin holders will give you some degree of protection from the dangers of environmental damage. Even the inexpensive Fold-&-Staple coin holders with the Mylar windows will protect a coin from the surrounding air but these are not absolutely air tight

Keep this in mind when choosing your coin holder: The more the holder protects the coin from the surrounding air the greater the degree of protection it will provide. Some of the best choices would be the Whitman Snap Lock holders, the Air-Tite coin capsules, Eagle 2" x 2" Coin Holders, Capital Plastic holders and the 2" x 2" Intercept Shield coin holders which have built-in corrosion protection. Intercept Shield also has a Coin Storage Box for Certified Coins that has the built-in corrosion protection.

Coin Tubes

Coin tubes are an excellent way to store and protect bulk quantities of Circulated as well as Uncirculated coins from the dangers of environmental damage. Coin tubes, either round with the screw on cap or the square with a push on cap provide a closed environment for your coins protecting them from the dangers of airborne corrosive gases. A Roll Storage Box will also increase the protection for rolls of coins. See coin storage boxes listed below.

Coin Storage Boxes - All Types

If you have read everything on this page so far you can see that the emphases on coin Preservation is to protect your coins from the surrounding air which contains the corrosive gases that are harmful to your coins. So why stop with just coin holders or coin tubes when you can add one more line of defense against environmental damage by using a coin storage box.

Coin storage boxes are available for both single coins in 2" x 2" holders as well as coins that are in coin tubes. Intercept Shield has a Coin Storage Box for Certified Coins that has the built-in corrosion protection.

If you are using coin storage boxes of any type we also suggest packets of Silica Gel for added protection against moisture. See the Silica Gel information below.

Silica Gel

There is not much we can do about humidity. When the conditions are right it just naturally surrounds us. And when the humidity is high you are talking about a considerable amount of moisture in the air, and moisture can be harmful to your coin collection. Although we can not control the weather we can protect our coin storage areas against moisture with Silica Gel.

Silica gel has been the desiccant (drying agent) of choice by government and industry since W.W.II. By surface absorption, silica gel drinks up excess humidity from the air. It prevents condensation within enclosed areas which cause irreparable damage: rust, corrosion, tarnish, oxidation, mildew, fungus, mold, odor, spoilage, spotting, toning, and stains.

White Cotton Gloves

When handling Choice Uncirculated or Proof Coins it is advisable that you protect the surfaces of the coin from the potential dangers of a fingerprint. A fingerprint on a Uncirculated coin may not be noticeable the moment it happens but it will stand out like a sore thumb on a Proof coin with its mirror surface.

In time, the oils from your fingertips that produced the print on the coin will actually etch the coinage metal and the fingerprint will be more noticeable. Don't take the chance of running valuable coins when working with them. Of the White Cotton Gloves we offer we suggest the Medium weight when working with coins.

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