FH Coins

• 1-888-FHCOINS (342-6467)
• 212-737-5256

Ridgewood Coins 

• 718-381-3601

59-03 71st Ave, Ridgewood, Queens
(Corner Myrtle Ave)

February 1981

Take Care Of Your Coins And They Will Take Care Of You

By David Heller, President, Forest Hills Coin and Stamp Exchange

In the early 1900's the rich housed their coin collections in large cabinets that employed shallow drawers in which coins were laid out singly on top of felt pads while those of lesser wealth would use piano roll boxes and cigar boxes to store their coins. As time goes on, the field of numismatics will become more complex as our present day technology finds more and more ways of preserving the condition of rare coins. Since World War II, the discovery of new plastic compounds such as polyethylene and polyvinyl has in some significant ways given high quality rare coins a new 1ease on life. In addition to that, the ANA’s new grading standards have increased the precision with which the quality of coins may be judged.

The most common question that is always asked by an individual interested in a rare coin is, of course, "What is it worth?" Part of tile answer to this lies in knowing how much surface wear the coin has received. Grade is the state of preservation of a coin. When a coin leaves the press at the mint, its grade is designated as "Uncirculated." A coin in this condition has a brilliant and frosty luster and shows absolutely no signs of wear. At the other end of the spectrum, you'll find coins that are almost illegible due to damage from scratching, nicks, and handling. These coins are what collectors refer to as "About Good." Between these two designations there are many other grades to be found. It is important to remember that there is a significant chance for error when judging grades near each other.

As the number of pieces in an individual's collection begins to reach substantial proportions the problem of how to preserve and store these pieces enters the picture. Basically, the goal of storing one's coins in the safest manner possible is to prevent them from being exposed to oxygen, sulphur, and other damaging substances. Many museums use black cardboard trays mounted on cardboard cases, but these trays often involve more money and space than the average collector might deem feasible. Probably the least expensive and most practical method of storing one's coins would be to put the coin in an inert transparent housing of some safe material (such as polyethylene) and with this protection, then place the coin in a regular paper envelope. A coin in an envelope without the added protection of the polyethylene sleeve soon would discolor or tarnish beyond repair, Brown manila envelopes should be avoided as they are of a sulphur-based paper. Always make sure that your coins ore thoroughly dry and at room temperature before storing.

At this point, it is Important to note that one should avoid storing a collection where the air is either polluted or extremely humid. A recent example of this comes to mind. A colleague of mine lives near St. Petersburg, Florida and has had extensive problems with the effect of that particular climate on his collection of rare coins. In some instances, several coins made of bronze have tended to develop a greenish black hue due to the extremities of the weather. When something like this occurs there is often the temptation to clean the coin. Cleaning any coin that grades less than About Uncirculated will generally produce an unnatural appearance that Is not acceptable to most collectors. The cleaning of copper coins in any grade should be avoided unless it's absolutely necessary in order to remove corrosion spots or a fingerprint. If you're determined to clean coins talk to a dealer or experienced collector first – he may save you from causing permanent damage to a valuable piece.

Finally, it is important to stress that it is the combination of both rarity and excellent condition that determines the value of a high quality rare coin. One cannot accurately estimate the value of such a coin without taking both of these factors into account equally.

As published in Barron's 1981