Storing Your Collection

After adding a few pieces to your collection, you may wonder how to store your coins appropriately. You may have a small box or jar with coins, but properly storing them is easy and cost effective. Proper storage offers organization, safety from mishandling, and environmental protection. Where you store your coins is just as important as how you store them.

Folders

The first step up from tossing coins in a jar is placing them in a folder. Folders are cheap alternatives to an album and are composed of thin cardboard and paper. They have spaces for coins to be popped into place and are organized chronologically. Unfortunately, you can view only one side of a coin at a time, and the paper degrades over long periods. These are the best choice for circulated and low-value coins. You can purchase folders for only a few dollars, and they are available even at hobby chain stores.

Cardboard Flips

Cardboard flips are the most popular form of storage for beginners. They are cheap, offer more protection than folders, can be personalized with writing, and you can store them with other denominations. They are traditionally stapled together, though some are self-sealing. Use caution with flips, as they can scratch coins and degrade quickly. Many people inadvertently ruin nice pieces with an unfortunate staple scratch. You can buy 100 flips for $3 to $5.

Individual Plastic Holders

Sacrificing organization for superior protection, individual plastic holders like “Kointains” are a remarkable choice for even the most expensive coins. They are made of thick, inert plastic and are fitted with a gasket or fit coins directly. They last unfathomably long and don’t introduce foreign material that will discolor coins. Museums typically use these because they adequately protect coins while allowing them to be displayed individually. Although you’ll have to be creative in organizing them, these are second best only to third-party-grading holders and typically cost 50 cents to $1 each.

Albums

If you collect uncirculated or expensive coins, storing them in albums rather than basic folders is best. Albums offer better protection, and some hobbyists see them as collectibles themselves. These albums are made with thick cardboard pages and sliding plastic sleeves, and they can be bound like a book or set with metal rings. With albums, you can view both sides of the coins without removing them from the pages, offering the best overall protection. However, when sliding the plastic sleeves, avoid damaging the coin’s highest points. If the coin doesn’t fit correctly in the space, the plastic may scrape across the coin, causing damage.

If you prefer to have “blast-white” coins (those with a bright, lustrous appearance), avoiding albums is best. Coins tend to discolor inside the sleeve, and some albums are known for the toning they add to coins. You can find these albums in the $30 to $50 price range.

Environment

The environment in which coins are stored is the most crucial factor, superseding the type of holder or album they may be housed in. Keep your coins in a dry and consistently cool area. Humidity is a much more critical factor than temperature. You can also use moisture absorbents and dehumidifiers to counteract humidity. Still, it is best to avoid storing your coins in basements, garages, and attics. Remember that problems can take months to reveal themselves, so err on the side of caution.

Whether you like the organization of an album or the spontaneity of individual holders, proper coin storage is essential to enjoying your pieces for years to come.