Appeal to coin sellers and collectors across the pond

[wybrit 2]

I have bought a number of pieces from the UK this year and I am very concerned that, in spite of the availability of many good alternatives, the common practice among many British dealers is to house their coins in soft plastic holders. These holders have plasticizers made from polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. This material sticks to coins and in many cases chlorine is liberated in the presence of moisture (which there is plenty of in the UK), converting into HCl (hydrochloric acid), which as many of you know is bad for many metals including silver and copper. PVC is bad for coins even if it is in proximity to coins, not just in intimate contact with them. I have seen the results of a true scientific study of this done on thin metal films left in proximity to PVC plastic.

The only good news in this is if the coins are rinsed properly in acetone, the damage can be minimised.

I appeal to the dealer community to stop using these detrimental holders and seek out more inert materials for housing your stock. Whatever more it costs will be more than worth it for the value you will get in selling a superior coin.

Thank you.

[£400 for a Penny ? 0]

In fairness to UK dealers, I think they just use PVC for posting coins out, not long term storage. As you mentioned, it is soft and probably provides the best protection in transit amongst all the alternatives.

This is my experience anyhow.

Rgds.

[Chris Perkins 228]

The envelopes I both sell and use for posting out are Polypropylene (PP) which is apparently inert according to studies.

http://www.predecimal.com/klar-coin-envelo...1mm-p-7679.html

I have them specially made. They are a bit more expensive, but I simply wouldn't entertain PVC at all, even for temporary storage.

[1949threepence 3,367]

In fairness to UK dealers, I think they just use PVC for posting coins out, not long term storage. As you mentioned, it is soft and probably provides the best protection in transit amongst all the alternatives.

This is my experience anyhow.

Rgds.

Indeed. Nearly all coins come in small PVC packs, often stapled shut. I suppose they are just about OK for transporting and therefore short periods, but I don't like them at all.

I did receive a coin recently which was inserted between two glued pieces of cardboard, with a coin sized hole in the centre of the two, so you could see obverse and reverse from either side. Keeping the coin in place were two pieces of a sort of gauzy linen stretched tight across the holes, with the coin lying loosely inside. Not sure what the substance was, but it seemed to be inert, as far as I could tell.

[scott 144]

i see more of the paper envolopes now

[Gary D 76]

Recently I've receive on two occassions coin just sellotaped to a peice of cardboard. Appropiate comments and feedbback was left.

[scott 144]

i dont mind it between 2 pieces of cardboard, but celotaped to card o.O

[1949threepence 3,367]

Recently I've receive on two occassions coin just sellotaped to a peice of cardboard. Appropiate comments and feedbback was left.

I've received one like that. Buried under mounds of sellotape.

It was like breaking into Fort Knox just to get at it. Let alone survey the damage.