Handling Coins

[PunkReaper 0]

I was watching a documentary the other day and the presenter was turning the pages of a beautiful illuminated manuscript with her bare fingers. It was stated that opinions had changed and that gloves were no longer worn to protect the pages. I was wondering how people her handle their coin collections. Gloves, no gloves, quickly encase them in plastic. Question 2 is how do you display your coins. I personally would like to be able to display the coin with a short discription to remind me what is special about the coin. Trays, envelopes , albums etc... Thanks in advance for any advice you can give an inexperienced collector.

[Peckris 579]

I was watching a documentary the other day and the presenter was turning the pages of a beautiful illuminated manuscript with her bare fingers. It was stated that opinions had changed and that gloves were no longer worn to protect the pages. I was wondering how people her handle their coin collections. Gloves, no gloves, quickly encase them in plastic. Question 2 is how do you display your coins. I personally would like to be able to display the coin with a short discription to remind me what is special about the coin. Trays, envelopes , albums etc... Thanks in advance for any advice you can give an inexperienced collector.

Rules that apply to paper are different than metal. Admittedly fingering coins won't cause structural damage, but will leave a deposit of slightly acidic grease which would ruin lustre or good toning. Coins should either be handled only wearing cotton gloves, or by touching them by their edges, and avoid breathing right over them.

I prefer to store in a cabinet but you have to take them out to see both sides. (One advantage of plastic tombs, or of plastic flips.) Albums are good for the inexperienced beginner but make sure they are for coins, i.e. non-PVC.

[Coinery 1,153]

How strange...we watched bomber boys tonight, and both my wife and myself instantly got into a discussion when Ewan McGregor gloved up to handle the type-written pages of a mere 70 year old document - we had both also watched the medieval illuminated pages being pawed over with what seemed little regard for their longevity.

If I can selfishly expand and add to your query, as I'd also like to know, catagorically, rather than speculatively, what is the best thing to do with your immaculate lustred coin BEFORE placing it into a plastic slip, or taking the precautions of wearing gloves and/or holding it by the edge?

You see, all the care in the world, and all the tender treatment by ourselves, is not going to make a jot of difference if some guy has stuffed our coin into an envelope whilst eating his fish and chips in front of the re-runs of Corrie on a Sunday night.

Will will be the proud owners of an item with active, though presently invisible, lustre cancer, attacking the precious fields of our proudly won YH lustred Victoria penny.

So, is there a professionally accepted procedure and/or products considered appropriate for decontaminating the different metalled coins? Would we be looking at PH balanced products? What precedents have already been set by museums?

[Paulus 1,975]

How strange...we watched bomber boys tonight, and both my wife and myself instantly got into a discussion when Ewan McGregor gloved up to handle the type-written pages of a mere 70 year old document - we had both also watched the medieval illuminated pages being pawed over with what seemed little regard for their longevity.

If I can selfishly expand and add to your query, as I'd also like to know, catagorically, rather than speculatively, what is the best thing to do with your immaculate lustred coin BEFORE placing it into a plastic slip, or taking the precautions of wearing gloves and/or holding it by the edge?

You see, all the care in the world, and all the tender treatment by ourselves, is not going to make a jot of difference if some guy has stuffed our coin into an envelope whilst eating his fish and chips in front of the re-runs of Corrie on a Sunday night.

Will will be the proud owners of an item with active, though presently invisible, lustre cancer, attacking the precious fields of our proudly won YH lustred Victoria penny.

So, is there a professionally accepted procedure and/or products considered appropriate for decontaminating the different metalled coins? Would we be looking at PH balanced products? What precedents have already been set by museums?

Brilliant question!

[azda 979]

I have a little ultrasonic cleaner that i sometimes use with hot water and place the coin in. I use olive oil for my pennies if any have any spot verd, so in order to clean the oil off this is what i use.

[Peckris 579]

How strange...we watched bomber boys tonight, and both my wife and myself instantly got into a discussion when Ewan McGregor gloved up to handle the type-written pages of a mere 70 year old document - we had both also watched the medieval illuminated pages being pawed over with what seemed little regard for their longevity.

If I can selfishly expand and add to your query, as I'd also like to know, catagorically, rather than speculatively, what is the best thing to do with your immaculate lustred coin BEFORE placing it into a plastic slip, or taking the precautions of wearing gloves and/or holding it by the edge?

You see, all the care in the world, and all the tender treatment by ourselves, is not going to make a jot of difference if some guy has stuffed our coin into an envelope whilst eating his fish and chips in front of the re-runs of Corrie on a Sunday night.

Will will be the proud owners of an item with active, though presently invisible, lustre cancer, attacking the precious fields of our proudly won YH lustred Victoria penny.

So, is there a professionally accepted procedure and/or products considered appropriate for decontaminating the different metalled coins? Would we be looking at PH balanced products? What precedents have already been set by museums?

This is an educated guess type of reply, rather than scientific but ... I have often cleared 'film' (i.e. grease, some dirt, or caked condensation, etc) off coins by immersing in surgical spirit and then wiping that off GENTLY using a microfibre cloth.

I wouldn't use olive oil for what you plan to store in a plastic envelope, though a very thin film of it might do for coins in trays, but make sure you reapply every now and then - either annually or when you judge it's needed.

[moneyer12 0]

white neutral acid gloves are the norm for me, for coins and notes, BTW the best albums i have found for my notes are the wh smith first day cover albums, thet are mylar with acid neutral paper inserts, as the long term storage for FDC's are the same as notes. for my coins its the good old lindner trays,

[Coinery 1,153]

How strange...we watched bomber boys tonight, and both my wife and myself instantly got into a discussion when Ewan McGregor gloved up to handle the type-written pages of a mere 70 year old document - we had both also watched the medieval illuminated pages being pawed over with what seemed little regard for their longevity.

If I can selfishly expand and add to your query, as I'd also like to know, catagorically, rather than speculatively, what is the best thing to do with your immaculate lustred coin BEFORE placing it into a plastic slip, or taking the precautions of wearing gloves and/or holding it by the edge?

You see, all the care in the world, and all the tender treatment by ourselves, is not going to make a jot of difference if some guy has stuffed our coin into an envelope whilst eating his fish and chips in front of the re-runs of Corrie on a Sunday night.

Will will be the proud owners of an item with active, though presently invisible, lustre cancer, attacking the precious fields of our proudly won YH lustred Victoria penny.

So, is there a professionally accepted procedure and/or products considered appropriate for decontaminating the different metalled coins? Would we be looking at PH balanced products? What precedents have already been set by museums?

This is an educated guess type of reply, rather than scientific but ... I have often cleared 'film' (i.e. grease, some dirt, or caked condensation, etc) off coins by immersing in surgical spirit and then wiping that off GENTLY using a microfibre cloth.

I wouldn't use olive oil for what you plan to store in a plastic envelope, though a very thin film of it might do for coins in trays, but make sure you reapply every now and then - either annually or when you judge it's needed.

But if olive oil is reportedly 'mildly acidic,' wouldn't a continuous film of the stuff eventually have a negatory effect?

[Peter 615]

Who hasn't sorted a few out with soapy water and a tooth pick? Just pat dry afterwards....not to be recommended for anything..above EF.I did mess up a 1787 shilling using this method.Alas it had to go.

[Gary D 76]

How strange...we watched bomber boys tonight, and both my wife and myself instantly got into a discussion when Ewan McGregor gloved up to handle the type-written pages of a mere 70 year old document - we had both also watched the medieval illuminated pages being pawed over with what seemed little regard for their longevity.

If I can selfishly expand and add to your query, as I'd also like to know, catagorically, rather than speculatively, what is the best thing to do with your immaculate lustred coin BEFORE placing it into a plastic slip, or taking the precautions of wearing gloves and/or holding it by the edge?

You see, all the care in the world, and all the tender treatment by ourselves, is not going to make a jot of difference if some guy has stuffed our coin into an envelope whilst eating his fish and chips in front of the re-runs of Corrie on a Sunday night.

Will will be the proud owners of an item with active, though presently invisible, lustre cancer, attacking the precious fields of our proudly won YH lustred Victoria penny.

So, is there a professionally accepted procedure and/or products considered appropriate for decontaminating the different metalled coins? Would we be looking at PH balanced products? What precedents have already been set by museums?

This is an educated guess type of reply, rather than scientific but ... I have often cleared 'film' (i.e. grease, some dirt, or caked condensation, etc) off coins by immersing in surgical spirit and then wiping that off GENTLY using a microfibre cloth.

I wouldn't use olive oil for what you plan to store in a plastic envelope, though a very thin film of it might do for coins in trays, but make sure you reapply every now and then - either annually or when you judge it's needed.

But if olive oil is reportedly 'mildly acidic,' wouldn't a continuous film of the stuff eventually have a negatory effect?

I seems to vary from manufacturer to manufacture. The stuff we have at home at the moment seems to be completely neutral

Edited February 7, 2012 by Gary D

[Peter 615]

One thing about olive oil.How can it be extra virgin?

[Peckris 579]

How strange...we watched bomber boys tonight, and both my wife and myself instantly got into a discussion when Ewan McGregor gloved up to handle the type-written pages of a mere 70 year old document - we had both also watched the medieval illuminated pages being pawed over with what seemed little regard for their longevity.

If I can selfishly expand and add to your query, as I'd also like to know, catagorically, rather than speculatively, what is the best thing to do with your immaculate lustred coin BEFORE placing it into a plastic slip, or taking the precautions of wearing gloves and/or holding it by the edge?

You see, all the care in the world, and all the tender treatment by ourselves, is not going to make a jot of difference if some guy has stuffed our coin into an envelope whilst eating his fish and chips in front of the re-runs of Corrie on a Sunday night.

Will will be the proud owners of an item with active, though presently invisible, lustre cancer, attacking the precious fields of our proudly won YH lustred Victoria penny.

So, is there a professionally accepted procedure and/or products considered appropriate for decontaminating the different metalled coins? Would we be looking at PH balanced products? What precedents have already been set by museums?

This is an educated guess type of reply, rather than scientific but ... I have often cleared 'film' (i.e. grease, some dirt, or caked condensation, etc) off coins by immersing in surgical spirit and then wiping that off GENTLY using a microfibre cloth.

I wouldn't use olive oil for what you plan to store in a plastic envelope, though a very thin film of it might do for coins in trays, but make sure you reapply every now and then - either annually or when you judge it's needed.

But if olive oil is reportedly 'mildly acidic,' wouldn't a continuous film of the stuff eventually have a negatory effect?

It's officially acidic (oleic acid) but I'm not sure the effect of the whole oil is acid? Not on metal, anyway. Some people immerse verdigris coins in it for months and the only ill effect is on the verdigris.

One thing about olive oil.How can it be extra virgin?

As in Hugh Hefner's call for more and more Bunnies - "I need extra virgins".

[Peter 615]

It is like the Nun being carried piggy back around the Village by a jester.Virgin on the ridiculas.

[Cerbera100 0]

One thing about olive oil.How can it be extra virgin?

If we're being serious... Virgin = first squeeze of the olives; extra virgin = first bit of the first squeeze.

If we're not (which is more likely!)... think of it as a 7 year old rather than a 14 year old!

[Peter 615]

I must say my taste buds have changed over the years.I can eat olives,salad and a splash of balsamic vinegar till I'm blue in the face.

It must be those romantic ventures to the Greek islands before kids.

[jallen 0]

light house coin capsuls are the way for me

[Generic Lad 25]

Depends on which coin. I've got a decent amount of low grade stuff that it isn't going to harm them if I touch them, in fact, I've got a low grade holed 1758 sixpence in my pocket right now (in a plastic flip) that I use as a conversation piece and use it for coin flips. Not going to damage it since I got it for about 3 pounds 10 pence off of eBay as a test of PayPal's currency conversion system and how well Royal Mail delivers to the US (quite quickly actually! And it was during the Christmas season). Then there are coins that I don't handle at all, my EF/AU 1821 Farthing I haven't touched and its still in the dealer's 2x2 coin flip, though I'm seriously debating sending it in to a TPGer despite my distaste of slabbed coins. For most of my semi-collectable coins I either have them in paper envelopes (hammered mostly) or in cardboard 2x2s with inert plastic so you can see both sides. For my US coins only worth scrap I have them in plastic tubes, and have a shoebox full of low-grade common wheat pennies (40s/50s) and tubes for my earlier wheats and Indian Heads.