What not to do in Coin Collecting

Before you do anything to your coins, check these guidelines to make sure you don’t reduce the value of your collection. Of course I need not elaborate that you shouldn’t drop your coins, scratch them, turn the coins into a necklace, and stuff like that.

1. NEVER touch the surface!

Hold coins by their edges only. Aside from gold and platinum, virtually all metals form chemical reactions. Our skin contains acids and many other chemicals which will be a disaster if they come in contact with your beloved coins. Try touching the surface of some common copper coins you can afford to lose. Almost immediately, you will see your fingerprints on the surface.

2. NEVER clean a coin.

Polishing coins may make them look shiny but don’t! Cleaning coins, however careful, will surely leave damage to it. Minute details are likely to be lost and scratches will be all over the coin. Coin collectors prefer to have coins with their natural surface.

3. Don’t store your coins with other coins.

It’s always better to store them separately. Keeping coins in one container can cause them to scratch each other. Also, coins of different metals may react with one another.

3. Don’t store coins in PVC plastic.

Chemicals present in some coin holders can leave residues on the surface which can cause damage in the long run. These coin holders are alright to use for only a short period of time. For long term storage, look for plastics with no PVC. Mylar is considered non-reactive so you’re better off with that.

4. Don’t store coins in a damp environment.

Really serious coin collectors store their coins in controlled environments. If you don’t want to bother with dehumidifiers, you can place small packs of silica gel or other desiccants together with your coins. Take note of this especially if you live in a humid environment.