Storing Coins and Currency – Valuable and Sentimental
That penny you have may be worth a penny. Or it may be worth a lot more.
For coin collectors, or numismatists as they are referred to, one of the most valuable coins is the 1943 copper-alloy penny. Only about 40 exist today. A coin dealer in New Jersey recently sold his for $1.7 million. That\’s a lot of bubble gum!
Coin collecting is a wonderful hobby. Often collections are passed down from generation to generation as the search goes on for more and rarer coins to be added. It\’s something parents can do with their kids or grandparents can do with their grand children.
Sometimes coins have a high monetary and collectible values. Other times the value is primarily sentimental. I had three great uncles who fought in World War 2. My Uncle Russ was on a Navy destroyer in the Mediterranean. My Uncle Everett was awarded a Purple Heart and a Silver Star as an Army Staff Sargant in Europe. And my Uncle Al was in the Army in Hawaii.
In early May of 1945 Al was back home on furlough. While attending a lakeside picnic with family members the news broke of victory in Europe. They wanted some way to mark the moment. So they passed around a few dollar bills that Al had in his pocket for everyone to sign. These dollar bills were different in that they had \”HAWAII\” printed on them. After Pearl Harbor, one of the fears held by the United States was that Japan could overrun the Hawaiian Islands and in doing so capture large amounts of currency. By printing \”HAWAII\” on the bills the U.S. would know where they came from and would be able to demonetize them.
To the clerk at Circle K, that dollar bill is worth a dollar. But the sentimental value of having the signatures of my Dad as a young boy, my uncles and my Grandparents is of great sentimental value to me.
Whether your coins and currency are sentimental or highly collectible, what\’s the best way to store them?
As with many types of collectible items, prolonged exposure to air is detrimental to the long term preservation of your coins. Over time, metal oxidizes when exposed to air. The value of your coin may still be intact but if your coins are worth keeping, why not store them properly?
How you package your coins depends largely on their value. If the value is relatively low, there are a number of options. For circulated coins and everyday pocket change, a jar or box is fine.
For uncirculated coins and coins of higher value, you want to protect their condition. For collector sets, such as the various \”state quarters\” there may be a pre-printed cardboard folder available. While it makes it easy to see the coins all at once, over time chemicals within the cardboard may react with the metal in the coins.
You can purchase plastic sleeves to store in 3-ring binders. Before you do, make certain that the sheets are archival in nature. Many plastic storage sheets contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC doesn\’t play well with others, especially coins. These sleeves are handy and inexpensive but will do long-term damage to your valuable coins.
A favorite tool of coin collectors is called a \”2×2\”. A cardboard rim with a clear plastic archival circle in the middle. The coin is place between the two halves and staple around the edge, sealing the coin. The numismatist then makes his or her notes on the outside of the white cardboard with regard to the \”specs\” for that coin including date, quality and grade.
When ordering collector coins, gold or silver coins new from a dealer or company, it\’s a good idea to leave the coins in their protective cases. This prevents the coins from being physically damaged (scratched, dented, dinged, etc).
If you have spent the money to invest in a collectible coin, don\’t go cheap on the protection. Proper storage will help to preserve the value of your collection. Whether your goal is to sell for a profit in the future or pass it along to your children in the future, it\’s worth the effort to keep your coins in excellent condition.
Are you looking for more information regarding Storing Coins and Currency? Visit http://www.storagetodaysanangelo.com today!
Are you looking for more information regarding Storing Coins and Currency? Visit http://www.storagetodaysanangelo.com today!
Author Bio: Are you looking for more information regarding Storing Coins and Currency? Visit http://www.storagetodaysanangelo.com today!
Category: Home Management
Keywords: valuable coins,coin collectors,coin including