Advice on How to Carefully Open Coins You Buy Online

The parcel has arrived and you know what's inside. The temptation is to tear it open.

Slow down. A lot of avoidable damage happens in the first few minutes at home. A box sliced with a knife, a creased certificate or a capsule dropped on tiles can all take value off a coin before it reaches your collection.

Set up a clear space

Use a clean table with good light and lay down a soft towel. Move drinks, food and pets out of the way. If you're opening several coins, give yourself room to lay everything out.

Wash and dry your hands first. Clean, dry hands are less likely to mark boxes and capsules.

Open the outer carton gently

Before you cut anything, find the tape seams. Use scissors or a box cutter with only the tip of the blade showing, and cut along the tape rather than across the middle of the carton.

Keep the blade shallow. A deep cut can go straight through the packing and into a presentation box. If you're unsure, peel the tape off by hand.

Remove the packing slowly

Lift out padding, bubble wrap and paper one piece at a time. Certificates and loose capsules sometimes end up tucked inside the packing. Check everything before it goes in the bin.

Inspect the presentation packaging

Before you open the coin box, look it over. Check the box, the sleeve and any seals. If something is damaged, take photos straight away, while the item is still in its delivery packaging. It makes any claim with the seller or courier much simpler.

Open the coin box carefully

Many collector coins come in a box with an outer sleeve, a hinged case and a certificate.

·       Slide the sleeve off slowly. If it sticks, don't force it.

·       Open hinged cases fully so the hinge isn't strained.

·       Lift the certificate out by its edges and lay it flat.

·       If the certificate is folded, don't refold it along new lines.

Leave the coin in its capsule

Admire the coin through the capsule and leave it sealed. Proof coins are especially easy to mark, and a fingerprint can etch into the surface over time.

If a coin has come loose from its insert, lift the capsule by its edges and press it gently back into place. Never press on the face of the coin.

Check the coin and paperwork

Look at the coin under good light and compare it with the product description. Where a certificate number is supplied, check it matches the coin or set. If anything looks wrong, contact the seller before you put it away.

Keep everything

Hang on to the box, sleeve, certificate and any outer shipping box made for the coin. Collectors and dealers usually expect a coin to come with its original packaging. Store the packaging with the coin, or nearby and clearly labelled.

Record the purchase

While it's fresh, note what you bought, when, who from and what you paid. It takes a minute, and it makes the collection much easier to track, insure and eventually pass on.

How we pack at Mint Coin Shop

We pack every order so it reaches you in the condition it left us. If something arrives damaged, photograph it before you move the packaging, then get in touch. We'll work through it with you.

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