How to Care for Your Coins Once They Arrive

A collectible coin rewards a bit of care. Look after it and it will look as good in twenty years as it does today. Neglect it and it can lose both its shine and its value. None of the work is hard, and most of it comes down to keeping the coin away from the things that damage it.

Leave them in their original packaging

The single best thing you can do is leave a coin where it came. Mints design their packaging to protect the coin. Capsules, sleeves, certificates and themed cases all do a job. They hold the coin still, keep the air off it and prove what it is.

Opening the packaging often does more harm than good. It exposes the surface, and it can hurt the value too. For numbered and limited releases, collectors expect the packaging to be intact. Once you break the seal, you cannot put it back.

If a coin arrives loose or you need to handle it, hold it by the edges only. Never touch the face. The oils on your skin leave marks that are hard to remove and can etch the surface over time. Clean cotton gloves are a cheap and sensible option.

Keep them dry

Damp is what ruins coins. It leads to spotting, toning and corrosion, and once that starts it is very hard to reverse. A garage, a shed or a damp cupboard is the wrong place.

Store your coins somewhere with stable, low humidity. A sealed container with a few silica gel packets works well, since the gel pulls moisture out of the air. Replace the packets now and then, as they do wear out. Avoid big swings in temperature too, because warm air holding moisture can settle on a cool coin.

Keep them clean and dust free

Keep coins enclosed and dust never becomes a problem. Let it settle on a surface and the next person who wipes it away can drag those fine particles across the finish and scratch it. The simplest fix is to never let the dust reach the coin at all.

Whatever you do, do not clean a collectible coin. It feels helpful, but cleaning strips the original surface and almost always lowers the value. A coin with honest age is worth more than one that has been polished. If a coin really does need attention, speak to a professional first.

Store them up off the floor

Floors are risky. They flood, they collect damp, and they are the first place a careless foot or a moving box lands. Keep your coins up high, on a shelf or in a cabinet, well clear of the ground.

A drawer or a display cabinet keeps them off the floor and out of direct sunlight at the same time. Strong light and heat can fade colour finishes over the years, so a cool, dark spot is ideal.

Keep them secure from prying hands

A small coin is easy to pocket. If you have visitors, tradespeople or curious children in the house, think about who can reach your collection. Out of sight is a good start.

For coins of real value, a locked drawer, a safe or a bank deposit box is worth the cost. Keep a simple record as well. Note what you own, the numbers on each piece and a photo or two. If anything ever goes missing, that record makes a claim far easier.

A quick word on insurance

Once a collection grows, it is worth telling your insurer. Many home and contents policies cap the cover for collectables unless you list them separately. A short call now can save a great deal of frustration later.

If you have a question about a specific piece from Mint Coin Shop, get in touch and we are happy to help.