How to Look After Your Coin Collection for Decades
Most coins will outlast the people who collect them. Whether they stay in good condition is up to us.
Long-term care isn't complicated. A handful of sensible habits, kept up consistently, will protect a collection for 20, 30 or 50 years.
Leave the coins in their capsules
Modern collector coins from the Royal Australian Mint and The Perth Mint usually arrive sealed in a capsule. That capsule keeps out moisture, fingerprints and air. It's the best protection the coin has.
It's tempting to take a coin out for a closer look. Don't. Once a proof or uncirculated coin has been handled, the damage can't be undone.
Never clean a coin
This is the most common mistake, and the most expensive. Cleaning removes the original surface, however gently you do it. Collectors and dealers can tell, and a cleaned coin is usually worth much less.
The same goes for silver toning. Some silver coins develop toning or small white spots over time, and it's natural to want to polish them off. Leave them alone. If you're worried about a valuable coin, ask an experienced dealer before you do anything.
Handle with care
If you do need to handle a coin outside its capsule, hold it by the edges between your thumb and finger. Wear clean cotton or nitrile gloves, and work over a soft cloth in case you drop it.
Try not to talk or breathe directly over the coin. Tiny droplets of moisture can cause spots that show up months later.
Control the environment
Most long-term damage comes from heat, humidity and big swings in temperature. The best spot is cool, dry and stable, inside the main living area of the home. A wardrobe or a cupboard in an internal room works well.
Keep the collection away from external walls, windows and direct sun. Bathrooms, kitchens, laundries, garages and sheds are all poor choices.
In humid parts of Australia, silica gel sachets in the storage box will help absorb moisture. Replace or recharge them regularly.
Choose the right storage materials
Over decades, what a coin sits against matters. Look for archival-quality storage that is acid-free and PVC-free. Older soft plastic flips and some cheap albums contain PVC. It breaks down over time and can leave a green residue on coins.
Where you can, keep coins in their original presentation boxes. Store the boxes flat and don't stack heavy things on top.
Keep the paperwork together
Certificates of authenticity, boxes and outer sleeves are part of the collection. Keep them with the coins, or in a clearly labelled folder nearby. A coin without its certificate can be harder to value or sell.
Check the collection once or twice a year
Set a reminder. When you look over the collection, check for:
· moisture or condensation inside storage boxes
· cracked or cloudy capsules
· spots, haze or unusual discolouration
· damage to boxes that might point to pests
Problems are much easier to fix when you catch them early.
Keep it secure and insured
A collection built over decades can be worth a fair amount. Store it securely, ideally in a home safe or a bank safe deposit box. Keep a list of what you have, with photos.
Check that your home contents policy covers the collection. Many set limits unless items are listed separately.
Write it down for the next generation
Sooner or later the collection will change hands. Keep a simple inventory of what each coin is, when you bought it and what you paid, plus a note on how to store it. Whoever looks after it next will thank you.
In short
Leave coins sealed and never clean them. Keep them cool, dry and with their paperwork, and look them over once or twice a year. Do that, and your collection should look much the same in 2056 as it does today.
Browse the latest Royal Australian Mint and Perth Mint releases at Mint Coin Shop.
