Hi, i've been looking for a supplier of 2x2 coin holders and album pages after reading about the perils of PVC (still not found one if anyone can give me a link to a seller)... however the other day i found a box of coins in my mums loft, some of which were put into PVC flips 40 years ago yet there's no noticable "green sludge" on any of them... what does this mean, is the PVC a real danger or is it maye just some coins turning colour due to other effects? Chris
Here are a couple of links to suppliers that I use Chris.... http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/?gclid=COzK-JHqupwCFdZM5Qod2Sf-oA http://www.brent-krueger.com/?source=google Don't know if this helps as I suspect that you hail from the UK and I'm not sure if these fellows ship internationally.....
No. PVC really is bad for your coins. And can come from flips. Are you sure the flips you found these coins in are PVC? How are you sure? PVC flips will be kind of grainy when you look through them, and when you press both sides of the window together they will stick together a little bit. I've had 4 PVC flips with old copper sitting around the house and I haven't noticed anything yet. It all depends on conditions and humidity. Not very humid up here in Canada...
I would suspect PVC is already on the coin but not visible yet. May be visible under UV or from a picture.
If they are circulated coins do they feel sticky or slimy. After 40 years they should. Honestly I'd give them a bit of acetone, a good rinse and gently blot drying. Then put them into NON PVC holders. PVC is not good for coins.
If I understand the process right the PVC transfer happens when the flip starts to break down. Storage/environmental conditions can speed up or slow down this process. It's a complete guess but if stored properly I would imagine 40 year you could have minimal PVC issues but I suspect as mentioned earlier the process has probably begun and if given the right conditions even if you removed them from the flips you will see evidence of the PVC storage.
I am really confused, i ve put my collection in plastic zip locks, and i dont know whether it contains PVC or not. In a previous thread a member told me that anything plastic bag that can be used to store food, so it can store the coins. Please hasten the reply, as i am in panic, i need some good suggestions to store my coins until i get proper holders. Thanks all Cheers,
Is it possible that you are not recognizing the effects of PVC ? It's not always green ya know. And it's not always slimy. During the various stages of PVC contamination it can and does change color. It can appear as clear (almost invisible), whitish, light brown, dark brown, almost black and the one most know - various shades of green. It can also turn dry and flaky looking. But after 40 years I would have a hard time imagining that there is not some form of it on the coins. Ziplocks are fine - they contain no PVC.
yes its possible they're not PVC packets but they certainly appear to be 2 out of about 30 coins are dated 1969. one of those is a AU-ish Canadian 50 cent, this still looks brand new with no tarnish whatsoever. the other is a '65 Chruchill Crown in a similar condition. i assume theyre PVC as they're soft clear plastic flips. once ive got all my sheets and 2x2s here to organise my collection ill try photoing and posting pics to see if you can see something ive missed chris
Chris - try this for me. Take one of those flips and bend it back and forth where it folds in the middle - about 10 times. Then tell me what happened.
The factors most often cited as strong initiators of PVC plasticizer immigration to coins are -heat ( especially any over 85 F) -humidity ( especially over 50 %) -direct sun light ( more tropical areas) -the pre-existing patina already on the coin's surface. ( difficult to evaluate) If you live in Hawaii , and just put a BU 2009 cent into a PVC flip, ....look at it in a year. Jim
Wouldn't hurt. Luckily we only have moisture here in summer, or I would fall into that description also. Although they say El NINO, and those have been our wet years. I remember several times on Christmas, sunny 80 degree day. Jim
just did this, bent it fully back, squeezed the fold so it stays open, then fully closed and squeezed again... 10 times and it didnt crack or anything... im pretty sure this is PVC unless there are other types of soft coin-flip material?
Yep, then I'd say they are PVC flips. A non PVC flip should have cracked after that. I'll revert back to my original comments.
No problem with Zip Lock bags. Many years ago I called the manufacturers of many products used for the containment of foods. None are allowed to contain PVC. I have almost all my Whitman Classic Albums in Zip Lock Bags and have been there since they were invented.
Not to be too impudent here but how about the good old freezer? Preserves just about everything. Why not coins too. Just thaw 'em out when you're ready to use 'em....
WELCOME TO THE FORUMMMMMMMMM. You could possibly look up PVC on a search of this or many other sources. PVC is so overly done with panic that it has become almost a joke. But to sum it up briefly, PVC is not the problem. The manufacturers add STUFF to PVC to make it more pliable. Usually noted as phthalates. This substance is not stable and tends to leak out of the PVC. That is the STUFF that effects all types of metals and coins are metal. However, just as with Chlorine used in pools or sanitation systems, when it is all gone, it is ALL gone. The PVC becomes stiffer and no longer a threat to coins. After 40 years it is now just PVC. It is now just another plastic.
Thank you Just Carl I ve been confused for a long time, because I ve put all my coins which i inherited from my late grandfather in plastic bags, as he used to put them all together in envelopes, surprisingly the coins are in good shape. waiting to buy some albums for my coins, until then i ll keep them in these bags. Thank you Cheers,
Thanks! Im beginning to see the funny side... How intereseting... I would have thought the damage wold have been done in the first few years unless these flips were already ancient in the 60s right, cheersall... on balance i think i'll go for the mylar 2x2 staple cardboard things... anyone know where i can get them in sizes for english coins? Chris
