Once my coins are already in plastic snap cases, mylar flips, airtites, etc, can those then be stored in plastic containers of cheap plastic? (the kind used for small hardware parts, etc?) Just wondering if it's only a question of the plastic that touches the coin, or if plastics in proximity to coins are an issue. There are large containers that are perfect for storing rows of 2x2s, with separators for different countries, etc.
Any hard plastic ( crack if you bend it a little) or container for food products will not harm coin metal. Most have a code on the bottom of the container or box. #3 PVC, #6, and #7 should be avoided http://www.everblue.edu/blog/us-recycling-impacts-green-fence-initiative
Yes, certain plastics can be problematic when in proximity to coins. That's because the plastics give off gasses and it is the gasses that are harmful. Even PVC flips that people know to avoid, it's not the coin touching the plastic that is the problem. It's the gasses the flip gives off and those gasses are then deposited on the coins that is the problem. The same issue exists with paper and cardboard products. Say you have your coins in a safe or any closed container. If there is paper or cardboard in that container the paper/cardboard is going to give off gasses that are harmful to coins. The coins don't have to be touching the paper/cardboard to be at risk.
So Doug, you are saying that just about everything is harmful to storing coins in. What would you suggest as the best method ? Dave
The Plano website says the case I bought contains no PVC. I'm checking with them directly just to make certain, but if these cases work, it's a beautiful storage system.
What about using the vacuum sealed plastic..the food saver. If you put your coins in something first then vacuum seal them. Seems like too much but it only takes a couple seconds to do.
Does the padded Styrofoam I've seen in some mint sets (I.e. Annual dollar unc '13) have any impact on the coins? I have read about the paper inserts but not found mention of the padding.
No Dave, I didn't say that at all. I said that "certain plastics", meaning specific kinds of plastics, give off harmful gasses. The other kinds of plastic are just fine for coin storage. Look at the post made by desertgem, that chart he posted, and what he said, tells you how to tell if a plastic is acceptable for coin storage or not.
I purchased a plastic container to store my 2x2's in that is made of K-Resin. My understanding is that it is styrene-butadiene. My question is whether or not it is safe as it probably falls under #7 in desertgem's post
Reaper, I have no knowledge of that kind of plastic so I can't speak to that. But you say you are using 2x2s, and I don't know if you mean the cardboard 2x2s or the coin flip 2x2s. But I do know that both of those choices have their own problems for coin storage and both can be harmful to your coins. So you might want to start there, and then worry about other storage containers.
I'm using the cardboard 2x2's as most do. I havent had problems with cardboard 2x2's as of yet, so that is not my concern. I just want to know if I can store them in this container. Also, for the record, coins that have high value to them, I store them in airtites. I should also clarify that from reading the threads about coin storage over the last two years on this site, I've come to the conclusion that no matter what I store them in (cardboard 2x2's, flips, airtites), nothing is safe from the environment and will eventually, either short or long term, cause damage to the coins. I'm just trying to find out if this container is reasonably safe to house my coins in the reasonably safe cardboard 2x2's that they are in.
Think about it folks! If you can "smell" the plastic, it IS giving off some type of gas! there HAS to be something in the air that the nose detects as a smell. The question is, is that gas harmful to coins? PVC has been proven, over the long term, to be harmful to coins. PVC also smells like a shower curtain or blow up swimming pool. PVC is added to plastic as a softener which makes it pliable and bendable. BTW, PVC is considered "toxic" and as such cannot be used in ANY container designed to store FOOD. For me, I out my raw coins in 2x2's with flattened staples, put those 2x2's in cardboard storage boxes then stuff them in the closet. I have not obverse ANY toning or damage as a result of this storage method in close to 20 years. For slabbed coins, they eother go itno plastic storage boxes from PCGS or NGC and then into big plastic tubs or cardboard storage containers designed for plastic slabs. No observable damage has occurred to any of my slabbed coins since 1992. None. At one time, I DID have some Lincolns in a PVC infested Coin Album (which was popular back in the 70's and virtually every one of those Lincolns was infected with PVC damage and ended up in the trash. Some were so gunked up that I just did not feel right about spending them. So.......if you can smell the plastic, stay away because in 20 or 30 years, your coins will be all honked up! Anything that takes 50 or 70 years to damage your coins won't really matter for you since you'll probably be long gone and your heirs are just going to march them down to the local B&M anyway unless you've documented what you have, what you paid and what it's numismatic meaning is. I think those are more critical to the storage of coins than any specific receptacle! Of course, aside from receptacle's that smell like shower curtains that is!
After reading the MSDS sheets for the material and looking at its chemical structure, there should be no problems if the plastic is not exposed to high temperatures. The polymer is formed with mercaptan ( sulfur) in most cases, and a microcrystalline wax is added to the plastic resin to form many moldings, but neither by themselves should be dangerous to metals under normal human conditions. Food and drink products have been approved from this material. I agree it might take 50 years to see any unforseen effect. It is not allowed in human implants as little is known on long term effects in the body.This is an opinion as I do not have the material. The mechanism for sealing is probably more important to protect against environmental gases.
