Storing mass amounts of coins???

[Turbomunkey]

Ok so there isnt really a section for this, so I posted here.

A long time ago my great aunt reached the point where she could no longer live alone due her age. Her daughter flew in from kalifornia and arranged for her to live in a retirement home. Her daughter, myself and my family, as well as my aunt were given the task of cleaning out her home and prepping it for sale.

A long story short, among the items that I found whilst cleaning were two coffee cans. One containing 30-40 silver dollars and the other containing, in my estimate, 500 or so silver quarters and dimes. They have been sitting in said coffee cans since the day ive found them and ive come to realize that is not appropriate or intelligent to be keeping them in such shabby containers.

My question is how would I store 500+ coins in a proper manner, without having to go buy 500+ coin sleeves. Also, what is the proper method for cleaning coins prior to storage?


Thanks,

Jon

 

[bruinvikes]

I have no answer but that is a great question and I will check back for the answers. That's a lot of coins that you have come across.

 

[new jersey andy]

Maybe these might work?? http://www.jpscorner.com/Coin_Tubes.htm

 

[Terry Soloman]

First of all.... WOW!!!!!!

I strongly suggest that you take the coins to an authorized coin dealer and have him/her inspect and grade each coin, then give you an insurance value on the collection. Just keep them as they are and try not to move the cans any more than you have to. If you don't want to do that get the three-hole plastic sleeve coin holders that you put in three-ring notebooks (24-coins per page/12-per side) Good Luck!

Ok so there isnt really a section for this, so I posted here.

A long time ago my great aunt reached the point where she could no longer live alone due her age. Her daughter flew in from kalifornia and arranged for her to live in a retirement home. Her daughter, myself and my family, as well as my aunt were given the task of cleaning out her home and prepping it for sale.

A long story short, among the items that I found whilst cleaning were two coffee cans. One containing 30-40 silver dollars and the other containing, in my estimate, 500 or so silver quarters and dimes. They have been sitting in said coffee cans since the day ive found them and ive come to realize that is not appropriate or intelligent to be keeping them in such shabby containers.

My question is how would I store 500+ coins in a proper manner, without having to go buy 500+ coin sleeves. Also, what is the proper method for cleaning coins prior to storage?


Thanks,

Jon

 

[351maverick]

I have all of my silver in one fireproof safe, and all my important documents in another fireproof safe

....I'd leave them all in the cans (it's what your great aunt would have wanted!) and place them in a good sized fireproof safe - every household should have one, anyway

if you take the coins out of the cans you are losing a lot of the nostalgia

 

[Perquimans]

Safety deposit box!

 

[Turbomunkey]

Maybe these might work?? http://www.jpscorner.com/Coin_Tubes.htm

This is a pretty good idea right here, anyone have any reason not to go with these? I am not really up to seeing a coin person for an evaluation and as far as safes go if I were to get a safe it would be a firearm safe, which cost nearly 1k for a cheapy. Theres no nostalgic value to keeping the coins in the can for me. I feel that keeping them in the best possible manner would be the best route and what my aunty would have wanted. :0

Also what size binder sleeves for dollars/half dollars? Id like to get those as well

 

[springcypress]

Do not clean the coins in any shape way or manner. You can buy pvc free coin tubes at hobby lobby to store the coins in.

 

[Coin_Master]

Well the 1st thing you can do is buy a red book of us coins.

They are about $15 with shipping. OR you can check one out from you library. Be sure to find at least a 2009.

Look through the coins for important years and mint marks.

If you can't find a newer red book, pm me with what "better than other" coins you have, and I can look them up in the red book and give you an accurate price.

Once you have the good stuff sorted out. You will want to clean them. DO NOT clean them with running water, soap, a brush, etc.

You will however want to clean them with acetone. Acetone is safe and is used by many collectors. Soaking in acetone will remove all oils from the skin and prevent the coin from tarnishing from skin oils.

Acetone can be purchased at most lowes, home depots, and places that sell paint. It runs about $10 a quart, and that is plenty.

Fill a glass or plastic (pour a little into it 1st because it will eat through some plastic).

Then take each coin and gently place it at the bottom. Make sure none touch each other.

Let them soak overnight.

Then take another dish and fill it with acetone again.

Take the coin, swish it around in the acetone a bit, then dip it in the 2nd dish, this will be your "rinse dish".

When you put a coin in a holder, USE LATEX GLOVES to prevent your finger from touching the coin, always hold the coin by the edges do not touch the faces.

As far as holders....BCW make some nice holders with foam inserts. The run about 50 cents a piece. I never like using cardboard holders for more expensive coins.

If you need any help, pm me, I can grade your coins provide I have clear photos of the front and back. I will not charge you anything either.

The red book will tell you how to grade, but it can be tricky.

Once you have the goodies separate, it's now onto the "bullion".

These are silver coins that are just worth their silver melt value.

For those, plastic tubes will work fine. They sell for about 40-50 cents each.

If you want to clean them, just swish them around a bit in acetone.

Now as far at storage, the $150 sentry safe they sell at walmart will work well. You don't need a $500 safe unless you have $1000 worth of coins or more.

You can also use for your important papers, rings, etc. I have one and they are a nice little safe!

Need any more help feel free to pm me!

 

[Turbomunkey]

Right on. I am going to go ahead and order some tube as well as some sheet sleeves for the dollars + the 2012 red book. I do not believe any of the silver dollars are exceptionally rare. They are in relatively good condition however. Once that arrives I will hit up the hardware store for the acetone.

Thank you everyone for the input

 

[gameoftag]

I store my silver coins in tubes like that, and they will preserve your coins way better than a coffee can. Also, go get a safe deposit box at your bank and $20-$30 a year, you can store them safely at the bank. That's what I do. Thats my 2 cents

 

[Turbomunkey]

I store my silver coins in tubes like that, and they will preserve your coins way better than a coffee can. Also, go get a safe deposit box at your bank and $20-$30 a year, you can store them safely at the bank. That's what I do. Thats my 2 cents

I went ahead and ordered the red book as well as tubes for the dimes and air tight holders for the dollars. Also one for a merc dime I found mixed in that is in exceptionally good shape. My parents have a safe deposit box perhaps I will use theirs.

For anyone interested, counted them out last night so I knew how any tubes to buy

758 silver dimes, 1 silver quarter, 35 silver dollars ( Peace + morgans i believe), 7 mercs, and 20 or so Kennedy halves (non silver)

 

[Coin_Master]

I went ahead and ordered the red book as well as tubes for the dimes and air tight holders for the dollars. Also one for a merc dime I found mixed in that is in exceptionally good shape. My parents have a safe deposit box perhaps I will use theirs.

For anyone interested, counted them out last night so I knew how any tubes to buy

758 silver dimes, 1 silver quarter, 35 silver dollars ( Peace + morgans i believe), 7 mercs, and 20 or so Kennedy halves (non silver)

That's about $3,000 worth of silver. I would suggest getting a better safe for about $500.

 

[Turbomunkey]

That's about $3,000 worth of silver. I would suggest getting a better safe for about $500.

My brother's wife works for a shipping company and he is going to ask his wife to see if they have any unclaimed gun safes at work. In the past they have gotten many very nice items for free that people refused to accept. Crossing my fingers

 

[kybluegrass]

Man, catching a deal on an unclaimed safe would be awesome. Take it from someone who's home has been burglarized, get some sort of safe. I lost about $5,000 in firearms and $2,500 in electronics a year and a half ago. Suddenly a $1,500 safe didn't seem so bad.

 

[nyshooter]

two coffee cans

 

[Turbomunkey]

Man, catching a deal on an unclaimed safe would be awesome. Take it from someone who's home has been burglarized, get some sort of safe. I lost about $5,000 in firearms and $2,500 in electronics a year and a half ago. Suddenly a $1,500 safe didn't seem so bad.

Apparently her company no longer handles them. Oh well -,-. Im looking around trying to find something.... I take it your items were never recovered? Did you file the guns stolen?

two coffee cans

This guy

 

[kybluegrass]

Yes I reported the items stolen. None of the guns have ever been recovered despite having serial numbers. One of the laptops was recovered but has been in evidence locker since that time. I wish I would have bought a safe a long time ago.

 

[andrewjames]

You can store them at my house... My coffee cans only have coffee in them, I'd gladly make room! That's a lot of coins!

 

[Turbomunkey]

You can store them at my house... My coffee cans only have coffee in them, I'd gladly make room! That's a lot of coins!

Too much of a good thing applies to anything. Sorting through such a mass amount of them really makes me unappreciative. I just began the cleaning process of the dimes as coinmaster had suggested. In order to make sure they go straight from cleaning to storage im doing them in groups of 60 then placing them in the tubes and probably to the safety box next. No key dates in the first 60.

I also got my supplies from jpscorner. I am happy with the products and it was shipped very professionally. A+ for them