Displaying or storing your currency collection

By Paige Shoemaker

The following information is provided to educate and inform. eBay™ is not liable or responsible for any type of damage or loss caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information below.

Protect your coins and paper money from humidity and heat. Some people store their currency in the attic or in the basement, which are two terrible areas for storage. Heat damages the material that people use to store currency. Basements have humidity and can become flooded. A good solution is to store your collection with packets of silica gel in a safe or container that will isolate them from your house's climate.

Coins

You can buy special albums to contain and display your coins. Using 20 pocket pages, a notebook, and white holders is a very inexpensive way to classify and store your coins. Any coins that are "certified" (graded by a professional grading company) should NOT be removed from the "slab" container they are in. Removing the coin from the container nullifies the certification.

Making sure that your containers (flips, pages) are PVC free is most important. New supplies currently on the market are safe but if you have older ones—pre-1980, you may have to change them. You'll notice the coins can get a green substance on them—this is caused by the PVC reaction with the coin metal. It can be removed but you should consult with a professional before trying it yourself.

Stored coins should be checked at least twice a year for signs of discoloration or spotting. You also should check the material in which you store your coins for signs of mildew, rust, or deterioration.

Paper Money

Always keep your paper collectibles stored in plastic holders (soft or hard plastic, individual or album page style). They can also be housed in glass holders if you want to display your paper money collection, but if you do, it is advisable to only display your collection for a short period of time. If you do display your collection framed on the wall or on your desk, be aware of the following hazards:

• Frames attract dust, which can enter the frame and contaminate your paper money.
• Exposure to light (even low intensity) is harmful to paper money. It can fade a note's paper and/or ink colour.
• Displayed currency is subject to the temperature and humidity fluctuations in the room.
• Displayed notes invite theft.
• Insects can often penetrate framed items and damage your currency.
• Framed currency can be scratched, torn, stained, or bent when you put the note in or take the note out of the frame. Be careful if you choose to display your collection framed!

Always remember that many coins and paper money are "coins of the realm" and so can be easily disposed of at face value. Because of this, you should keep your collection in a safe place. A safe at home or a locked box are two of the main places of storage. If you store your currency at home, make sure it takes you (knowing where it is) at least 15 minutes to get to it. It's a known fact that most burglars are in and out of a home in 10-15 minutes.

The preceding material was written by Paige Shoemaker. These are the opinions of the author, not the opinions of eBay, and therefore eBay does not validate the accuracy of or endorse these opinions.