Coin Care
How to Store Coins Safely
Hold by the edge, keep it dry, and stay away from PVC.
Reviewed July 2026
Coins are more fragile than they look. A silver dollar survived a century in a bank vault, and then a fortnight in the wrong plastic flip destroys it. Storing coins well is mostly a matter of keeping three enemies away: your fingers, the air, and the wrong plastic.
Handling comes first
Hold a coin by its edges, between thumb and forefinger, over a soft towel or other soft surface so a drop does no harm. The natural oils on your skin are corrosive, and a fingerprint on a mint state coin is close to permanent; grading services cap fingermarked coins at MS-63 or lower. Soft cotton gloves solve the problem outright.
Two smaller rules from the same source. Use a plastic ruler rather than a metal one when you measure a coin, because hard metal scratches. And do not talk directly over your coins: tiny droplets of saliva create spots that are as difficult to remove as fingerprints.
Environment
Keep coins cool and dry. Sharp changes in temperature and moisture bring on the tarnish and spotting that devalue coins. A stable cupboard beats a warm attic and an unheated garage, both of which cycle through condensation twice a day.
The PVC problem
Green slime is not dirt
Avoid soft plastic holders that contain polyvinyl chloride, a chemical used to soften plastics. PVC can eventually coat a good coin with a sticky green slime, and that slime eats into the coin's surface. Grading services cap coins with PVC damage at MS-63 or lower.
If you inherit a collection in old soft flips or vintage albums, that is the first thing to check, and the coins should be moved. Do not attempt to scrub the residue off. See how to clean coins for why.
Choosing a holder
| Holder | Suited to | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Flips | A coin and its label | Check the plastic; avoid PVC |
| 2x2 cardboard holders | General storage | Stapled; mind the staple on removal |
| Plastic tubes | Coin rolls | Bulk, low-value coins |
| Hard plastic holders | High-value coins | Rigid, inert, no slide contact |
| Polyethylene sleeves | Short-term storage | Not for long-term use |
| Paper envelopes for coins | Circulating coins | Ordinary envelopes contain harmful chemicals |
| Foldout albums | Lower-grade coins, short term | Slide marks are a real risk |
| Slabs | Individual high-value coins | Sonically sealed hard plastic |
Two notes on that table. Foldout albums are convenient and dangerous: the plastic slide that holds the coins in place scrapes across their highest points, and the fine parallel lines it leaves, called slide marks, cap a coin at MS-63 or lower. They are most often found on proof coins. Use albums for lower-grade coins and short-term storage.
Slabs, the sonically sealed hard plastic holders used by grading services, are excellent long-term protection for individual high-value coins, which is a large part of why the market likes them.
Original packaging and paperwork
All modern proof sets and commemoratives should be bought and sold in their original cases and capsules. When you insert or remove a coin, bow the packaging by pressing opposite sides inward, so the coin lifts clear rather than dragging across the plastic. Keep the certificate of authenticity and the information card that accompanies uncirculated and commemorative sets; they are part of the object, and a set without them sells for less.
Security
A safe-deposit box at a bank is the ideal home for anything expensive. If you keep a collection at home, check that your home insurance covers full replacement cost, and be aware that most standard policies do not, without a rider. A collection nobody has inventoried is also a collection nobody can insure.
Source: United States Mint, Caring for Your Coin Collection.
Frequently asked questions
How should coins be stored?
Cool and dry, held by the edges, in inert holders. Sharp changes in temperature and moisture bring on tarnish and spots that devalue coins. Keep high-value coins in hard plastic holders or slabs, and keep documentation with commemorative and uncirculated sets.
What is PVC damage on a coin?
PVC is a chemical that softens plastics, found in some soft coin flips and older albums. Over time it can coat a coin with a sticky green slime that eats into the coin's surface. Grading services cap coins with PVC damage at MS-63 or lower. Avoid soft plastic holders that contain it.
Can I store coins in ordinary envelopes?
No. Use paper envelopes made for holding coins. Ordinary envelopes can contain chemicals that cause coins to change color over time.
Where is the safest place to keep a coin collection?
A safe-deposit box at a bank is ideal. If you keep a collection at home, make sure your home insurance covers the full replacement cost, and keep the certificates of authenticity and information cards that came with any uncirculated or commemorative sets.
More on coin care
The Coin Register is an independent educational resource. It is not affiliated with the United States Mint, the American Numismatic Association, any grading service, any dealer, or any site previously published on this domain. Nothing here is an appraisal, a price quote, or investment advice. Coin values change constantly; check a current price guide and a reputable dealer before you buy or sell.