Chicago Tribune Arts & Fun June 2, 1974
Page 20 Section 6

Hands-off policy, when caring for your collection

By Roger Boye

DAVID stores his collec-
tion of about 100 valuable
coins in a large tin can--
U.S. large cents made in
the early 1800s, buffalo nick-
els, silver dollars, and even
one large size U.S. dollar
bill from the 1920s.

Sometimes, he'll shake the
can to listen to the ring of
his treasure. When showing
the collection to friends, he
touches the surface of every
coin as if trying to polish the
numismatic keepsakes.

Unfortunately for David
and many novice collectors
like him, the value of a col-
lection is diminished when
it's treated with such ne-
glect.

Valuable coins should be
protected against becoming
nicked or scratched. "Rare"
coins should never be stored
loose in a can, jar, or coin
purse because the large sil-
ver dollar may nick the Indi-
an on the buffalo nickel be-
yond recognition.

Most collectors store their
coins in coin folders or plas-
tic tubes. Uncirculated or
proof specimens are often
kept in individual plastic
holders.

Folders sold in most coin
shops today include slots for
all coins [every date and
mint mark] made in a partic-
ular series. The folders come
in many varieties, ranging
in price from 49 cents for a
cardboard folder to several
dollars for a folder made of
sulphur-free material with
clear plastic covering each
coin.

In addition to protecting
coins from nicks and
scratches, folders will help
to keep them free from for-
eign elements which could
tarnish or discolor them.
For example, sulphur will
tarnish coins; for this rea-
son, collectors will not keep
coins in ordinary paper en-
velopes which have a high
sulphur content

Another important "don't"
in the caring of coins is to
never touch a valuable coin
on the surface. Always grip
it by the edge to prevent
smudging the surface. Or
use tongs or vinyl gloves
when handling the coin.
Also, tape should never be put
on a coin because it will of-
ten leave an indelible
smudge.

The collector who wants to
keep several coins in a se-
ries [but not try to obtain
every coin in the series]
may want to buy some small
plastic tubes at a coin store.
Those are made in several
sizes to hold cents thru sil-
ver dollars.

Incidentally, coins should
never be cleaned or pol-
ished. Cleaned coins, espe-
cially when cleaned by a
novice, usually sell at a low-
er price.