For most numismatists, their coin collection is a source of pride and joy. Even if you’re not a hobbyist, investing in rare coins can be an exciting (and lucrative) venture. Yet, surprisingly, many people don’t know how to store coins properly, despite the significant risks that improper storage and handling pose to their investment.

If you learn how to store your coins before you purchase them properly, you have a much better chance of preserving their value and physical condition. Remember these tips to protect your coin collection from future damage:

Coin damage can occur from various environmental factors, such as time, humidity, and temperature changes. However, poor handling and certain chemicals can also cause significant damage, as will a poorly chosen coin-storage environment.

Here are the most critical risk factors to consider before you store your coins:

Metal tends to attract moisture in the form of condensation, and prolonged exposure to humidity can devastate a coin’s overall condition. In particular, silver and copper react chemically to water or moisture, eroding and tarnishing the metal’s surface.

Gold is one of the least chemically reactive metals, but exposing gold coins to humidity is never a good idea. Many coin collectors have difficulty protecting against moisture when storing coins, because it’s virtually impossible to create a 100 percent air-tight storage area.

However, certain plastic coin holders provide better protection against humidity than other types, like cardboard.

Exposure to extreme temperatures can also damage a coin collection. Heat isn’t very damaging on its own, but it can create acids, moisture, or poor air quality that are more harmful. Conversely, low temperatures can cause condensation and moisture damage. The safest way to store coins is in a climate-controlled environment and to avoid locations with air pollution or contaminants that could cause long-term damage.

Maintaining an acid-free storage environment for your coin collection is critical. Acid causes significant physical damage to metals and is something to avoid at all costs. Unfortunately, many collectors don’t realize that paper and cardboard storage materials are the most common causes of acid damage.

Using a cardboard box or paper envelopes, stapled shut, can tone, tarnish, and discolor coins. Avoid using paper or cardboard coin holders, and keep household cleaning solutions separately to ensure an acid-free storage environment.

Chlorine tones and corrodes most coins, particularly old or fragile specimens. The most common source of chlorine exposure comes from plastic zip lock bags and coin holders that contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Avoid flips and other plastic packaging with PVC at all costs.

Your hands contain natural oils and acids that cause just as much damage as synthetic chemicals. Always wear cloth gloves when handling and cleaning coins, and never touch the coin’s face.

The coin-collecting world has varying opinions on the benefits of cleaning coins. For bullion and circulated coins, cleaning is appropriate. However, cleaning rare, numismatic, old, or more valuable coins causes more harm than good and removes the natural patina many collectors want.

With that in mind, we’ll discuss tips for cleaning bullion to help you preserve your coin collection. Remember, the primary risk of cleaning a coin is scratching and damaging the surface.

Gold isn’t a highly reactive metal, but it’s soft and damages easily. Avoid cleaning gold with biological substances like your breath or saliva. Instead, use distilled water (never tap water, which likely contains fluoride), mild dish soap, and a soft rag or old toothbrush.

Many older silver coins are worth more with their original patina, tone, or tarnish. However, if you need to clean a silver coin, you can use hot water, a rag, vinegar, soap, or baking soda. Use pure acetone (not nail polish remover) for bullion silver with PVC damage.

Platinum is a bright, shiny metal that doesn’t tarnish quickly. Soak your coin collection in warm water and mild dish soap for about five minutes to clean the platinum. Once the grime loosens, wipe it dry with a soft cloth.

Palladium and platinum have similar physical properties, but palladium is slightly more rigid, making it easier to clean and more damage-resistant. Use the same method: soak your palladium coin collection in warm water and mild dish soap for five minutes, then wipe clean with a dry, soft cloth.

Knowing how to store coins safely and correctly when coin collecting requires educating yourself on available storage options, particularly if you have an extensive collection. Of course, individual coins should have high-quality coin folders as their first line of protection. Then, you can choose which long-term coin storage option suits your needs best.

Storing your coin collection at home may sound tempting, but it’s also the least secure. Avoid wooden dressers, cardboard box storage, or ground storage, and purchase a metal cabinet or safe instead. However, even if you invest in a safe, there are still significant risks (climate, air quality, theft, etc.). Plus, you’ll have to purchase an additional insurance policy to protect your investment.

A quick note: Investors with bullion coins in a precious metals IRA may not legally store coins at home. Home storage is only acceptable for numismatic collections or a direct investment in bullion.

Third-party facilities, such as safe deposit boxes in banks, are another popular option for storing coins. However, this method comes with drawbacks. For example, a safe deposit box is only accessible during regular business hours, which doesn’t include Sundays or holidays. Also, the walls of bank vaults contain a material that will emit water vapor in the event of a fire, resulting in a humid environment that could damage your investment.

Depositories are among the safest and most secure options for coin storage. These state-of-the-art facilities have 24/7 surveillance, climate-controlled storage areas, professional security guards, and insurance. Some even have streaming videos so that you can view your coins remotely online.

Whether a novice at coin collecting or a seasoned expert, it’s essential to know how to store coins based on their metal content.

Store gold in a location with low humidity and stable temperatures. Avoid using paper or a cardboard box as packaging to prevent corrosion, and never store gold with the following materials:

Place silver in a flannel bag or acid-free tissue paper. Avoid high humidity and temperature fluctuations, and never store silver with these materials:

Use coin flips or acid-free tissue paper when storing platinum coins. Optimal conditions are cool, dry, and low humidity. Incompatible materials to avoid include:

Palladium does best when stored in a cool, dry, and climate-controlled environment. Avoid humidity and exposure to these materials:

The Oxford Gold Group helps investors protect and grow their wealth by purchasing physical gold and silver for their IRAs and for home delivery as effortlessly and securely as buying bonds or stocks. That’s why investors have turned to the security of gold and silver and the Oxford Gold Group. Call 833-600-GOLD or visit OxfordGoldGroup.com to receive a complimentary copy of “Your Precious Metals Investment Guide.”

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