Let’s go into more detail about what can damage your coins, assuming they are not stored or cared for properly. Again, your coins can get damaged in various ways, such as humidity, temperature, mishandling, acids or chemical reactions, and air quality.
Humidity
Moisture can lead to corrosion or rust, especially if your coins are made of vulnerable metals such as silver or a copper or bronze alloy. Avoid keeping your coin collection near a place with water or areas exposed to moisture, including places such as water pipes or windows. Even breathing directly on your coins can create spots from your saliva.
Temperature
While heat and cold aren’t necessarily an issue for your coins, the transition between the two can cause condensation (moisture), resulting in rust or corrosion. Higher temperatures can also speed up chemical reactions, accelerating damage to your coins.
Improper Handling
Mishandling coins can include touching coins with your bare fingers. Oils from our fingers can corrode metals, leading to stains and smudges. Throwing collectible coins into a single container is another way that can result in damage as coins scrape against each other, causing dings and scratches.
Acids/Chemical Reactions
Acids or chemicals can be found in all sorts of materials, including cardboard, wood, adhesives, and plastics. Such materials, over time, can leach chemicals or acids onto your coins, resulting in corrosion.
Air Quality
Air containing extreme concentrations of pollutants such as paint fumes and exhaust emissions can chemically react with oxygen, leading to possible coin damage. Pollutants can settle on a coin’s surface over time and react with the metal. Some pollutants will chemically react when exposed to moisture.
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