Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
It is rare to dig up a coin that is in near perfect condition. Most coins that you dig will have been in circulation for a while and buried in dirt or sand or worse. That means that the coins value will already be reduced, but even though detectorists are seldom handling the most pristine of coins, it can still be helpful to be aware of the things that can harm coins and reduce their value. I recently received an email from Joe D. in which he mentioned that coins he had stored in a cardboard folder were corroding. Even if you purchase a near mint coin and keep it in a coin folder or something, there are many ways that a coin can be damaged and reduced in value.  |
| Source: nhc.noaa.gov |
Can you believe it? It looks like there might be another storm developing in the Gulf.
The surf will be up to around three to five feet today, and the tides will be high too.
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Here are some things that can damage coins even if they are carefully stored.
Humidity. That is a big problem for us in Florida. Some companies market "air tight" holders, but they aren't guaranteed to be airtight.
Acids. Coin collecting supplies made out of paper or cardboard can cause damage. I just received an email from Joe D. telling how coins he stored in a cardboard folder had corroded. Copper and silver coins are especially vulnerable to toning from household acids or even vapors emitted from cooking.
Chlorine. "One of the main sources of this are flips made from plastic that contains PVC. Additionally, vapors from a hot tub or pool can seep into the area where you store your coin collection." You'd think that coin holders sold for the purpose would be safe, but not all of them are.
Air Pollution can also damage coins.
Improper Handling is one of the biggest causes of coin damage. Of course dropping or improperly cleaning coins will damage them, but acids and oils on your hands can also cause damage. Gloves can be used.
Coins can also be damaged when sliding them into and out of coin holders. Coin collectors use the term "flip rubbing."
Here is a link that will take you to an article that more fully describes the above sources of damage and how to store your coins safely.
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… Federal Reserve banks receive coins at face value because they are obligations of the United States Government. The Banks store the coins until they need to fill orders from the commercial banks in their district. The Federal Reserve banks fill these orders from their vault stocks of both new and circulated coins. Also, they fill the orders without regard to date or mint mark. Coin shipments leave the Federal Reserve banks by armored car, registered mail, or express.
If a commercial bank has excess coins on hand, they may return the coins to the Federal Reserve bank. It then sorts the coins for fitness. They return badly worn or bent coins to the United States Mint which melts them down and makes them into new coins. Also, the banks remove foreign and counterfeit coins from circulation. According to Federal Reserve sources, over 20 billion coins valued at well over $2 billion pass through their coin processing units each year..
Here is the link for more about the US Treasury
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Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have found 11 pre-Hispanic images in a tunnel in Ecatepec, México state, that is part of a dike system that dates back to colonial days.
Among the images discovered on the sides of the 8.4-meter-long tunnel are petroglyphs and stucco relief panels, INAH said in a statement.
The tunnel is part of the four-kilometer-long 17th-century dike system known today as the Albarradón de Ecatepec.
A war shield, the head of a bird of prey and a “paper ornament” are among the images carved into the walls of the tunnels while a teocalli, or temple, is etched into the central stone of the arch entrance. The temple is dedicated to the rain god Tláloc, the INAH archaeologists concluded...
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/archaeologists-find-tunnel-with-pre-hispanic-images/
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Archaeologists are digging up 17th century graves at Jamestown.
https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-nws-jamestown-grave-1019-20191022-qlypvf4xm5dedm4eptzt3hmcua-story.html\
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Send me your beach reports and photos.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net