JEM said:
Thanks for you responses. I have all my coins in the air-tites with the foam rings is this helpful at all or just a waste of money? I have noticed the air-tites are getting scratched from me fondling my coins to much. So I assume they are preventing scratches. I have been lurking here for awhile trying to absorb all the info and opinions on collecting/stacking and silver as an investment.
It seems like a good time for me to be getting into silver with the strong USA dollar and cheap prices here. The one thing I have learned is this shiny metal is addicting as hell. I have been using all my spare money and some that isn't spare to buy. I think I have a silver problem. Any advice is welcome and appreciated.
From my perspective, it's a really good time to be buying and getting into silver. Some of us got into silver and purchased plenty of it when the spot was about triple of what it is now. So you are basically getting nearly 3 X as much silver for the same USD as I was 3 years ago....I'd say that's a great way to start getting into silver and accumulating way more than many others for the same USD spent.
You are also in very good company if you have found yourself addicted to silver.
As for Air-tite capsules, I use them on every collector coin that I purchased that came in a cracked or badly worn capsule or for coins that came in no capsule. I don't bother putting any junk silver (circulated) coins in capsules. Silver blobs (common, non-denominated, low premium bars) is what I like to hold in the hand.
Air-tites are not airtight. To prevent surface damage (tarnish / corrosion) to silver (some enthusiasts call that "toning"

) your best bet is to vacuum seal or wrap and seal tightly in a non PVC-plasticizer plastic bag. Personally, it doesn't make sense to me to buy a perfectly good, shiny silver collector coin just to allow it to go to pot by allowing it to tarnish. I put tarnished and milk spotted coins in the same category: highly undesirable.
If I wanted to own coins that have truly appealing toning, I'd buy artificially toned coins like these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111765888426?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/361383363415?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-NIUE-H...32f875&pid=100012&rk=2&rkt=10&sd=111765888426
http://www.ebay.com/itm/361396504233
I like polished silver, it's shiny.
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