Are Your Coins Safe From Fire

[numismatist]

Someone recently asked what would happen to Coins in the usual Plastic Envelopes

in a modest fire..eg would the Plastic Coin Envelope completely adhere to the Coin

This is what happened after 30 minutes in a cooker wrapped well in kitchen foil

The Plastic Coin envelope did peel away from the coin but was totally black and the

Coin was blackened as well

The Acid Free Paper Coin Envelope (Chris sells these by the 100) was pretty well intact

and the Coin looked intact as well

I am now thinking that Quality Acid Free Paper Coin Envelopes are a good storage method

Any opinions ?

[Coinery]

I wonder though, if in a real fire, whether it would make any difference at all what storage you used? The temperatures are far and away above those of an oven. I guess if they were in a fireproof safe, or a different room, it could make a difference????

Nice but of research, though, nothing like actually trying something!

[NRP]

Yes, mine are kept in a fire proof safe but interestingly I knew someone who had a collection of Elizabeth 1 sixpences kept in plastic envelopes he hid them in the oven one time when he was going out. Ofcourse u can guess what I am going to say, he forgot and put the oven on, by the time he had realised the envelopes had all melted round the coins and almost encapsulated them all, quick way for Cgs to Slab maybe??? Anyway he eventually was able to remove the plastic after a long arduous task and the coins hadnt been in long enough to damage them, he was lucky that time!!!!

[jaggy]

I have mine in a pretty heavy-duty fire proof safe.