Last updated on June 7th, 2018 at 07:49 am
Last Updated on June 7, 2018 Posted by Colonial Acres Coins
As captivating and rewarding as collecting Canadian paper money is, there’s a huge downside to it. That downside is the fact that all paper money – and paper products in general – suffer from the effects of time. If you lack the adequate tools to preserve your collection, it’s bound to perish. Therefore, if you’re aiming to keep your treasure in pristine condition, you’d be wise to brush up on the proper preservation techniques and storage options, some of which are as follows.
1. Everything Starts With Adequate Storage
When talking about storing paper money – including Canadian paper money – the key is to remember to keep your collection away from the heat extremes of an attic or the damp environments of the basement. Generally speaking, the two are the worst possible places to keep your collection. That being said, what you should definitely go for is a relatively cool and dry environment; more specifically, the target humidity and temperature ranges of 45-55% humidity and 20-25 degrees Celsius.
2. Always Handle Currency With A Protective Layer Over Your Hands
In other words, steer clear of handling currency with your bare hands. As such handling could very easily stain the specimens by potentially transferring dirt or damaging oils onto them. Instead, opt for soft cotton or nitrile gloves. Another alternative is to use a quality pair of studded tweezers if you need to examine the collection for whatever reason. That being said, do your best to handle your paper currency only when necessary and make sure to eliminate potential contamination by ensuring any table surface is perfectly clean if you plan on laying down the currency on it.
3. Displaying Your Collection Is Equally Important
If you take great pride in your Canadian paper money collection, as many collectors do, keep in mind that the worst elements affecting any paper currency collection are moisture, heat, and light. Each of the aforementioned factors can cause damage to the ink and the paper itself, which could result in the pictures fading away completely or even causing tears and shredding. Don’t display your collection under direct sunlight or you’ll be faced with brittleness, yellowing, and fading. Your safest bet is to opt for a halogen light bulb.
4. Make Sure To Make Use Of Sleeves And Sheets Whenever You Can
When attempting to shield your collection from either the environment or handling, your best option is to simply store them in sheets or sleeves made from archival-grade materials. Furthermore, it is vital to make sure that the holders you’re utilizing are absolutely PVC (polyvinyl-chloride) and acid-free because these damaging elements will wreak havoc on your treasured pieces. On the other hand, holders manufactured from mylar-polyester materials are widely regarded as ideal.
5. Never Shy Away From Seeking Professional Help
If you happen to notice an imperfection or any kind of wear-and-tear or damage on any individual pieces of your Canadian paper money collection, never-ever attempt to remedy the damage yourself. The safest option here is to simply reach out to an expert who is properly trained and skilled in utilizing the safest cleaning and reparation methods. For the reason that any unqualified attempts at rectifying the damage are likely to increase it rather than eliminate it.
Colonial Acres Coins is your one stop shop for coin supplies. Whether you are in need of some coin holders, Storage boxes, coin albums, Paper Money albums, Year set holders or even reference books we have you covered. Taking proper care of your coins from the beginning will keep your collection in good shape and help maintain or improve the value in the long run.