PVC Coin Album Pages are probably one of the oldest and most common methods of storing your coin collection. They are cheap, easy to use, can be put into a common three ring or four ring folder, and provide a neat and simple way of admiring and storing your collection. However, there lurks a hidden danger in the material that these coin album pages are made from.
The PVC (poly vinyl chloride) material the album pages are made from are subject to chemical breakdown when subjected to heat or UV lights. And unfortunately one of the chemicals released when PVC breaks down is an acid (hydrochloric acid) which can irrevocable damage the surface of a coin that happens to be stored within the album page.
Another problem with the PVC Album Pages is that the PVC contains 'plasticizers', chemicals which make the PVC softer and more flexible. These plasticizers can leach from the album page and form a coating on the surface of the coin contained within. This slimy coating is especially apparent in humid climates and is colloquially known as 'green slime' by coin collectors. The coating itself is a chemical mix that can attack the surface of your coins and cause permanent damage.
The solution to the use of PVC Coin Album Pages or PVC Flips is to simply not use them, or to use them to hold other more secure coin holders such as 2x2 coin holders. If you do not wish to make use of PVC at all then look for coin album pages made of the more inert mylar, polyethylene or poly propylene. Coin flips made from mylar are commonly available from most coin collecting supply shops and these should be used to replace all of your PVC Coin Flips. Polyethylene coin album pages are available from such manufacturers as Numis and Lighthouse.
Posted by mnemtsas at October 15, 2008 3:28 PM
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