Dear all, Thanks for the suggestions! The coins, some of them, are stored in cardboard sheaths with plastic covering the actual coins so you can see them. The cardboard is stapled together. Some of the coins are inside a baseball card sheet with cardboard dividers in-between each page to better protect them. That is part of it, doing archaeological work, I understand some of preservation but not everything and especially not specifically this. Should I touch the paper bills with latex gloves without powder? How best to hold the uncovered coins? How best to protect the coins. I knew not to try to clean them. :) I joked with the wife that coke is a good coin cleaner but I knew never to clean them, thanks! Thanks all, Gordon On 2/22/10 11:18 AM, "Pickering, Bob" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Going to a local coin dealer is a good idea as long as they are reputable. You > might check to see if there are ANA(American Numismatic Association) members > or life members. Dealers can sometimes be abrupt and dismissive but donšt take > it personally if they are. > > What are you coins stored in, now? Definitely, do not try to clean them. That > often does more harm than good. If the coins are not in any kind of > individual holder, try to handle them by the edges so that you donšt get > fingerprints on the surfaces- that can lead to staining. > > There are lots of different kinds of coin supplies for storage that youšll be > able to purchase from a coin dealer. > > Contact me off line, if you like. > > > Bob > > Robert B. Pickering, PhD > Senior Curator > Gilcrease Museum > 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Rd > Tulsa, OK 74127 > (918) 596-2706 Office > (918) 596-2770 Fax > (918) 805-4780 Cell > [log in to unmask] > > > From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf > Of Gordon Van Ness > Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2010 2:56 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Coin Collection > >> Hey all, >> >> I have done Archaeology in the past for four years and finishing up my >> masters at WKU in Folk Studies and had a question about whom to talk with in >> VA about a coin collection. My wifešs mothers sister has a huge coin >> collection she got from her late husband. >> >> Some of the coins include a Washington Piece 1792, Morgan Dollar 1886, >> Columbian 1/2 dollars, some Japan/France 5 and 10 dollar bills. These are >> just a few of probably hundreds of coins she has. Most are in good condition. >> I did archaeology but never looked at coins. >> >> I live in Richmond, VA. Where does one go, should I go to the Smithsonian in >> DC or is there someone in Richmond who might be able to look at some of these >> coins, too many to go through in a day, and give us idea on how to preserve, >> etc.? >> >> Thanks, >> Sincerely, >> Gordon Van Ness > ========================================================= Important Subscriber > Information: > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ > . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a > one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the > message should read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to > [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff > Museum-L" (without the quotes). > ========================================================= Important Subscriber > Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ > . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a > one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the > message should read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to > [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff > Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).