Preserving Metal Coins

Labeling guidelines vary for every artifact. This is no different with metal coins. After securely placing the objects in glass housings, and storing them within acid-free, lignin free boxes on metal shelves, archivists should label the boxes by years (i.e. the date of minting) and the specific type of coin.

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Archival work allows a degree of freedom within the guidelines established by the Society of American Archivists (SAA). The prevalent rule in archiving is consistency.

 

The description methods must be uniform, as well as accurate, in every collection so researchers, students, professors, and other archivists can document their sources properly.

 

Below is an example of labeling guidelines to describe storage boxes for a rare coin collection.

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              Alexander Rare Coin Collection - Box 1                                    Alexander Rare Coin Collection - Box 2

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                 1878 - 1921 Morgan Silver Dollars                                                  1913 - 1938 Buffalo Nickels

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             Alexander Rare Coin Collection - Box 3                                    Alexander Rare Coin Collection - Box 4                              

                     1892 - 1916 Barber Q​uarters                                                          1921 - 1935 Peace Dollars

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            Alexander Rare Coin Collection - Box 5                                     Alexander Rare Coin Collection - Box 6                             

           1916 - 1947 Walking Liberty Half Dollars                                        1948 - 1963 Franklin Half Dollars