Storing Copper Pennies

[Shazbot57]

I'm new to sorting but recently sorted 17 boxes of pennies plus the original 8 boxes and now have $175+ FV (110+ pounds) plus a cereal bowl of wheats and about 8 pounds Ugly Abe/green gunk coppers (stored separately) in a combination of older 1/2 gallon glass mayo jars, brinks boxes, and #2 HDPE Coffee jugs. I also have 3- 32.5 lb (approx 3 gal) #2 HDPE laundry detergent buckets available for use(I really like these because they have flat bottoms). I also have started working on getting one gallon mayo/dressing #2 HDPE jars from a local supermarket.

I've tried to read a lot of the blog posts about storage re: pvc in plastic buckets, canvas bags, 5 gal buckets (#2 HDPE), boxes, etc. I realize it's all personal preference and materials availability. I have a cool dry (dehumidified) basement for storage.

So my question is: Is there any type of container I should or should not use like glass, etc. for storage?

[baggerman]

I wrap mine and put them back in the original penny boxes or store them in ammo cans when I don't have any boxes handy. This way they are small enough that I don't strain a nut trying to move them and by being wrapped in penny wrappers (I get them free from the bank) I can count how much I have or count them out for sale pretty quickly.

[reddirtcoins]

I just store them in plastic bank bags which I get from the bank for "freeeee"... then stick them on a pallet and away they go to storage. It is amazing how many pennies you can stack in bags. Takes up way less space then buckets and is a lot easier to move.

[mishra142]

When I first started I used 5 gal buckets (not easy to move) then went to 50 Gal drums (impossible to move) now through all those trials and tribulations I perfer bags (clear kind you get from the coin machine at banks) they are easily stackable on pallets, you can see inside them so you can rest assured no green funk is taking over, and if you store 34 lbs per bag, if and when you go to sell them you can put two in a med flat rate box and off they go.

[Shazbot57]

Reddirt & Mishra,
I have some of the Coin Lok bags from a bank that has a coin sorting machine. They keep them under the sorter on the floor, so I helped myself to a couple but didn't know if they contained pvc, would hold in humidity, or what results folks had with them long term. They have a marked air hole in them. I have used them for taking halves back to my dump banks, but was unsure about long term storage.

So my question is: Is there any type of container I should or should not use like glass, etc. for storage?

[reddirtcoins]

Mine are always hit by temps... It's 14 outside and so are a lot of my pennies... well covered in a shed that is. I've never had an issue. All I use is plastic bags and I stick 100fv in each bag. Never stored them in anything that would harm them. My goal is to wait fro the melt ban to come off.
I do however keep XF-BU for my personal collection. Those are just in plastic bank bags in the garage... I don't really care about humidity or temperatures.
Not use, I don't know.. Just don't worry about that and go get bank bags. As long as they are dry you should be ok.

[Diggin4copper]

i would change out the ones in glass... it would not be fun if you dropped one..

[OtusLotus]

If you are really concerned with the humidity.. take a sock that has lost its family and put some rice in it.

[Shazbot57]

Reddirtcoins, Baggerman, Yuengling, & Digginforcopper. Thanks for weighing in. It helps when you're new to be able to draw from such a large base of experience and knowledge. I used to re-roll coppers but that got old fast with quantity. I like the idea of the ammo cans but all mine are being used for "other" purposes right now and they cost $10-15 each hereabouts so not super affordable for any large quantity. I plan to transfer out of glass as I pickup one gallon #2 HDPE jugs. The tip on the rice is a great idea and cheaper than the $6 for 20 dessicant packs on Amazon. I checked on the Coin Lok bags and they are #4 LDPE which appear to be ok. You can find info here or on the interweb:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-density_polyethylene

http://www.dynalabcorp.com/technical_in ... hylene.asp

[johnbrickner]

Aww come on, no one admits to using the cat litter jugs? Big handle, not to heavy.

[Shazbot57]

No cats here, just big dogs! We have the Laundry detergent variety of the cat litter buckets!

[mrlaufer]

Rolled, I can fit $48 FV stuffed tightly into a standard coffee can. 48 rolls on the bottom going around the edge first and then 48 rolls on top utilizing the outer edge first again. This works well for me for stacking and storing.

[rexmerdinus]

This may be a little OCD, but I package them in 1-qt ziplock bags, then five of those bags to a gallon bag. I get most of the air out and wrap the whole thing in packing tape. Taped up tight, each forms a nice little 8 in x 8 in x 4 in brick of $25.00. Easy to stack, move, and store out of the way.

[Shazbot57]

This may be a little OCD, but I package them in 1-qt ziplock bags, then five of those bags to a gallon bag. I get most of the air out and wrap the whole thing in packing tape. Taped up tight, each forms a nice little 8 in x 8 in x 4 in brick of $25.00. Easy to stack, move, and store out of the way.

You're telling this group about OCD? I'd say we all have varying degrees of OCD! But that's what makes me "unique"!

[uthminsta]

Aww come on, no one admits to using the cat litter jugs? Big handle, not to heavy.

I use the BIG Folgers red plastic tubs. Good solid plastic, with a built-in handle. Each of the big un's holds right at $50 and the next size down holds about $33. So it's easy to do the math to approximate how much I have. And they stack well too. We buy them at Sam's Club so they always have the biggest sizes. Oh, and I have the advantage of working at a church where at least 2 pots of this stuff are brewed every day, and something like 5 pots on Sunday. So I can bring these home pretty often.

[AGgressive Metal]

The best part of waking up .. is COPPERS in your cup.

[Verbane]

The best part of waking up .. is COPPERS in your cup.

[fasteddy]

My drums, buckets, bags are all full. I had a bunch of range brass in coffee containers so I dumped those out and filled the containers with Cu cents....Using my new favorite counter a 313, the smaller red container holds $35 and the larger 48oz red container holds $50 bucks in Cu Cents. I keep my ugly Abe's in the blue ones, Will count those soon.

Nice one there AG M!

[uthminsta]

Using my new favorite counter a 313, the smaller red container holds $35 and the larger 48oz red container holds $50 bucks in Cu Cents.

I know, right? Isn't it nice they made them the "right" size for easy counting?

[spacemanX]

since i can get bags of pennies, i save them, and when i get 34 lbs of copper pennies, it equals about $50. otherwis i use the plastic containers (cashew, peanut, pickel) for my quick sorting. each holds 25 and 35 respectively if i shake them down. i also use them for dumping the zinc.

[cesariojpn]

I use 30 cal ammo cans. Easily fits $50, and it's in a robust steel container with a watertight seal and handle.

[johnbrickner]

The best part of waking up .. is COPPERS in your cup.

Why I love this group. Some mornings are just made better when you can read stuff like this.

[fasteddy]

Aww come on, no one admits to using the cat litter jugs? Big handle, not to heavy.

I just scavenged a half dozen out of the plastic recycling dumpster this morning. Looking forward to filling them up.

[Zincanator]

Aww come on, no one admits to using the cat litter jugs? Big handle, not to heavy.

I just scavenged a half dozen out of the plastic recycling dumpster this morning. Looking forward to filling them up.

Mee-Yow!

[coppernickel]

Detergent bottles, etc. I like smaller. Don't have cats but know the bottles, just right.

After a few years I have some in each, ammo cans, too heavy. Peanut bottles, yes they are glass, but I haven't taken them out, yet. Cent boxes, most of mine are back in the box. I dislike buckets, too heavy, but these are the ones I hide in the forest. You know the saying, best place to hide a tree is in plain site in the forest.