Preserving Your Error Coins: How Proper Storage Protects Investments Like the 2007 ‘Godless’ Dollar

We’ve all felt that sinking feeling—discovering a prized coin damaged by well-meaning but misguided care. Let me share hard-won wisdom on preserving your treasures, especially fragile errors like the notorious 2007 Washington dollar missing its edge lettering. While market values fluctuate (that “Godless” dollar plummeted from $700 to under $20!), proper preservation protects both historical significance and numismatic value. Think of yourself not just as an owner, but as a steward of history.

The 2007 ‘Godless’ Dollar: A Preservation Wake-Up Call

Picture the excitement when the first 2007 Presidential dollars surfaced without “IN GOD WE TRUST” edge lettering! Collectors’ heart rates mirrored the prices—$600-$700 overnight. But as speculators scrambled, fate delivered twin blows: thousands more emerged from Philadelphia Mint bags, while improperly stored examples developed ugly PVC haze and corrosive toning. Today, original mint condition survivors still command $45, while damaged coins barely fetch $15. The lesson? Market crashes hurt, but neglect destroys.

Coin Preservation’s Greatest Adversaries

Toning: Nature’s Art vs. Human Mistakes

There’s magic in natural toning—those rainbow hues on Morgan dollars that make collectors swoon. But force it with sulfurous environments or cardboard storage (a death sentence for manganese brass coins like our 2007 dollar), and you get artificial disasters: blotchy surfaces that scream “tampered” to graders. Remember: natural patina enhances value; chemical reactions erase provenance.

Oxidation: The Green-Eyed Monster

Ever seen a 1989 ‘No P’ quarter with crusty green spots? That’s oxidation wreaking havoc on copper-nickel alloys. Brass compositions (like our unfortunate 2007 dollars) fare worse, developing corrosion that devours details. Even silver isn’t safe—black tarnish creeps across surfaces like inkblots. One collector’s 1979/1980 silver stash lost value in the market crash, but the real tragedy? Humidity turned survivors into pitted ghosts.

PVC Damage: The Silent Assassin

Beware the sticky green film! PVC holders were once standard, but we now know their plasticizers attack metal. Imagine discovering your Sacagawea reverse pattern coin (once worth $27.5k) not only crashed to $9k but now sports irreversible residue. This chemical reaction won’t stop until professional conservators intervene—if they can.

Preservation Tactics Worth Their Weight in Gold

Choosing Armor for Your Coins

Banish these offenders:

• PVC flips leaching “plasticizer poison”
• Sulfur-laden cardboard albums
• Unsealed cases inviting humidity

Embrace these guardians:

• Crystal-clear Mylar flips (acid-free)
• Airtight capsules like Air-Tites®
• Archival-quality albums with inert sleeves

The Cleaning Trap: An Unforgivable Sin

When values dive (looking at you, 2007 dollar!), desperate collectors often grab polish. Never, ever clean coins. You’ll commit three cardinal sins:

• Scratching surfaces with microscopic abrasions
• Stripping original patina that whispers provenance
• Murdering the mint’s original luster forever

That CAC-stickered commemorative half in your cabinet? Its value comes from untouched beauty.

Crafting a Coin Sanctuary

Create a stable microclimate (50-70°F, 40-50% humidity). Silica gel packs become your best friends. Avoid:

• Attic ovens and basement saunas
• Sunlit displays that bleach toning
• Bare fingers transferring skin acids (cotton gloves only!)

Preservation: Your Shield Against Time and Markets

While the 2007 dollar’s crash was unavoidable, pristine examples still outperform damaged cousins. That 2025 proof penny that nosedived from $200 to $40? Sealed in its original mint packaging, it retains the strike quality and eye appeal for future rallies. Grading services reward patience—PCGS MS65 ‘Godless’ dollars in airtight holders triple the value of corroded raw coins.

Conclusion: Guardians of Numismatic Legacy

From error coins to classic rarities, preservation separates fleeting hype from lasting value. By choosing inert storage, resisting cleaning temptations, and controlling environments, you protect more than metal—you safeguard stories. Remember: today’s $20 curiosity could be tomorrow’s rare variety superstar, but only if its surfaces remain as the mint intended. Keep your coins untouched, documented, and loved, and they’ll reward generations to come.

Related Resources

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