Collectors who are new to the hobby will find that they often do not know the best ways to care for their gold coins. They are excited by the prospect of hunting for and buying the coins, but they rarely put much thought into how they are going to keep and care for them, and this can be a costly mistake. Even some who have been in the hobby for years do not know of all of the ways that they might be damaging their coins, and thus reducing their value without knowing it.
One of the things that you never want to do with your coins is touch them. The oils on your fingers, as well as tiny particles on your fingers, can cause damage to the coins. If you have to handle the coins that are not protected, you must make sure that you always wear latex gloves. Breathing on the coins is another problem that many collectors do not consider. Breath contains small droplets of saliva that can get on and damage the coins.
Something that many new coin collectors want to do is clean and polish their coins, but this is a terrible idea. You will find that cleaning can cause many problems, including loss of luster and abrasions on the coin. If your coins came in protective cases, and they have a grade on them, do not break open the cases to get a better look at the coins. You need to keep these intact. It will also prevent any urge that you might have to touch or polish the coin!
When you store you coins in paper holders or envelopes, it is important that you make sure that paper is acid-free. If you use paper that is not acid-free, you will find that the acids in the paper will cause problems with your coins such as discoloration and toning. You should avoid using PVC containers as well, because the chemicals in the containers can cause damage over time. Only use holders that are recommended for your coins.
Take care where you store the gold coins as well. You want to make sure that you have the coins in a dry area that is cool. Since even light can cause damage to coins, it is best if you keep the coins in a darkened area and limit their exposure.