It‘s best to avoid handling coins if you can. A coins' quality and value decline when scratched, dusty, damaged by moisture or when fingerprints are present. Direct contact with your collection should be avoided, especially with coins in mint condition, but if you have to touch please do so by only holding the outer edge.

Cleaning coins is not recommended and should be done only by an expert, and only when absolutely necessary. Rather than cleaning a coin, leaving its patina undisturbed might make it more desirable to collectors and more valuable.

Collections will most likely be fine under the safety of a store-bought holder; just make sure that it will keep your most valuable coins out of harm's way by locking out moisture as well as fingerprints and dust. There are other protectors in the market that can do a better job and guard against moisture than the typical stapled or taped packets, which don’t provide the maximum protection. In any case, it is best to store collectible coins in a dry place; never store them in a basement or other cool, damp area.