You’ve finally taken the plunge and purchased some silver. However, you’re worried because you’ve always heard that silver has a mortal enemy: tarnish.

Don’t worry! Tarnish happens, but it’s unlikely to change the value of your silver assets. In fact, in some cases, a light tarnish might actually be somewhat desirable.

However, as with many problems, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to tarnish. So, this page is your guide to how tarnish develops on silver pieces and, more importantly, what you can do to store your silver in a way that avoids tarnish.

Why Silver Tarnishes: The Short Science

The short answer behind the appearance of tarnish on silver is that it reacts with a few specific compounds that are common in the air around us. The biggest culprit is sulfur, which typically resides in trace amounts in the air via hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide.

In either case, the silver reacts with the sulfur to form silver sulfide, the characteristic black film that we know as tarnish. Though it might seem alarming, it is not the same thing as rust and does not portend the same problems for your silver that rust does for steel and iron.

Where rust eats into the metal and destroys it, tarnish only rests upon the surface of the silver itself. So, the underlying weight – and therefore, value – of the silver remains unchanged.

Now, although tarnish does not usually damage the silver, it can be undesirable if you have collectible items with high shine or surfaces, such as proof or reverse proof coins.

The Biggest Enemies of Silver

Nevertheless, it’s good to know what to avoid when you’re dealing with silver. It’s a bit surprising to discover how many common items may cause tarnish to develop on your coins, bars, or rounds.

Sulfur compounds

As we discussed, the primary driver of tarnish is the interaction of silver and sulfur compounds like hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. Unfortunately, sulfur compounds are found in many regular household items, such as rubber bands, latex gloves, and wool. There are even some types of cardboard, newspaper inks, and woods that have sulfur-bearing compounds in them.

Solution: Be very selective about the items you use to store your silver. Keep your silver away from rubber or paper products, and be sure to use cotton gloves if you need to handle it.

Humidity and Moisture

Silver is also adversely affected by wetness and moisture, no matter how it occurs. Obviously, you’re not going to dunk your silver in a bucket of water, but the moisture and humidity in the air can accelerate the chemical reaction that leads to tarnishing significantly.

Where you have to be especially careful, however, is not during the short periods where the silver might be exposed to some kind of acute situation. Instead, the problems arise when there is a great deal of moisture in the storage area you choose for the silver.

Solution: Try to keep your storage facility’s relative humidity – the percentage of moisture that the air could hold at that temperature – beneath 50%. Dry is your friend.

• Condensation from temperature fluctuations is a common culprit — moving silver from a cold safe to a warm room repeatedly
• Target storage humidity: below 50% relative humidity

Chlorine and household chemicals

Chlorine is one of the worst substances to come into contact with silver. In addition to fostering rapid tarnishing of silver, chlorine actually degrades and breaks down the silver itself in a similar, albeit lesser, way as rust does to iron.

Unfortunately, many household chemicals contain chlorine. Specifically, many cleaning compounds use chlorine as part of their disinfectant package because it destroys the molecular structure of bacteria, stains, and germs.

Solution: Don’t – for any reason – place your silver in kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry areas, and you can forget about any dreams you had regarding a silver bottom pool.

Skin oils and fingerprints

We mentioned the fact that you want to avoid latex gloves and use cotton ones instead. You definitely need to wear gloves, however, as the oils and salts on our skin can also accelerate tarnish.

In effect, our skin introduces moisture and contamination to the mix. If your item has any numismatic value, a fingerprint can spoil a great deal of value due to the difficulty required to remove it without damaging the underlying surface.

Solution: Wear gloves if you plan to handle silver. Keep kids away from silver if you care about tarnish.

The Air

You can do everything right and get rid of all the pollutants described above. Yet, you’ll still get tarnished silver – from the air.

That’s right – the very gas that surrounds all of us will react to your silver over time. So, the solution is painfully obvious.

Solution: Seal the air out of your storage facility as much as you can. Admittedly, it may be difficult.

Choosing the Right Container

Naturally, the most important way to prevent tarnish on your silver is to store it properly. The first step in proper storage is to choose the proper container.

The correct type of container is dependent on the form of silver that you have. So, let’s discuss the appropriate way to store different types and formats of silver.

Coin Capsules (Highest Protection for Individual Coins)

If your silver collection includes high-level numismatics, proofs, or any kind of coin where the quality of its surface and preservation account for a significant portion of its value, you need to invest in coin capsules.

These are hard plastic containers that mostly eliminate the chance for air exposure. Coin capsules are specifically designed to fit particular coins and come with foam gaskets that offer the tightest seal available. So, if you’re trying to store a coin like an American Silver Eagle, a Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, or a Silver Britannia, you’ll need to look for the capsule for that coin.

However, be prepared for the costs that go along with getting this highest level of protection. The financial cost may add up if your collection is large, and it may be time-consuming to place your many coins into them individually.

Coin Tubes (Good for Bullion Stacks)

If your collection is a bit less exacting in its maintenance, a coin tube might make more sense. A coin tube is a plastic container that holds multiple coins together. Typically, you can fit between 20 and 25 coins inside a single tube.

Coin tubes offer a decent amount of protection from the elements and tarnish. However, they are not airtight and will allow some air to enter.

So, they work best for coins that need to stay nice, but aren’t losing value if they get a bit of tarnish on them. The best thing to do if you use one is to keep the lid on as tightly as possible and store them upright so the coins don’t bash into one another any more than necessary.

Coin Flips

One of the most common silver storage containers is the coin flip. These are soft plastic sleeves that fit a wide variety of coins and coin sizes.

Generally speaking, these are decent options for storing individual coins. They certainly allow air into them, but they are better than coins floating loose in a storage bin. They are probably better for storing your coins in the medium term, rather than permanently.

The one thing to be wary about, however, is the material used to make the flips you use. Many coin flips are made with soft PVC, which is inexpensive but also reacts with silver in a distinctive manner.

In fact, the green/teal tarnish is known as “PVC damage.” So, if you choose to use coin flips, be sure that they are made from Mylar or polypropylene, as these do not react chemically to silver and can be used long-term, though they still have the issue that they are not airtight.

Presentation Boxes and Display Cases

Presentation boxes and display cases are often used to show off some of the shinier silver portions of one’s collection. To be fair, they perform this task better than any other type of container.

However, they are not appropriate for long-term storage of any kind. Boxes and display cases don’t offer any of the requisite atmospheric protections that silver requires in the long term to avoid tarnish.

Worse yet, many boxes may contain foam or felt inserts that look nice but contain the dreaded sulfur compounds that directly cause silver to tarnish. So, when and if you have to use one of these cases – and they do have their place – be sure that you check the materials for sulfur-bearing compounds. A quick Google search can save you quite a bit of headache.

Zip-Lock Bags

Putting silver coins in a plastic sandwich bag is not ideal, full stop. They’re better than nothing, but that’s about it.

A zip-lock bag is not designed to be an airtight container. They are not made to keep atmospheric elements from seeping into them, as they typically are used for food items for extremely short periods of time.

Needless to say, you should never use a zip-lock bag for any numismatic products or proofs. They offer no protection to those coin surfaces, which are critical to their valuation.

Silver-Specific Anti-Tarnish Bags and Strips

Now, you may encounter advertising for strips and bags that claim to stop tarnish from affecting your silver. Both 3M and Intercept Technology make anti-tarnish strips, and products like Pacific Silvercloth frequently line quality storage containers and trays.

These products do work. They are specially-designed to intercept and absorb sulfur compounds prior to the compounds’ interaction with the silver contained within.

However, be sure to maintain perspective in the fact that these products are supplements, not primary containers for your silver. Much like a humidity absorber you’d put in your bathroom, they must be replaced periodically due to the fact that they can only absorb so much sulfur before they are saturated.

Controlling the Storage Environment

Your choice of container for your silver is quite important, to be sure. However, it’s also a good idea to exert as much control over the storage environment as you can, too. Here are some of the things you can do.

Humidity Control

The first thing to do is work on the humidity that surrounds your silver. If you live in an area with a great deal of moisture in the air, this element will be a constant source of struggle for you, but it’s important to do the best you can.

The first thing to do is invest in desiccant packets. You’ve probably seen these when you’ve opened new products shipped to you. They work because they are filled with silica gel, which absorbs moisture in the area directly around it.

The only issue is that silica gel must be either replaced or recharged after it fills up with the moisture it collects. From a long-term cost perspective, it might make sense to buy rechargeable silica gel so you don’t have to keep buying new packets.

Many commercially available silica gel packets are designed to change color according to their level of absorbed moisture. However, if you want to keep a closer eye on the humidity of your storage unit, you can purchase a small hygrometer to place inside.

The “magic” number, if you will, is 50%. You want to ensure that the relative humidity – the amount of moisture in the air as a percentage of the total possible amount of moisture in the air – remains beneath this number.

Temperature Stability

Another factor that can cause increased rates and levels of tarnish on your silver is the stability of the temperature in the storage area. You want to avoid locations that are not insulated and are prone to major swings in temperatures, like unsealed attics or garages.

Notice that we mention the stability of the temperature as the important factor, not the specific temperature itself. While a moderate temperature level is likely the best, the bigger concern is if there is regular and significant fluctuation, not that the temperature remains at a certain point.

The reason for this concern is that temperature changes are the primary cause of condensation. As we mentioned, relative humidity is the percentage of moisture present in the air versus the amount of moisture that the air is theoretically able to hold at a particular temperature.

Thus, when the temperature shifts, the equation for relative humidity changes, which can quickly lead to moisture coming out of the air. In other words, condensation occurs when the moisture is greater than the amount permitted when the relative humidity is equal to 100%.

Location Considerations

So, the ideal scenario is to keep your silver in an area that does not fluctuate in temperature at all. We mentioned that attics and garages aren’t great choices, but more broadly, you should look to keep your silver in interior rooms of your home or your chosen storage facility.

Obviously, you also want to be on the lookout for any of the contaminants that may increase tarnish and/or damage on your silver. So, any area where household cleaners are common, such as kitchens and bathrooms, are likely unsuitable for the task.

The best option would be a climate-controlled area in an inner room of your home. Alternatively, if you can find and secure a climate-controlled safe, that’s even better.

We do need to mention, however, that humidors for cigars are poor choices for silver. Even though the seclusion and climate control of those facilities seems ideal, the humidity requirements for cigars are much different than those of silver. Furthermore, the woods used to construct or line many humidors are often rich in sulfur compounds.

Handling Best Practices

We’ve already touched on some of the things that can cause your silver to tarnish. However, there are also some concerns when it comes to handling the silver itself. So, here are a few more tips to help you handle your silver properly:

• Handle it by the edge, not the face – especially if you’re handling coins.
• If you’re handling numismatics or proofs, wear cotton gloves, as latex gloves contain sulfur compounds.
• If you’re handling bullion or some other silver product that relies on its metal content for its value, your hands are fine to use. Make sure that you wash them and dry them thoroughly, though.
• Let the silver rest and get used to the temperature if you are moving it to a place with a different environment.
• Hold it over a cloth or padded surface when you inspect it. The last thing to do is damage your silver due to an accidental drop.

Silver Bars: Specific Considerations

Now, most guides about avoiding tarnish on silver focus their attention on silver coins. Frankly, we do, too, because the type of silver that is most adversely affected by tarnish (in terms of value) are numismatics, proofs, and other coins that require perfection on their surfaces.

However, silver bars (and rounds) deserve their own due when it comes to the avoidance of tarnish. So, let’s talk about some of the considerations surrounding the storage of bulk silver.

• Silver bars trade only on their silver content, so there’s no concern about maintaining the condition of their surfaces. As a tradeoff, though, silver bars are quite susceptible to visible fingerprinting and smudges.
• The focus of your silver bar storage should be protecting them from humidity and physical damage.
• It’s tempting to stack bars directly on top of one another, but doing so can cause contact marks or surface wear. While the condition of the bar isn’t so important, there’s no reason to take a chance of causing significant (read: value-reducing) damage. If you must stack them, place padding or dividers between them.
• Many bars come in sealed assay packages. If yours come this way, leave them in the packages – you’re doing yourself no favors by opening them.
• If your silver bar comes outside of a sealed package, you can buy some of the capsules or packaging described above. They do make receptacles for silver bars, and they will accomplish your goal with silver bars (protection from humidity and damage) effectively.

What About Tarnish That Has Already Formed?

Now, preventing tarnish is all well and good, but it’s sometimes difficult or impossible to keep tarnish off your silver over time. So, here’s what to do if you see tarnish creeping onto your silver pieces, despite your best efforts.

• Realize that tarnish is unlikely to affect the value of your silver. Unless you are collecting extremely high quality coins that derive their value primarily from their condition and rarity, the tarnish that develops isn’t going to pull the worth of your silver downward. DON’T PANIC!
• Do not attempt to clean the tarnish off! Cleaning any type of precious metal product, especially coins, is a perilous thing for amateurs to do. At best, the value of your silver will stay the same. At worst, you can scrape dollars in value right off the face of your coins.
• In some cases, light tarnish or aging can actually make a silver object more desirable to collectors, not less.
• There are professional ultrasonic cleaning options available, but it is not worth the money unless there is some sort of collector value that you’ll realize in the process.

At the end of the day, tarnish is an unsightly development on silver, but it is unlikely to change the value of your silver investment. That said, all things equal, it’s better to avoid tarnish if possible.

The good news is that it is relatively inexpensive to guard against most of the causes of tarnishing. Get a basic capsule and a desiccant package, and you’ll shut out most air, humidity, and sulfur compounds.

Above all else, practice care when you handle your silver. Tarnish may happen, but preventing it is always easier than remediating it.