Why put coins in capsules
Silver coins mark easily. A fingerprint can leave a spot that stays, and coins loose in a tube or a bag rub against each other. A capsule is a clear, rigid case that closes around a single coin, so it can be picked up, counted and looked at from both sides without anyone touching the metal.
A capsule doesn't replace dry storage. Keep capsuled coins in a sealed case somewhere dry, away from soft PVC flips, cardboard and rubber bands. Our guide to storing silver at home covers the rest.
Capsule sizes: inside and outside
Capsules are sold by the size of coin they take, which is their inside diameter: a 40 mm capsule takes a coin up to 40 mm across. Choose the size closest to your coin without going under it. Too small and it won't close; much too big and the coin moves about inside.
The outside size is what matters when the capsule goes into a box, and it varies between makers. Ours are 40 mm inside and 43 mm outside. Lighthouse (Leuchtturm) 41 mm capsules are about 47 mm across, and Air-Tite 40 mm direct-fit holders are quoted at 44.5 to 45.7 mm. Check the outside of any capsule against the slot it's going into.
Which 1oz silver coins fit a 40 mm capsule
Using each mint's published bullion diameter, against our 40 mm capsule:
- Fit well: Britannia (2013 on), 38.61 mm; Maple Leaf, 38 mm; Krugerrand, 38.7 mm; Somali Elephant, 39 mm
- Fit, with room to move about: Philharmonic, 37 mm
- Too big for a 40 mm capsule: Silver Eagle, 40.6 mm; Kangaroo, 40.6 mm; Lunar Series III, 40.6 mm
Proof and special editions can differ, so measure anything unusual. For every coin's fit in our coin slots as well, bare or capsuled, see the size guide.
How to put a coin in a capsule
- Work over a soft cloth on a table, so a dropped coin lands on something soft.
- Wear nitrile or cotton gloves, or make sure your hands are clean and dry, and hold the coin by its edge.
- Lay the coin flat in the base of the capsule.
- Press the lid on evenly all the way round until it closes. If it won't close without force, the capsule is the wrong size for that coin.
Storing capsuled coins
Once they're in capsules, coins can be stored two ways:
- On edge, in slots. The Coin Stacker 60 holds sixty coins in capsules up to 45.5 mm across and 7.3 mm thick, each standing in its own curved cradle. The Coin & Bar Mix 60 has thirty of the same slots beside thirty bar slots.
- Stacked. The Mini Stacker 12 takes twelve coins in our capsules, in two stacks of six, in a small rubber-sealed case about 12 × 10 × 7 cm.
Either way, each coin has its own place, so a stack can be counted at a glance and a gap shows straight away if one is missing. Our 40 mm capsules come in packs of sixty, enough to fill a Coin Stacker 60, and can be added to a Coin Stacker, a Coin & Bar Mix or a Mini in the box builder.
Common questions
What size capsule does a 1oz silver Britannia need?
A Britannia (2013 on) is 38.61 mm across, so it needs a capsule at least that size inside. It fits our 40 mm capsules with a little room to spare.
What size capsule does a Silver Eagle need?
Silver Eagles are 40.6 mm across, too big for a 40 mm capsule, and are usually kept in 41 mm capsules. Those are about 47 mm across outside, too wide for our coin slots, so in a Coin Stacker 60 Silver Eagles are best kept bare, where they fit easily.
Do capsules stop silver tarnishing?
They help, by keeping fingers and loose packaging off the coin, but a capsule is not a substitute for dry storage. Keep capsuled coins in a sealed case with a silica gel sachet, somewhere with a steady temperature.
Can capsuled coins be stacked on top of each other?
Yes. The Mini Stacker 12 is made for it: two round pockets that each take six of our 43 mm capsules, one on top of another.