Safes for collectors - protecting coins, stamps and memorabilia

Personal collections of items such as coins and stamps and memorabilia such as vinyl records or football programmes are things we value very highly. Often when we think about home security we think about protecting things of high value, such as cash, jewellery or laptops. Also we think about things of great personal value, but which have no financial value, such as legal documents, property deeds and passports. However, personal collections can be deemed to fall into both of these categories and hence they have a unique value in terms of items we want to protect.

We accumulate collections over many years of our lives. These could be items that we have collected as a dedicated pastime, such as coins or stamps, or they may be musical recordings which we treasure, or simply reminders of cherished events or landmark occasions. These have a great personal value to us, and you might think they have no financial value, but in some cases they will. Old coins and stamps are highly collectible, while rare vinyl records, music memorabilia or football programmes may no longer be in circulation, so they hold a relatively high value, and not just to you.

Why do we need to protect personal collections?

So these collections are items that hold great personal value, but in some cases can also hold a financial value. In most cases we want to keep these items safe because we have invested a lot of time in accumulating them, we also want to keep them safe because they are old and delicate. We may also wish to pass them on as a family heirloom, as a legacy of what we did with our lives and maybe so grandchildren can get some enjoyment, or financial benefit, from them.

The reasons we want to protect and secure collections can be very personal to us and therefore very important, so a safe for collections is the ideal solution. At MB Direct we have a number of different sized safes which are ideal for collections, so here is what you need to consider when choosing a safe for collections:

• Visibility – In most cases you want a safe containing your collection to be hidden and discreet. If you put something like this on display it will attract attention and be easy prey for a burglar. You may want occasional access to the collection to enjoy it and to skim through it, so there are a number of discreet solutions, such as wall, cupboard and underfloor safes. These can all be hidden away but accessed when necessary. However, if you want frequent access but choose an underfloor safe, this can become a nuisance to access each time, so choose a location that is hidden away and not visible, but is also easy to access if you know the location, this would normally be a wall or cupboard safe.
• Condition – Make sure the safe you choose is able to maintain the condition of your collection. Don’t choose an underfloor safe if your home is prone to underfloor moisture or flooding. The safe will offer some protection but not 100% long term protection if something is made of paper and/or is delicate, and this could ruin anything such as coins, newspapers, photographs or programmes.
• Fire – Ideally your safe should be fireproof, as these types of safe are designed to withstand fire as much as the possibility of theft. These fire safes are ideal for items which hold more personal value than financial, as they protect items that are unique and essentially irreplaceable.
• Security – Choose a robust and durable safe with the correct insurance rating. In some cases we may include collections within our home and contents insurance, in which case you will be required to protect this collection with adequate security, otherwise the insurance company won’t pay out on its insurance value in the event that it is stolen. Even if the collection can’t be replaced, this financial loss will still be a bitter pill to swallow.
• Locks – There are numerous keyless lock systems you can choose to access the collection in a safe, and which provide adequate security against the possibility of theft. Using a biometric feature – such as fingerprint, eye scan or facial recognition – you provide a unique feature which can’t be bypassed. You can also opt for a unique PIN code using a digital keypad. The important thing to consider is that the safe is accessible to the level that you need, ie. anyone who needs to access it, can access it.

Order personal collection safes from MB Direct

When choosing a safe for personal collections you need to consider all the above issues and also, of course, choose the right size of safe, bearing in mind that you might still be adding to your collection and you might also start to store other items in the safe. However, at MB Direct we have numerous different sizes of safe for your needs, so check out our range of safes and order online today to keep your personal collection safe and close to your heart forever.