It‘s best to avoid handling coins if you can. Dust, scratches, fingerprints and moisture will affect the quality of your coins and depreciate their value. 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.

Coin cleaning, which is not recommended, should be handled by a specialist. Rather than cleaning a coin, leaving its patina undisturbed might make it more desirable to collectors and more valuable.

Most holders provide adequate protection for franklin half dollars but you will want to be sure that your most valuable coins are protected not only from fingerprints and dust, but also moisture. Although the usual stapled or taped packets don’t provide optimum protection, there are other containers out there that also block moisture. Never keep your collectible coins in a damp, dark, cool area such as the cellar; instead, choose somewhere dry and with a steady temperature.