Description
SAFLIPs are available in 2×2 and 2 ½ x 2 ½ inch sizes and are 5 mil thick. SAFLIPs can be heat-sealed across the top of the pocket to make an airtight holder.
– SAFLIP flips are made of inert, archival quality plastic: polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This plastic, derived from
polyethylene, is commonly called “polyester” and is manufactured and sold under several tradenames. The most
common tradename is MYLAR ® a registered trademark of DuPont.
– SAFLIPs were developed by E&T Kointainer Co. in 1980 and were the first double pocket MYLAR coin flips.
– PET is a very stable, inert and dense plastic. Therefore, it is ideal for any type of storage where it is desirable to have a
packaging material which will not attack the contents of the package. In addition, PET allows little gas exchange
through itself, so an object sealed between two sheets of PET plastic will see little exchange with the air surrounding it.
PET also affords protection from ultraviolet radiation, which can cause metals to tarnish. For this reason, PET is used by
museums for artifact storage, such as the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution. (See list at end for
institutions using SAFLIPs.)
– PET has a high tensile strength – it is very difficult to stretch. SAFLIP’s are made of the type of PET plastic that
permits them to be easily sealed with common impulse-type heat sealers
– The manufacturing process for SAFLIPS is a unique one in that cleanliness is maintained rigorously. Both the product
and its packaging is free of contamination which might adversely affect the materials to be stored in SAFLIPS. It is well
known that dust or oil can be transferred from a storage product to its contents. These contaminants have been known to
cause spotting or tarnish over time. Most notorious is the presence of paper or cardboard dust, which can easily transfer
to the coins surface, causing black spots to form. The spotting is often delayed and can even show up later on
previously graded encapsulated coins.
– SAFLIPs are superior to soft polyethylene bags or other flimsy storage methods because they are thicker and more rigid,
offering better physical protection. Once an object is placed in a SAFLIP pocket, and the flip folded over, the stored
object is sealed up so that very little air is able to exchange into the pocket. This fact, plus the inertness of the PET
plastic, assure that the potential of tarnish is minimized.
– SAFLIPs do not scratch coins, even proof coins. (Scratching is caused by careless handling, such as sliding the coin
over the open edge of a flip) The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) conducted tests of all types of coin flips
and concluded that SAFLIPs were least likely to scratch coins.
– SAFLIPs may exhibit a rainbow or oily appearance in the pockets. This is an optical effect – Independent lab tests have
shown that SAFLIPs have no oil or other contaminants.
– The insert identification cards we provide are acid free – they do not turn yellow and do not give off sulfur fumes. The insert cards are sold separately.
– SAFLIPs were used by the ANA Certification Service and are recommended by many grading services. SAFLIPs are
currently used by PCGS, the International Coin Certification Service and the Canadian Coin Certification Service.
Well-known Heritage Auctions, US Coins, Littleton Coin, Blanchard and Co. use Saflips.
The following institutions have purchased and used SAFLIPs: American Numismatic Association Money Museum, Public Museum of Grand Rapids, Bermuda Monetary Authority, Singapore Board of Commissioners of Currency, Harvard University Art Rooms, Kelsey Museum at the University of Michigan, Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary Libraries, James Madison University, Cornell University’s Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Archives, Archdiocese of N.Y archives, Harry Bass Museum, Worcester Art Museum, Glenbow Museum, Bryn Mawr College Archeology Department, St. Mary’s College, John F Kennedy Library and Museum, CU Art Museum at University of Colorado, Harry S Truman Library, Royal Ontario Museum
