Clear cases that keep fingerprints off a coin.
Typical price
£8 to £14
Why we pick it
- Typical price
- £8 to £14
- Works with
A fingerprint on a coin's surface can knock its value. Capsules show both faces on your stream and protect the coin in the post.
Our approved alternative for the same job: Kraft padded envelopes, D/1, 100 pack
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Coin sellers who need capsules
Capsules suit you if you sell individual coins, such as UK 50p and £2 commemoratives, proof coins or older silver, on eBay, Whatnot or TikTok Shop. Coin buyers want to see both faces and want the surface untouched.
A mixed 100 pack covers several coin sizes until you know which ones you sell most. Once you know your best-selling coin size, buy that size in bulk and keep the assortment for odd pieces.
Sizes and fit
Capsules are sold by inner diameter in millimetres. Measure the coin with a ruler or calliper and pick the capsule that matches to the millimetre, as a loose coin rattles and rubs inside.
Assorted packs often come with foam rings that let one capsule hold a range of coin sizes. Compare the listed sizes with the coins you sell; a pack with no 27 mm to 28 mm capsules is little use for £2 coins.
Choose clear, hard acrylic or polystyrene with no PVC. Soft PVC flips can leave a green film on coins over time, which collectors know to look for.
Capsuling coins without touching the faces
Handle the coin by its edge, or wear cotton or nitrile gloves. Drop it into the base of the capsule face up, press the lid on until it clicks and check the coin sits flat.
For posting, put capsules in a small grip seal bag, then into a padded envelope or small box. A crushed parcel can crack a capsule, so add a piece of card for flat protection.
Kit for this step
Other ways to hold and post coins
Kraft padded envelopes, D/1, 100 pack, are the fallback when you post a capsule. The padding protects the capsule rather than the coin itself, so capsule first, then envelope.
Grip seal bags, 100 × 150 mm, 100 pack, work for lower-value circulated coins sold in lots, where buyers care less about the surface.
A 500 g precision pocket scale weighs coin orders to the gram, so you buy the right postage for a small envelope.
Showing capsuled coins on stream and in photos
Hold the capsule at its rim and angle it under a light so the design catches. Clear capsules photograph well against black card, which makes silver and gold stand out.
£8 to £14 for 100 puts each capsule at roughly 8p to 14p, a small cost on most coins you list on their own. Clean capsules can go back into stock after a sale is cancelled.
Common mistakes
Each one costs you money or reviews, and each has a fix.
- Measure the diameter in millimetres and match it. A capsule picked by eye lets the coin rattle and wear.
- Fingerprints on the faces tone over time; hold coins by the edge or wear gloves.
- Soft PVC flips can leave residue on the metal, so store coins in hard non-PVC capsules.
- A capsule loose in a thin envelope can crack. Add a piece of card or use a padded envelope.
- Seat the coin flat in the base before closing, because pressing the lid down on an off-centre coin can mark the rim.
Setups that use it
Complete kits this product is part of.
Guides that use it
Step-by-step help where this product does a job.
Questions
Which capsule size fits a £2 coin?
A UK £2 coin is 28.4 mm across, so pick a capsule with a 28 mm or 29 mm inner size, or use a foam ring in a slightly larger one.
What are the foam rings for?
They hold a smaller coin centred in a larger capsule, so one capsule size fits several coins.
Can I use capsules for proof coins?
Yes. Proof coins scratch easily, so a hard capsule suits them, though many already arrive from the mint in their own capsule.
Do capsules need cleaning?
Wipe the outside with a soft dry cloth. Solvents can cloud the plastic, so keep them away.
Can I post a coin capsule as a Large Letter?
It depends on the thickness of the finished envelope. Measure the packed item against the thickness limit in Royal Mail's size guide.
Alternatives
Other picks for the same job, cheaper and pricier.
Grip seal bags, 100 × 150 mm, 100 pack
A coiled charger, a set of earrings or a bag of spare game pieces fits a 100 × 150 mm grip seal bag, and you can write the stock code on the white panel. Pick a larger size if you bag laptop power bricks or whole controllers.
Typical price£4 to £8
See on AmazonAcid-free tissue paper, 100 sheets
A sheet of tissue costs pennies and changes how a £15 vintage shirt feels on arrival. Buyers mention it in reviews.
Typical price£7 to £11
See on AmazonBubble wrap, 500 mm x 100 m
A long roll costs several times less per metre than the small packs sold in shops.
Typical price£10 to £15
See on AmazonBox protectors for vinyl figures, 20 pack
Collectors pay for the box as much as the figure. A protector guards the corners and the window against crushing and scuffs, in storage and in the post.
Typical price£10 to £16
See on Amazon