Clear cases that keep fingerprints off a coin.
Typical price
$8 to $15
Why we pick it
- Typical price
- $8 to $15
- 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 mail.
Our approved alternative for the same job: Kraft bubble mailers, #0, 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 state quarters, proof sets broken into singles or older silver dollars, 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 size, buy that size in bulk and keep the assortment for odd pieces.
Sizes and fit
Capsules are sold by inner diameter in millimeters, even in the US. Measure the coin with a ruler or caliper and pick the capsule that matches to the millimeter, 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 38 mm capsules is little use for silver dollars.
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 shipping, put capsules in a small zip bag, then into a padded mailer or small box. A crushed package can crack a capsule, so add a piece of cardboard for flat protection.
Kit for this step
Other ways to hold and ship coins
Kraft padded mailers are the fallback when you ship a capsule. The padding protects the capsule rather than the coin itself, so capsule first, then mailer.
Small zip bags work for lower-value circulated coins sold in lots, where buyers care less about the surface.
A precision pocket scale weighs coin orders to the gram, so you buy the right label for a small mailer.
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 stock, which makes silver and gold stand out.
$8 to $15 for 100 puts each capsule at roughly 8 to 15 cents, a small cost on most coins you list on their own. Clean capsules can go back into stock after a sale is canceled.
Common mistakes
Each one costs you money or reviews, and each has a fix.
- Measure the diameter in millimeters 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 cardboard or use a padded mailer.
- Seat the coin flat in the base before closing, because pressing the lid down on an off-center 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
Straight answers to what sellers ask about this.
Which capsule size fits a quarter?
A US quarter is 24.26 mm across, so pick a 24 mm capsule, or use a foam ring in a slightly larger one.
What are the foam rings for?
They hold a smaller coin centered 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 holder.
Do capsules need cleaning?
Wipe the outside with a soft dry cloth. Solvents can cloud the plastic, so keep them away.
Can I mail a coin capsule with a plain stamp?
USPS charges a nonmachinable surcharge on rigid or lumpy letters, and a capsule usually makes an envelope lumpy. Check USPS rules, or ship it as a small package with tracking.
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