Bon Jour Bill,
As a silver strike collector for over 10 years, with quite a few silver strikes. Here is what I do with mine.
Question 1--wrong to replace capsules-- I replace ALL my capsules(caps for short). Except the colored 1's. And I would replace these if I could get new colored air tights(at the present time I can't). I even replace the new size larger caps(they also have a hole in them). With the older size airtights. You have already experienced what happens in the old size & new size non-airtight caps. Due mainly to the hole in the cap. While the airtights will not necessaryly completely stop the toneing. They will certainly slowdown the process greatly. And preserve the beauty and value of the strikes for many many years to come. Also the caps that the strikes come in are usually in such bad shape. That it deturs from the beauty of the strikes. And can be determental to the strike. My suggestion is to put your strikes in the airtight cases.
Question #2--replace back to old caps or leave in airtights-- value. This can be a hard question to answer. Because everybody is different with different ideas.
With my traders I leave them in the old non-airtight caps. And leave it up to the person who I traded with. To decide if they want to change them to airtights. This includes both sizes of caps. Since I will place them in airtights anyhow. It makes me no diference if I get it in a airtight or not. Does it add value to the strike to be in a airtight. I guess it does some, but how much I believe is up to each person. The value of a strike depends on many factors. Mostly on which strike it is(minted #, etc.) and the condition. As well as the want/need of the buyer/trader. Usually when I get a trader in a airtight cap. The cap has gotten scratched up and I will change the cap anyway.
My sugestion since that a airtight(as far as I am concerned)does add some but does not add greatly to the value. It is up to you wheather you want to place strikes in or not in trader strikes. If you sell your collection this will be helpful. But, not a determing factor wheather to buy or not. The value will be helped because the airtights have preserved the condition of the strkes. If I were to sell my strike(s). I would let the airtights go with the strike(s). After all what would I do with the empty cases. And I would have to find something to place them in anyway.
Hopefully this helps you and answers your questions Drop me a e-mail if you want to talk some more. Or have more questions.
Dan SS#643

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