The Beilstein test
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Be sure to remove your coins and notes from the holder first!
The Beilstein test which is used to see if a currency holder or coin holder contains PVC or polyvinyl chloride, which is damaging to your coins or papermoney. Be careful though the fumes are toxic. Do not breath fumes and wear safety glasses.
All you need for this test is a propane torch, safety glasses, pliers or insulator and a small (4 or 5 inch) piece of copper wire. Normal house hold wiring is good, with the insulation removed.
Copper by itself burns cleanly but produces a green flame (copper chloride) when
combined with chlorine (PVC).
(1) Strip and clean the copper wire of all insulation. Heat the copper wire in the flame of the torch until it burns cleanly. This will burn off any residues that might be on the wire, then wipe the wire off with a cloth. Make sure that you hold the wire with pliers or an insulator to avoid injury.
(2) Heat the end of the copper wire (approx. 1/4 inch) until it is red hot. Touch the hot wire to the holder, this will produce smoke so make sure not to inhale any fumes from the plastic. Make sure that some of the holder melts and sticks to the wire.
(3) Put the wire back into upper part of the flame. If the flame burns yellow or clear, then no PVC's are present. If the flame burns bright green, then some organic chlorides such as PVC is present.
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