Coldcard devices present a cataloguing challenge: their security model discourages casual handling, yet retired units still need a place in your archive ledger. Our archive setup sessions follow a consistent protocol.
Exterior Identification Only
We record the serial number printed on the device rear, the firmware version visible on the home screen, and the date of last known use. The device remains sealed in a static bag during cataloguing whenever the holder prefers.
Tamper-Evident Bag Labelling
Each archived Coldcard receives a numbered tamper-evident bag. The number corresponds to an index card in the filing system — not to any key material. If the bag seal is broken, the ledger note flags the device for re-inspection before any future handling.
Cross-Reference to Active Ledger
Archive index cards include a field linking to the active rotation ledger page that replaced this unit. When a holder upgrades from a Coldcard Mk3 to Mk4, the Mk3 card points forward; the active ledger points back. This bidirectional link prevents the common error of assuming an archived device is still the primary signer.
Storage Environment
Coldcard’s epoxy design tolerates moderate humidity, but we recommend silica gel packets in archive boxes stored above floor level. Seoul’s summer humidity has damaged paper index cards in poorly ventilated closets — the devices were fine, but the documentation was not.