Paper backups vs metal plates in your custody ledger

Holders often treat “backup” as one concept. In a custody ledger, paper envelopes and engraved plates are different assets with different failure modes.

Paper backups

Log: creation date, ink type if known, storage container, humidity exposure risk, and inspection dates. Paper can look fine while ink fades.

Metal plates

Log: engraving date, manufacturer, whether words or QR segments, storage location, and corrosion checks. Metal survives floods better than paper but can still be misplaced.

Cross-reference rule

Each backup entry should point to a wallet label — “Wallet B primary backup” — never to the words themselves. If you rotate backups, close the old entry with an end date and open a new one.

Estate readers care about which backup is current, not how many you ever made.