Which one do you guys think is better? Flips provide average protection and storing, but can be a bit of a problem with finding ones without PVC. Plastic 2x2's are stored easier because of their shape and provide good protection. Air tites are about the same but has problems with storing space; same with the p. 2x2's. So that's my opinion, what's yours? :smile
I think if you are trying to protect any coin that is worth more that its face value, then to me the plastic 2x2's are worth it. That being said, I do have coins in cardboard mylar holders, but all my nicer coins are in plastic 2x2's.
Flips, even non PVC flips, are bad. Cardboard 2x2's are bad. If you want to safely store your coins then you need to use a hard plastic holder of one sort or the other. Convenient storage of those hard plastic holders should always be the last and least of your worries, and it can be dealt with. Protecting the coins is the primary issue.
Depends really on the coin. I use air-tites for long term collection because i think they look better with the white ring. Don't really like cardboard 2 x 2's, i think the clear plastic ones are easier.
Easy to find non-PVC 2xs. Saf-T-Flips are easier to pull out of Dansco pages, but Saflips are better otherwise. For MS and Proofs, I'm very close to pulling the trigger on Lighthouse Quadrums. They have a consistent external size, so they all fit in the same album pages. I think storage and presentation is important, else I would already have simply put everything in Airtites and thrown them in a bog box. Stinks when ya want to look at the collection that way.
As a blanket statement, yes. Hard plastic holders are better, but they are also impractical for low value coins some people collect. Quality cardboard/mylar 2"x2"s are perfectly fine as holders for such coins. So are saflips and the like. This is really a personal decision as to what the individual collector prefers and what works best for their needs depending on the type, value, metallic composition, and so forth.
For my mid-grade & problem U.S. coins I use the Coin World self slabs. For my world coins of various value, 2x2 cardboards, for my ancients I use 2x2 Sa-Flips.
Oh I agree, it is a personal decision. And many do just as you say. But that in no way makes the downside risks of using non PVC flips and cardboard 2x2's go away. And the risks are numerous. The hard plastic holders have no downside risks - none.
Absolutely, but there are potential downsides - cost and space come to mind. While I cannot argue the protection factor, it would be very difficult for me to justify placing a lower numismatic, metal value only or problem coin into even a $0.50 quadrum with few exceptions. When treated with care, I personally find the downsides of using quality 2x2s to be negligible. Just me two cents.
I have most (not all) of my coins in cardboard 2x2s. Most of my coins are not of exceptionally high value. If I were to buy 50¢ snap-lock holders for all of my coins in my binder, it would cost $41. Plus, I'd have nowhere to put them. I'd rather just use the money to buy more coins.
Airtites would be the best option, unfortunately if you collect world coins you would go crazy looking for correct sizes.
Not so at all. It's quite easy to find the correct size Air-Tite for just about any world coin. They make them in every size there is from 10mm to 40mm, and few even larger and some for thicker coins. The only thing you need to know to get the correct size is the size of your coin.
Thats what I meant, I'm not saying they don't make the sizes. But I constantly find myself measuring my world coins for the airtites. Then once I bought one but it turned out the coin was too thick to fit the holder.