Because I go through about this many each week! At three cents each, I am just throwing money away. Do you go through as many 2x2s as I do, or am I just crazy or something?
Being that the majority of my purchases are certified, I don't use too many 2x2s these days... But I've always got a few handy. Actually, I prefer mylar plastic flips (also 2 inch x 2 inch), similar to the ones that are necessary when submitting coins for third-party grading. 1) Thicker protection 2) Physical in-hand viewing pleasure of a circular piece of metal, opposed to a cardboard square. 3) No staples, meaning no risk of "staple scratches" when or if you decide to remove the coin from its holder 4) No thin-plastic-window tearing (A regular issue whenever I, personally, deal with cardboard 2x2s) -Brian
Hey Brian what do you mean? The only 2x2 i have ever seen are made of mylar and cardboard. Is there some type you buy thats pure mylar and thicker?
Yes - They are foldable plastic coin holders... Commonly refered to as coin "flips". Something like this... Purchasable under the title "SAFLIP Coin Insert" on eBay, for those who maybe be interested in picking up a few.
I only use one staple on the 2x2's for the coins I find while roll searching. That way the coin can be replaced easily if I find a nicer one. I label them with a label maker strip so I don't waste very many. Roll searching as I do, I find a few errors and varieties. Of course I keep all those.
Yeah, I hate the gd staples. I just scratched a coin a week ago taking it out. I still don't know why people use these stupid things.
Actually, I've found that the coins that hold less value and I stick in the cardboard 2x2 flips, I don't even staple them when they go in a 3 ring binder with pages. The pages tend to be quite snug where the flip stays put and the coin as well. I can easily pull one out and take the coin out if needed, not wasting the flip and not damaging the coin with staples. Most of my coins though go in air-tite's or coin tubes for safe keeping.
I use to go through tons of them 2x2s before too. But now I just put everything in a airtite. Remember you're also spending money on staples and that same staple can scratch your coin. A airtite can last almost forever and if for some reason I decide to take a coin out I can reuse the airtite.
I use these for photography, been doing photography for some friends and such, so I have to have these on hand to replace coins in when I go do coin shoots. About 40% of those flips were from my coins, the rest are some friends. I sure do wish I could afford to buy what I have been shooting lately
I had this problem once. Only once when taking one of my proof cents out to shoot. I soon made it a ritual to take the staples out BEFORE the coin. Makes it long and more tedious, but always worth the extra effort.
But spending a couple of cents more and putting a coin in a flip is easier. Better dealers I buy from do this, but some continue to put them in 2x2's with staples, and then bury the staples so deep its hard to use a puller. I think next time I will just use a pencil and poke the plastic out with it instead.
I've done that too. Ended up drawing on the side of a coin. I just use a needle when the staples are buried now
There are paper inserts made for them that you put in the back. That way you have 2 sides of a whole 2x2 piece of paper for writing on, and you can "flip" open the plastic to see the back of the coin. These are best for those of us who actively touch, weigh, examine our coins. All of my coins I can pull out and actually feel and examine anytime I wish.
Just like ANYTHING within coin collecting, you need to know "how" to safely remove coins from 2x2's without scratching them. I learned this about 5 years ago in that I used to think that I had to "open" the 2x2 to remove the coin thereby exposing the mutilated staples. The proper way of removing the coin is by simply perforating the cello near the edge of the 2x2 and then hold the coin between the thumb and forefinger and the folding the 2x2 so that the coin rips the cello. The staples are still intact and the possibility of getting a staple scratch is totally eliminated. Opening a 2x2 is simply asking for trouble.
Exactly. @19Lyds - There are single-pocket mylar flips, and double-pocket. With the single-pocket kind, you can sticker, tape, or staple any information needed to identify your coin on one side of the flip. Not my personal favorite, but the shop likes to use 'em because we can print sticker labels with showing our logo. With the double-pocket, you can simply slip a piece of paper in one pocket, and your coin in the other! -Brian
