With the completion of my coin cabinet last year: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/old-homemade-coin-cabinet-with-potential.336310/ I knew that I had a lot of additional work/fun to come as I move my coins from flips to trays. I decided to use acid free paper and number each tray compartment as per below (note: that I have 58 trays .. with various sized compartments - so even this was a big task). So, for instance in the tray below you can see the empty compartment labelled 11.4.01 (11th tray, 4th row, 1st compartment). I have then started creating Word documents for each coin .. with photo, attribution, any other notable information, and a reference # to what tray/compartment to find the coin. I then print them and add to a new binder... so I do have everything electronically (saved to the cloud) but I am a bit old school and really like flipping through the binder. How do you catalogue/catalog your collection?
I keep meaning to do a word file with more than just my attribution info. Someday. I like your system though!
I also keep my coins in trays with paper tags under them giving basic identifying information, but I don't give the coins numbers relating to their position in the trays, because I like to keep them in chronological order. I try to leave a lot of extra spaces in the trays, so I don't have to move every single coin every time I buy a new one and insert it in its proper place! I keep a catalog on my computer with information about each coin, also in chronological order, which renumbers automatically every time I add a new coin in its place. For example, these are the entries for my first dozen Roman Republican coins in chronological order: 1. Roman Republic, C. Renius, AR Denarius 138 BCE. Obv. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / Rev. Juno* in biga of goats right, holding scepter and reins in left hand and whip in right hand, C • RENI below goats, ROMA in exergue. RSC I Renia 1, Crawford 231/1, Sydenham 432, Sear RCV I 108 (ill.), BMCRR Rome 885. 17 mm., 3.8 g. * RSC identifies her as Juno Caprotina. Crawford disagrees; Sear does not mention the theory. 2. Roman Republic, Ti. Veturius, AR Denarius 137 BCE. Obv. Helmeted head of Mars right, TI. VET (monogrammed) and X behind head. / Rev. Youth holding pig, kneeling left, head right, between two soldiers who touch the pig with their swords, ROMA above. RSC I Veturia 1, Crawford 234/1, Sydenham 527, Sear RCV I 111 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 550. 18 mm., 3.8 g. [First Republican denarius to have head of anyone other than Roma on obverse.] 3. Roman Republic, C. Servilius M.f., AR Denarius 136 BCE. Obv. Head of Roma right wearing winged helmet, wreath behind neck, ROMA beneath with * [XVI monogram] to left / Rev. Dioscuri on horseback galloping in opposite directions, heads turned back to face each other, both twins holding their spears downwards behind horses, C. SERVEILI M F in exergue. RSC I Servilia 1, Crawford 239/1, Sydenham 525, Sear RCV I 116 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 540. 19.35 mm., 3.89 g. [According to Sear, this is the first Republican denarius with “ROMA” legend on obverse, and the second to use the monogram * for XVI .] 4. Roman Republic, M Fovri L.f. Philus, AR Denarius 119 BCE. Obv. Laureate head of Janus, M•FOVRI•L•F around / Rev. Roma with Corinthian helmet standing left holding scepter, crowning trophy surmounted by helmet and flanked by carnyx and shield on each side, Gallic arms around; star above, ROMA to right, PHLI in exergue. RSC I Furia 18 (ill.), Crawford 281/1, Sydenham 529, Sear RCV I 156 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 555. 20.13 mm., 3.66 g. 5. Roman Republic, M. Sergius Silus, AR Denarius, 116-115 BCE. Obv. Helmeted head of Roma right; EX S C before, ROMA and X with cross-bar (monogram for XVI [re-tariffed den. value of 16 copper asses]) behind / Rev. Horseman galloping left, holding sword and severed head of Gallic barbarian in left hand; Q below horse’s front legs and M SERGI/SILVS below. RSC I Sergia 1a (ill.), Crawford 286/1; Sydenham 544, Sear RCV I 163 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 512. 18 mm., 3.82 g. 6. Roman Republic, C. Sulpicius C.f. Galba, AR Serrate Denarius, 106 BCE. Obv. Jugate heads of Dei Penates left, D•P•P [Dei Penates Publici] beneath heads / Rev. Two soldiers facing each other, holding spears and pointing at sow lying down between them; S above; in exergue: C•SVL•ICI•C•F. [Indication of undertype on right of reverse, causing loss of detail.] RSC I Sulpicia 1, Crawford 312/1, Sydenham 572, Sear RCV I 189 (ill.) [See Sear RCV I at p. 108: “Crawford’s interpretation of this interesting type seems the most convincing: it refers to Aeneas’ [landing at and founding of] Lavinium (home of the Sulpicia gens) with the Penates, and the subsequent miracle of the great white sow [giving birth to 30 piglets], which foretold the founding of Alba Longa,” where the soil was more fertile, 30 years later.] (Ex. Madroosi Collection). 7. Roman Republic, L. Thorius Balbus, AR Denarius, 105 BCE. Obv. Head of Juno Sospita R., “ISMR” [Iunonis Sospitae Magnae Reginae] / Rev. Bull Charging Right, A above, “L. THORIUS BALBUS.” RSC I Thoria 1, Crawford 316/1, Sear RCV I 192, BMCRR Rome 1615. 20.11 mm., 3.85 g. David R. Sear Certificate of Authenticity, 11/16/2012, No. 690CY/RR/CO/C. 8. Roman Republic, Q. Thermus M.f., AR Denarius 103 BCE. Obv. Head of Mars left with crested, plumed helmet/ Rev. Roman soldier advancing right, fighting with uplifted sword a barbarian soldier before him, while protecting with shield a fallen comrade at his feet, Q THERM.MF. in exergue (THE and MF in monograms). RSC I Minucia [Q. Minucius Rufus] 19 (ill.), Crawford 319/1, Sear RCV I 198 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 653. 19.4 mm., 3.97 g. 9. Roman Republic, L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, AR Denarius, 90 BCE. Obv. Head of Apollo R. (H, F) / Rev. Horseman galloping R. w/palm frond (G, H), “L. PISO FRUGI.” RSC I Calpurnia 11, Crawford 340/1, Sydenham 663-670, Sear RCV I 235/1, BMCRR 1938-2129. 17 mm., 4.02 g. 10. Roman Republic, Q. Titius, AR Denarius, Rome 90 BCE. Obv. Head of Mutinus Titius[?] [ = Priapus] R. w/beard & winged diadem / Rev. Pegasus springing R., “Q TITI” on tablet below. RSC I Titia 1, Crawford 341/1, Sear RCV I 238, BMCRR Rome 2220. 18.5 mm., 3.8 g. 11. Roman Republic, Mn. Fonteius C.f., AR Denarius, Rome Mint 85 BCE. Obv. Laureate head of Apollo* right, MN. FONTEI behind (MN and NT in monograms), C.F below chin, thunderbolt below neck / Rev. Cupid or winged Infant Genius seated on goat right, caps (pilei) of the Dioscuri above, thyrsus of Bacchus below; all within laurel-wreath. RSC I Fonteia 10 (ill.), Crawford 353/1c, Sydenham 724a, Sear RCV I 271 (ill.), BMCRR Rome 2478. 20 mm, 3.93 g. * RSC I identifies as head of Vejovis; Crawford and Sear disagree and identify head as Apollo. 12. Roman Republic, Lucius Marcius Censorinus, AR Denarius, 82 BCE. Obv. Laureate head of Apollo right, traces of control mark (unidentifiable) behind / Rev. The satyr Marsyas standing left, gazing upwards, raising right hand and holding wineskin over left shoulder; tall column behind him, surmounted by statue of draped figure (Minerva [RSC] or Victory [Crawford]); L. CENSOR downwards before him. Crawford 363/1d, RSC I Marcia 24d, Sear RCV I 281 (ill.), BMCRR 2657. 18 mm, 3.80 g, 5 h. Separately, I keep copies on my computer -- as well as hard copies placed in 3-ring binders, also in chronological order -- of all invoices, seller's descriptions and photos, my own photos, etc.. Because I, too, like to leaf through the binders and look at all the photos and descriptions!
It’s always inspiring to see how other collectors catalogue their items. I think I have shown the quadrum system I use previously. As for keeping records, I have started to use the CollecOnline database, which is quite useful. The database generates a PDF from your records, like this: It’s quite easy to use. I have registered 100 coins so far, and It’s a thing I can do while watching the news. I think I will register around 300. The rest is more «easy come easy go»-coins.
There are plenty of gallery and collection management tools out there. However, none of them exactly met my expectations. So when I had some time - thanks to the lockdown - a few weeks ago, I started developing my own one. The great thing about it is, that it let's you print your collection in an auction-catalogue-like format.
I think I have too many coins to do some of those things. I have almost all of them recorded with details in spreadsheets. and pictures in various folders on computer, with several backups. Probably not the most professional job, however I can find images and details for each of my coins very quickly using this old computer. I forget how many I have, 6000, 8000? Most of low value, many of much higher value, and I love them all even if I cannot remember what I have.
Early on, I fell into just building a Gmail email for each coin including all of the information and similar examples I could find and emailing it to myself. I then just put all of these emails into an “Ancient coin” folder. This way, my records are searchable, full of images and available anywhere. This method is kinda nice... but if... or when I’m abducted by aliens, that information is probably not accessible to anyone. Very cool! Do plan on making that tool somehow available to others to try? Nice work!
Yes, I do. It's not quite finished yet, but if you are interested in the project, I am happy to give you access to the beta version. It would be great to get some feedback.
I have created a document on my PC with photos, basic info, maintenance info, provenance, list of trusty retailers and auctioneers, and the absolute minimum price they should be sold off if the need arises. It is for my family's benefit in the case of my departure from this world. Obviously I have notified my partner about the existence of this document, otherwise it would be pointless. Luckily she hasn't been curious to take a peek, or she would be less thrilled to find out what I am spending on coins!
It's a cloud based web application and works on all devices with an up-to-date web browser. It's all in English, the German part that you see on picture 3 above is the print preview of my browser and, thus, in German. I'll send you a PM.
That would be very generous! I'd love to try it out. I have a 3-year old and a 1-year old... so feedback may be slow coming. My coining time is hit or miss these days. But... I think it looks like something that would be really helpful. Thank you!
