Hi everyone, This is my first post here at Coin Talk so I hope I am not asking a stupid question but I have used Google and searched these forums… I want to know how most people with large collections keep track of their coins, for example sorting and organising them. I currently have a collection of around 350 - 400 coins (probably not large by most standards) of all shapes and sizes. Its not particularly valuable probably 10% above face value. Almost all my coins are recent, and circulated, they are ones that I have collected as change from countries around the world on my travels. I was thinking organising them as currently they are just in two albums more or less in the order I got them and a few are in jars as I have run out of pages in the albums. Ultimately what I would like as something like that works like a duke box where I could put all the coins in 2 x 2 cases and have them in a database so I could sort by age, country of origin, face value, what ever… and eject them if I needed. I am not to concerned about security or quality (Although I hear PVC is bad) of the coins. I know something like this exists for CDs, I use a thing called a Disk Stakka, I wont link it but you can find it with Google if you want to see basically what I’m looking for. It connects to my PC via USB and I have a database of CDs in it. Is there such a thing for coins? If not what do other people use? Sorry for the long post and I hope its in the right place, Thanks all.
1st... Welcome to the site... Its a great resource and you'll find many grat conversations... On sorting.storing; You will find unlimited number of ways that different folks Store/Organize and catalog their collections... I put all my graded (NGC and PCGS) slabs in their respective slab boxes One type coin/Series to a Box then label the box with the Series-years-Box For example My Morgans, Jefferson Nickel Proofs, Lincoln Cent Proofs, SAEs each span more that what would fit in a single Slab box, so their Series-years-Box1of4 - 4of4 My "Raw" coins are all in 2x2s that I ordered from JPs Corner (small really cool coin collecting supply joint) thats got everythng I need, decent prices and super fast delivery... Then I put the 2x2s in boxes that look like the NGC or PCGS boxes, but a tad slimmer... I label them pretty much the same way... The more valuable/imprtant ones, their boxes then go in my gunsafes, the other lesser ones go in a steel locking cabinet that I picked up from a used office suply joint... As far as records I've not really found or set on one way... All my Graded coins go in my "Sets Registrys" on NGCs collecters society page... It works good for seeing what you have, what its graded at incase you want to upgrade and what you need to complete the series, then to see how it stacks up against other simmilar collections.... I also use Excel Spreadsheet, with many tabs, one for each type coin or series... I've also been playin with a few softwares written for tracking Coin Collections, but I'm really having a hard time justifying their costs as compared to the spreadsheet... You don't havbe to use Excel, there are a number of Software creators out there that make an "open Source" Spreadsheet thats either free or really cheap to compete with the evil Microsloth Office..... You have to look around see what everyone else is doing for ideas as well as your own... Evaluate and see what works best for you... You might hate the spreadsheet idea or might love it... After everyone posts their ideas and ways, Let us know if you come up with something different than what gets shared that we may find useful...
welcome to the forum. For record keeping, I use Coin Elite. Not very expensive, I bought it years ago. So I don't remember the price.
I think most of the coin software apps start at about 40-50 bucks and go up depending on what other apps you get bundled with them... I saw one that had an app for Paper money you could also bundle with it...
Thanks you for you replies, The excel idea is a good one, I was actually going to go make a spreadsheet if I didn't get any other ideas. I had a look around for some open-source software and found a program called tellico, it works on linux I don't think there is a windows version. It seams to do the job, well the price is right anyway . So I have started adding some of my coins into a database, as far as storage goes I guess I will stick with the albums for the moment, and maybe just get the coins that are in jars into 2x2s in boxes and then I can slowly move the albums across later.
Record keeping I use an old price guide and just highlight as I go...then again I'm not very concerned about the worth of my coins, just the "neato" factor. Storage-wise, basically a mix of coin tubes, Whitman folders and 2x2 stacks in a drawer.
Great question, I'm currently quasi-obsessed with how to store stuff. For me, I think the starting point is what kind of coins are you collecting? The type can help determine what the best storage method is. My collection isn't worth much either, I'd estimate it to be around ~$350 at the moment. I've got the following "collections" in progress: State quarters (a couple of complete sets) Presidential dollars (current through Millard Fillmore) American Silver Eagles Buffalo Nickels Other 19th and early 20th century US odds and ends (like a peace, a morgan, a columbian half, and a mid century large cent) Will be starting the national parks quarters too once that one starts up in April For the state quarters, presidential dollars, and national parks quarters, I find that folders work best. I use Littletons for the state quarters and some oddball brand I picked up at Barnes and Noble for the presidential dollars. For the other stuff, I've devised a different system. To me, anything worth over $5 is worth putting in a 2x2 plastic capsule, not a cardboard flip. I like the protection value and the fact that I can fondle the coin without running a risk of hurting it in any way. But I don't like storage boxes because they're not conducive to browsing and it doesn't afford me the visceral thrill of seeing them all lined up in sequence. So my solution has been to order vinyl pages, the 12 pocket variety that measures 2.5" x 2.5" per pocket. The hard plastic capsule slips inside the vinyl pocket. This also affords me enough room to label the bottom or top of the sleeve with information about the coin, without obstructing the coin in its case. And I'm going to keep these sleeves in a lighthouse binder (they look the coolest to me). Anyhow, that's my current technique. Still waiting for supplies, but I'll post a pic when it's all up. For inventory, you can't beat Excel. If you know autofilters, pivot tables, and some basic formulas, there's nothing you can't configure in a spreadsheet .
Welcome to the forum! I keep all my slabbed coins in the Intercept slab boxes-20 to a box- and all holders, ICG,PCGS,NGC and ANACS fit. All the rest of my raw coins are in 2 X 2 Mylars and stored in 3 hole plastic pages kept in zipped binders. The exceptions are complete sets in Littleton Albums and/or folders. Several years ago I purchased Coin Manage 2008 software for cataloging everything. I've found it easy to use and it updates values on individual coins and entire collections. Problem is, there has not been an update for 2009 or 2010 coins as of yet.
Welcome to coin talk.I too am new to the forum. This was a great question because I am starting my collection and am going to need a good starage system for everything. I am what you call a neat freek and everything has to be in its right place so these were some good ideas to get me thinking.
Welcome and thanks for asking this question As a newcomer to the coin collecting world , I too am considering getting organized in 3 different categories. 1.) individual coin storage & display options 2.) sets/series storage & display options 3.) long term storage & security for all of the above. As "smullen" previously stated, "Then I put the 2x2s in boxes that look like the NGC or PCGS boxes, but a tad slimmer.." I was actually able to go to Goodwill and buy used storage boxes from the actual grading company for like 5 pennies each. ( see photo attached ) I have been trying to find an affordable safe/vault solution and ran across this advertisement from "the Central Repair Department in Pompano Beach" in Florida and the most attractive part there are/were free !! http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/4571 Maybe some members in Florida could snag some for the rest of us here on CoinTalk
Welcome to the forum, and great first post! As previously mentioned, for current inventory I use an old redbook. My current system is to put a (+) next to any date I wish to upgrade in condition and a (-) next to any coin I still need in a series. For the coins I do have in a particular series, say Roosevelt Dimes, I make sure to circle the grade I have of a particular year and mint and a number next to the circle to indicate the number of said grade, if more than one. It's not electronic, but for me and my meager collection it works just fine. Besides, it's a nice accomplishment to erase a (-) and circle a grade. As for storage I do 2X2's in plastic page holders. The pages are stored currently, and somewhat embarressingly, in photo albums. Maybe one day I'll have the high dollar binders, but until then... Hope this serves helpful, and once again, welcome to the forum.
I wish I could offer some help. My collection is in the biggest mess right now! I have the problem of bringing a coin out, then louping it, then getting another coin, louping it, and so on so forth. They stock pile, this is what my computer desk looks like right now...
I agree absolutely with MCPUSA. I use CoinManage 2009, and I love it. (Don't take this as any kind of endorsement, it's not.) It keeps track of everything for me. I use it to keep track of all my buys, their current value, grades, attributions, variety types, purchase and sale info, photos, attached receipts, catalog numbers, serial numbers, bar codes, safety deposit info, etc. Here are a few screen shots for example:
