Opinions on a new coin storage plan

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by kirispupis, May 25, 2022.

  1. kirispupis

    kirispupis Well-Known Member

    Hello everyone,

    When I first started coin collecting, I wanted a storage mechanism that would satisfy the following criteria.
    • Keep the coins safe
    • Allow easy transport to show off the coins
    • Make it difficult for my relatives to reach the coins, since they'll reach into a coin flip and rub their hands all over a coin if they can
    • Provide some context and history for each coin
    • Allow easy admiration for both sides of the coin
    • Store the tag with the coin
    • Look professional
    I came up with the following
    IMG_0715.jpg

    The coin flip is taped onto a printed page, which is then placed inside a page protector. Initially, the text came from Wikipedia, but now I write my own for each coin. I can fit about 50 coins in an album. However, over time I've come to realize the following shortcomings.
    • Only about 5-10% of people bother to read any of the stories. They're just looking for cool coins.
    • As seen here, the coin sometimes winds up in front of another coin in the same place, which looks ugly. I've tried placing the coin in different spots, but I still wind up with quite a few like this.
    • Due to the tape, I can't access the coin if I want to.
    • I'm quickly taking up space. I have four albums now and I originally told my wife that my coins won't take up much room.
    After a bit of thought, I'm thinking to do this.
    IMG_0713.jpg

    This has the following improvements.
    • Four coins per page, so I take a quarter of the room.
    • Pages will be alternated, so the next page will have the coins on the other side.
    • I still have the stories if someone really wants with the QR code.
    • Electrical tape is easier to remove, so I can take out the coin if I really want
    So far, the major disadvantage I see is I can't move the coins around as much. That being said, I'm fine with that. I'll just take care to group them around similar coins as I did here.

    What do you think? I'm debating whether to change the rest of my collection to this.
     
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  3. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    I certainly like the QR code idea.. its brilliant. If you (or the wife) are concerned about space why not use the 20 pocket binder pages like below? Maybe use one pocket for your coin/ticket and the one beside for the QR code? Each page would then hold 10 coins? Just a thought... I like your new idea but there is a lot of blank space on the page that could maybe be used somehow? I am sure you will figure it out.

    upload_2022-5-25_21-27-45.png
     
  4. The Meat man

    The Meat man Supporter! Supporter

    Ha, I have the same setup. I love it!

    20220525_205849.jpg

    20220525_205944.jpg


    I have moved on from the Digi-Key organizer. This album works great. It makes the coins easily portable; there is enough room in each flip for the complete coin information; I can remove the flips for closer scrutiny, or to hand to a friend, without having them finger the coins directly; yet I can remove the coins easily if need be; and there is plenty of room for expansion.

    Of course for more information like you're talking about @kirispupis , this would be a bit limiting, unless you just put the QR code inside the flip like Clavdivs mentioned.
     
  5. RichardT

    RichardT Well-Known Member

    Sorry, a little off topic. From the first picture it looks like you might be using PVC flips to store your coins. That can cause damage over the long term.

    https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/1445/coin-holders-contain-PVC/

    Personally I store my coins in trays with a little square paper cut out placed underneath with important information.
     
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  6. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    My process is to display the coin in a 2X2 with an accompanying information sheet that shows my coin, the coin I used for a reference and the description of the coin.
    IMG_6048.JPG IMG_6125.JPG IMG_6124.JPG
     
  7. kirispupis

    kirispupis Well-Known Member

    These are Guardhouse 2x2 unplasticized coin flips
     
  8. kirispupis

    kirispupis Well-Known Member

    Thanks @Clavdivs. I did consider using 20 pocket binder pages. I use them already for my modern coins - which consist of my pocket change from travels. The major reason I didn't go with 10 coins per page as you mention is I really want the titles for each coin.

    Pretty much everyone who looks at my coins doesn't care about coins. They just want to recognize various famous leaders and gawk at how old they are. I think only one person bothered to try to read the tags, so I wanted this information front and center - which is difficult with the binder pages.

    I'm OK with 4 coins per page. That means the 4 albums I have already can store a total of 800 coins (4 x 50 x 4). I currently own 180 coins, so by the time I reach 800 I should feel OK buying another album. :)

    One change I just noticed, though, is adding the databaseId for each coin. In case something happens to me, that will allow my family to correlate the coins to my database, where I have information about exactly when, where, and for how much I purchased each coin, though I keep prices in the original currencies to discourage me from ever summing the total...
     
  9. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    I don't care for it personally. I would use a basic coin flip page like the others showed and then in a separate document catalog the coins (with nice photos) so you can flip through with more convenience.
     
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  10. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    I am the custodian of over 800 coins, so your system would be much too bulky for me. As it is, I use the 25 pocket binder pages. Each coin is identified with a flip insert containing essential info. In addition I use an Excel spreadsheet with all the information about each coin plus the image. I can easily see each coin on the spreadsheet.
     
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  11. Cliff Reuter

    Cliff Reuter Well-Known Member

    The database ID is a brilliant idea. Lots of info and easy to access (as long as there is a working smartphone).

    One other idea might be to use a "D" style binder. Usually about 3" thick but allows the front cover to open easily and doesn't squish the coins.

    This thread made me wonder if there are binder pages that allow for thicker coins? (Like a pocket instead of a flat page.)
     
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  12. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    Interesting. I do like seeing how people do this differently. I have friends who agonize over coin purchases, and do similar things. A couple just carry around high definition photos of the coin and the writeup, since many of their coins are quite expensive, (probably the cheapest they collect are $3000 coins today).

    Myself? Boxes. The best I can manage is to identify and post purchase info on the back of the flip, put in a box, then put boxes into SDBs. Quantity changes everything. :(
     
  13. Gavin Richardson

    Gavin Richardson Well-Known Member

    That binder system seems to be a bit unwieldy to me, but if it works for you, great. I understand the impulse behind the system. We want to display the coin, but it would also be nice to tell the story behind the coin as well, and display space usually doesn’t allow for that opportunity. I have a little over 200 coins. I keep mine in lighthouse trays. I assign each coin a unique catalog number, which is included on the short description that accompanies the coin in the tray insert. I also keep written catalogs in Microsoft Word form. I guess it’s my equivalent to your QR code approach. The unique catalog number allows for cross-referencing the coin in the tray with the more generous discussion in the file. The downside is that I don’t display the written catalog along with the coins themselves, but that could be easily remedied if I wanted to print it out periodically and keep it with the coins. Also, should I get hit by a bus this afternoon, I’m not sure if anybody but me understands my catalog system. Perhaps I should have a brief discussion with my wife sometime.

    The photos, by the way, aren’t for the same coin obviously. But you get the idea.

    7071018A-3424-4124-A884-7BAE3097B414.jpeg
     
  14. Mammothtooth

    Mammothtooth Stand up Philosopher, Vodka Taster

    Very nice
     
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  15. corvusconstantius

    corvusconstantius Active Member

    This is what I do. I only write what's pertinent to the coin in the document alongside the attribution.

    For example, for a Constantine Sol Invictus coin, I don't really bother writing a big spiel about Constantine. I only have a paragraph or two about Constantine's early patronage of Sol and what the coin attempted to communicate.
     
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  16. ZoidMeister

    ZoidMeister Hamlet Squire of Tomfoolery . . . . .

    Self slabs, stored in boxes. A number on the reverse of each. A spreadsheet with that number holds a brief description - year and name, diameter and metallic content, mintage if known, price paid and whom purchased from. The spreadsheet also contains hyperlinks to pertinent online information. Links to Tokencatalog.com, Numista, PCGS, Worthpoint, etc.

    Z

    20220525_174412.jpg 20220525_174824.jpg
     
  17. Hrefn

    Hrefn Well-Known Member

    I am not a huge fan of slabs but for the shiny stuff pictured, which could be severely reduced in value by an errant fingerprint, this looks like a good system. My preference for my own collection would be a mahogany coin cabinet for storage and display, being a traditionalist at heart. But I can’t afford the 24 hour armed guards.
     
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  18. desertgem

    desertgem Senior Errer Collecktor

    Anything I store in an album, box, or other type of encasement, I add a strip of adhesive copper metal that I have scratched up with very fine emery cloth. It works chemically just like all of the others that intercepts the oxidative or corrosive gases. Search "copper foil sheets with adhesive" where you shop ( I prefer Amazon) and find a size/thickness that is good for your purposes. A sheet can be stuck to a thin piece of acrylic plastic or glass so you can remove it from the safe to check and replace or return. I used to use sacrificial 1950s cents and acid rinse the surface to protect, but the sheet is easier to check every time you open the safe. If it is browning fast, add more copper sheets area.
    IMO of course, but the sheets were here before Intercept products I used them for stain glass work also, 30+ years ago. Jim
     
  19. GregH

    GregH Well-Known Member

    I like your second iteration with the QR codes - more compact, and people can admire the coins, and scan for the stories if interested.

    That said, my personal preference is to not use plastic. I like my coins raw. I experimented with a few different storage options - i've tried albums, briefcases, 4x4 coin flips... but finally settled on a 19th century mahogany coin cabinet, with trays:
    IMG_4120.jpg
    IMG_4154.jpg
    IMG_4153.jpg

    I keep photos and details about each coin in an Acrobat doc. I think this is an elegant way to store ancient coins, but I'm running into problems - not enough trays for sestertius/ crown size coins. I need to find a clever tradesperson who can make new mahogany trays with the same look and feel as the others.
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2022
  20. Jfp7375

    Jfp7375 Member

    Woah - what do I need to google to read more about this? or do you have a link?

    I'm currently storing my coins in 2x2 pvc-free slips within an antique wooden box. Figured they were safe in that situation.. sounds like I have more yet to learn...
     
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  21. Cliff Reuter

    Cliff Reuter Well-Known Member

    Not exactly portable, but all these drawers can hold a lot of goodies.
    (Wish it were mine.)
    Old wooden library card catalogs. 72 drawers 4-5" tall.
    AntiqueVintageOakLibraryCardCatalogFileCabinet72Drawer.jpg
     
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