Hi all. I'm systematically working my way through the contemporary denominations and completing collections of all proof releases w/varieties; Lincoln Cent, Jefferson Nickel, Roosevelt Dime, Washington Quarter, Kennedy halves; Ike, Anthony, and Sak dollars... This is like, 98% complete. Will it ever be complete? The adage is to collect the best quality/condition you can afford. As a kid with little $ it was worn and circulated pieces for cardboard holders and proofs were the Unachievable Dream. I was happy and loved the collection. Dad purchased me some annual Proof Sets as something special. It carried me over til... Today when I can achieve this Dream and am endeavoring to obtain the best possible condition coins possible. It also takes me back to the demanding quality and frugal standards and fond memories of my father...and provides a sense of continuity and connection to the past. For discussion, I'm not talking slabbed pieces at this point. With the exception of key date or rarities I can't fathom the development this during my hiatus...but that's another subject. Dad would definitely "not approve" A few series are in Dansco pages but most pieces are still in their dealer holders, awaiting my final storage choice. Dansco gets Presentation points and seems a "standard" but pushing coins into cardboard holes and sliding (grinding?) plastic over cameo, mirror and frosted surfaces really tightens my colon...these look great on the bookshelf but feel just a slight upgrade of the flimsy entry-level Whitman blue coin boards. It also tends to degrade the prestige of the collection...spend $$$$ on finest quality minted collector coins, varieties and keys yet stick them in cheap cardboard and a faux nylon plastic cover. Like a good chef...choice of ingredients, care in preparation and presentation is EVERYTHING. I look at these coins as a collection as well as an investment. I really like the looks of Airtites w/foam rings (black or white) but is there a way these can be "presented" in an album format? Or do I hafta get beyond the album mentality at this point...with the $ invested I need to think outside the box. I've seen felt trays w/cases that would be a good idea...case or cases for each series? If I obtain a few slabbed pieces am I stuck with this odd encapsulation system that needs storage elsewhere? Or am I stuck with impeccable storage but can not easily show or admire the collection? All opinions and advice is appreciated. BTW, this proof/key date quality vs quantity thing will move backward in time for each design series so whatever storage system I develop it needs to be (as much as possible) consistent across the board.
That's pretty long winded! I personally really like Danscos. But airtites are nice too. I put commems, proofs, etc in them. And ASEs. Really you have to find the line between presentation as a whole, and great storage and preservation per coin. I suppose.
I keep my Franklin half set and my buffalo nickel set in Intercept Shield albums. Here's the Franklin album: They're all mid range mint state or higher. My method of inserting them was by putting cotton gloves on first and only holding the edges until I get it right over the slot. Then I lightly press it down, all the way until the reverse touches the plastic on the back. Then I slide the top plastic cover back over them and it doesn't touch the obverses at all. Then you simply don't slide out the back cover since there's no reason to anyway. This allows them to be deep enough so the top cover never touches the surface of the obverse. Intercept stuff has special liners designed to clean the air around coins in an average environment for up to 10+ years. The material is inert and will not react with coins. It is specifically made to keep pristine coins from toning. I always tell people that I saw an 1804 dollar (several million dollar coin) stored in an intercept 2x2 under glass at the ANA show. I keep my loose stuff in their 2x2s, and the 2x2s in their boxes. I also use their slab covers and boxes for slabs. You can read more here. Several companies use their products including NASA. They blow away the competition IMO. http://www.interceptshield.com/ Just thought I'd add.... I use air-tites too. The ones with the rings are nice. But I figured since you are going for entire sets and worried about presentation that you'd be looking for albums. I don't know what album if any accepts air-tites, with or without rings. That wouldn't be a bad way to do it either if you can find a company that makes them.
The best way would be to use airtites. These would slow down the toning process down the most. Afterwards you can get pages and albums for them but they are not really cheap. Other types of albums like Dansco, Whitman, Intercept... are all fine. But you do have to realize that the air WILL get to the coins causing them to tone at a regular rate. Another way would be to get cases with felt trays. They make some that can fit airtites but you would have to know the airtite series and which ones to get to fit.
The intercept albums and holders are made of materials that are supposed to clean the air around the coin and neutralize any harmful contaminants that would cause toning. I think that's better than an air-tite since I don't think they are completely "air tight" anyway. Either way though, short of vacuum sealing them and storing them away in a cool, dark, dry place, I don't think there's much else available to store your proofs in while still being able to present them. The positive thing is, most proofs from the 19th century still look great. And they existed long before air conditioning, or special holders. Though copper does tend to darken, no matter what you do.
Thanks everyone for the opinions. Looks like there is no perfect solution but I DID find Air-tite albums for their holders http://www.air-tites.com/air-tite_coin_albums.htm Problem is the album pages don't have a lot of holes and I'd need a LOT it seems to complete some series. I like the Inercept concept but I'd like blank pages to customize my collection... The Dansco has the blank pages for my application so I can customize an album for just my pieces. Looks like Dansco may, after all, be best for now. If Intercept come up with blank pages that'd be an upgrade.
Dansco is the best if 1 day you want to get one graded. the anti tone folder will leave a odor on them that the Pcgs coin sniffer will smell
