How to build a custom album?

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by TaterTot, Jun 6, 2015.

  1. TaterTot

    TaterTot Active Member

    Greetings,

    As I am starting out, I have been looking at all the different types and brands of albums, folders, storage solutions, etc. I am overwhelmed at the options.

    I think I have decided that I would like to start by using 'custom' albums... binders with specialty sheets put into them so I can define exactly what the collection is, be it a short set or whatever. This... rather than a pre-written album for a specific series.

    I'd like to put higher value coins into the round plastic protectors, and then into a binder sleeve of some kind. Lower value coins, or coins I simply pull from circulation to complete a run of dates, can be stored without individually casing them.

    With all the options, I'm really overwhelmed in trying to choose the right brands or setup of products to accomplish something like this. Factor in a zillion different online stores that sell it, and I realize I could use some help.

    Looking for suggestions. :) Thanks!
     
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  3. longnine009

    longnine009 Darwin has to eat too. Supporter

    You can also use mylar flips, vinyl pages and standard loose leaf note books.
     
  4. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Why not kointains? I have my better raw Jefferson collection in kointains then in a mylar flip with incert.
    I use a P - touch to label the incert. Place the flip in a vinyl page in a binder. Make for great storage,and protection.
    Kointains have been used for years.
     
  5. TaterTot

    TaterTot Active Member

    Any particular brand/supplier?
     
  6. TaterTot

    TaterTot Active Member

    I'll look into it. Aren't vinyl pages bad for coins though? Thought I saw that somewhere.
    I do have a label maker. Not a bad idea.

    Mountains or airtites should be fine.
    I'm having more challenges identifying the mylars, inserts, pages, etc. I'm confused on what each piece is, which are OK, and where to get them. :/
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2015
  7. BooksB4Coins

    BooksB4Coins Newbieus Sempiterna

    I suppose what all really comes down to is your choice of binder and then what types of pages will fit it. From the sound of it and off the top of my head, a large 3 ring might be your best bet if you wish to use different types of pages for different types of coins. The pages as mentioned above, for use with 2"x2"s, etc, are both plentiful and cheap. Pages made to hold air-tites are easily found online, but I am not sure of what type of binder they require.
     
  8. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Not if you buy the mylar ones, Some of the world's best museum's have stored coin in kointains for decades .
    I use the 1.5 flips on my smaller coins more storage more coins on a page. So anything 22 mm or smaller works well in the 1.5's. You need to shop the kointains . The other thing I like about kointains is they feel natural in hand.
     
  9. TaterTot

    TaterTot Active Member

    So you suggest putting ever coin into a kointain holder? I'm not sure I want to do that for my basic circulated modern date sets I just scavenge for fun.
     
  10. longnine009

    longnine009 Darwin has to eat too. Supporter

    Saflips are what I use. But there are other brands. Only they won't say Mylar, they should say Polyethylene Terephthalate. That's the name of the material that is used in hard flips or "Mylar" flips. The word Mylar has become the generic word for anything made with PT material. But Mylar is the original product name for DuPont sheet made from PT material.[​IMG]
     
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  11. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Here's my system the images were taken quickly so a bit blurry but you'll get the idea 20150606_191320.jpg 20150606_191404.jpg 20150606_191445.jpg
     
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  12. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Again the photo taken is blurry but this coin is in a kointain. 20150606_192217-1.jpg
     
  13. TaterTot

    TaterTot Active Member

    Hard time making out the last photo in the first photos post there... So every coin is in a kointain holder, in a mylar flip with a paper label, inside some other sheet(?), then inside a vinyl page sleeve? Did I get that right?

    I love love love this setup you have.. This is just what I want to make some custom pages with my weird somewhat random collection. :).
     
  14. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    I use the Saflips Longnine009 posted. I buy them from the seller Kointainer on Vcoins.com and should you buy them there not only are the flipscheaper than everywhere else but they come with archival quality paper inserts and a red box.
     
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  15. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Correct kointain mylar flip incert vinyl page binder
     
  16. TaterTot

    TaterTot Active Member

    Not sure I understand the difference between the mylar flip and the insert...
     
  17. longnine009

    longnine009 Darwin has to eat too. Supporter

    Sometimes I'll double up on SAflips by putting a small coin or token to the far side of the flip. Then heat seal it horizontally, cut it loose from the part of the flip where the cardboard insert would go, heat seal it vertically, trim it down to where the heat seal beads are and then put that inside another flip and heat seal it, if there is enough room to get a bead on it.
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2015
  18. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    I looked at everything I could find on the system you describe, sold by this guy -

    http://www.vcoins.com/en/Search.asp...ype=0&searchMaxRecords=100&SearchOnSale=False

    The kointains, the flips, the pocket pages, that all looks good, all archival quality. But the one thing I could not find out is if the 3 ring binder itself - http://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/et_...page__album__3ring_binder/312171/Default.aspx - is archival quality ? And it matters because the front and back of 3 ring binders are made of cardboard and they are covered in a plastic of some kind, usually vinyl. And vinyl is not good. But it doesn't say one way or the other on that page.

    So, do you, (or anybody else), know if the 3 ring binder itself is of archival quality ?

    As for using kointains, they're fine. But have you ever tried to get a coin back out of one once it's inside the kointain ? To my knowledge, that's the only drawback that kointains have, it's almost impossible to get a coin out of one, without harming the coin.

    I'm not knocking the system, I just think those that are unfamiliar with it and considering using it, should at least be aware of that much.
     
  19. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Doug you maybe confused on the vcoin.com post as I've myself have never used that site.
    As far as kointains go I've never had any issues putting a coin in or removing one.
    As for the binders I purchased a few from eagle and never had any issues pvc,or any toning.
    You are correct as most binders are cardboard and vinyl .
    Others are covered with leather or fabric .
    Most of the time I buy supplies from JP,& wizard .
    The other issue is where is the album stored?
    Where you live,your home's humidity levels.
     
  20. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    I merely quoted your post Paddy because it seemed that was the system you were using. My question was not where anybody buys the things that matters, merely if the binder, on that page, or the one you are personally using, was archival quality or not.

    And if you can get coins out of a kointain, without damaging the coin, you're a better man than me because the only way I could ever get them out was to use a needle or straight pin, and that scratches the edge of the coin.

    And that doesn't even consider getting fingerprints on it while you try and get it out of there. But, that doesn't matter so much as, if fresh, fingerprints can be safely removed.
     
  21. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Doug, yes this is the system I use on my raw Jefferson nickels all MS&PR. JWT708 is whom said something about vcoin.com . I've honestly never have head of them.
    As for the kointains yes it can be an issue getting the bottom or reverse one off. A fingernail works for me. One issue is I do find some of the bottoms are tighter fits. Or maybe it's the rims on the newer nickels.
    I use this system as the Jefferson series has so many coins in the set. I no longer add the newer coins as I can't stand the obv. Look! The design is horrible . So my set stops at 2005.
    One reason I do like the kointains is the feel in hand. It's more natural feel to me than other holders. To me it's more like holding a raw coin then one sealed in plastic .
    As to the binders no I have not found one at this time that is guaranteed not to cause damage from the material it's made of.
    The two I am using have never caused any issues with my coins.
    I can remember as a kid going from coin boards to Whitman books. I recall how cool it was when they came out with the albums with the windows to see both sides.
    I will have to admit "personality " I have not found the perfect system . Not one that really does it for me.
    It seems each system and even the new ones always lead
    to another item to store the system in.
    Funny thing is a many time I've thought about what I would like in a system to store my coins. This one I'm using seems to work best for my needs.
    As to my nickels....but will admit I'm not a huge album fan.
    What I really would love is an old library card file now a days "huge money" to catalog and store my collection in.
    That way I could store the coin,plus a write up on each item.
    But I'm always open to suggestions from others on something new,that don't require other components to seal the deal.
     
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