My Whitman/Dansco collections are in a floor safe that I never get into because my knees are wrecked. My Merc dime collection is a book almost as old as me and I keep it because it takes me back to being a coin addicted kid. I started that book around 1970 and didn’t plug the last holes until maybe 20 years ago. The last dime to go in that book was a 42/41 that I think would go VF20….. Anyway, I had a chilling feeling all of a sudden that coin may be deteriorating in that book so I took the book out for the first time in years to look. I think the coin looks OK, but now I wonder if I shouldn’t pull it from the book and get it slabbed…. Which means I have to live with a hole in the book which is not good for my obsessive disorder…. Does this dime need to be interred in plastic?
It doesn't appear to be deteriorating to me...but I am also distrusting of albums. I'd probably throw it in an airtite (and by "throw" I mean carefully put in). That said, if it's been in there for 20 years and seems fine...then it probably is.
Well, it your coin and your collection. Do what you want with it and don't let anyone sway you the other way.
I once bought an old album like that with a bunch of mercury dimes, some had developed nice rainbow toning, but I really wouldn't trust it for long term storage, at the very least I'd check them frequently. MHO.
Looks OK to me Randy, but if you have doubts you can put it in a capsule, slightly enlarge the hole in the album and your OCD is harmonised.
I would get it certified. It will make it easier for your heirs to sell it, and it will provide more protection for it. I have the album of the Lincoln cent collection I formed as a kid in a Library of Coins album. There are two holes, for the 1909-S-VDB and the 1922 Plain. I once had the 1909-S-VDB in the album with ANACS papers (They were from the early 1980s, pre-slab days). I had the 1909 certified because it has been counterfeited so many times. The coin also increased in grade from VF-20 on the papers to EF-40 in the slab. The slab is actually correct. As for the 1922 Plain, I don't have one. I bought one when I was a dealer from a collection and was going to keep it. BUT another dealer made me an offer I couldn't refuse. In those days buying and selling coins was what I did for a living.
Tough question, Randy. I too suffer from organizational OCD. Chaps my britches when something is out of place, or not in its place. Ugh! As for your conundrum. After some thought I came up with what I'd possibly be able to live with if it were my 42/41. How about some creative design work? Take a good resolution picture of your coin, pre-slabbing. I do believe entombing that beauty makes sense. Make sure the picture is true to life size. It might take some finagaling to make that happen, but it can be done. Then cut a circular piece of cardboard with appropriate thickness and attach the picture to it. Place it in your album and have the hole filled, with your 'coin'. Make a notation in the album that the original is safe and sound elsewhere. For the record, that Merc is a sweet addition to any collection. Congrats to you on that piece.
Do you only purchase or collect certified? Just curious. I’m looking through many older coins for some friends that found their grandfather’s. Not a big collection but some interesting ones.
I buy only PCGS or NGC certified coins. I do have one in an ANACS slab. Last uncertified coin I bought was a cherry-pick off eBay. About 20 years ago. It was an R-5 quarter that slabbed Fine-DETAILS as I expected.
