What are some recommended essential coin collecting items? 1) A loop 2) cotton gloves What else? And what are your favorites?
2X2's or mylar flips, a stapler, book marked sites for reference, books and more books. Albums or folders and Coin Talk.
Good lighting spot for observation and photos A scale that weighs XX.XXX grams since the digital scales round off the last digit Skip the cotton , they have a hardness of ~5, whereas the coin metals copper, silver, gold are about 3-4, softer and can scratch. Clean dry bare hands are OK, neoprene gloves will do well if you perspire or have oily skin.( but do not use these with acetone, use latex. Remember dropped coins always land on the edge Most important ~ patience! You do not build a nice collection in 1 week unless you inherit it. Knowledge will be more rewarding than snapping up an eBay coin you haven't researched. Jim
I been trying to find a way to ask this since joining CT. Probably one of the silliest questions ever been asked on CT..... I been collecting close to fifty years. Never had a scale. I get the reasoning. And being a guy whose collecting tends to lean heavily on late 19th and early 20th century gold, I probably should be concerned with weighing my coins.... I have always felt odd about purchasing and owning a scale because I tend to associate people with scales having a more nefarious intent..... There, I said it.... To me, a local businessman walking in to a shop to purchase a scale feels very odd and conspicuous..... Does a successful collection truly merit the necessity of a scale?
There is nothing odd about a person buying a scale. There are many, many legitimate reasons to own a scale. If you are collecting raw gold, then a scale is *essential* in determining the proper weight - the wrong weight is one of the first signs of a counterfeit. A good scale is even more important if you start going into ancient coins - sometimes the only way to tell between denominations is by their weight. So, I would say that a scale is not necessary for everyone, but for some it is very important.
For me, a good light, a good loupe, and a soft pad for my desk are some of the most important things. You want a soft pad so that if you accidentally drop the coin, it will land on the velvet or cloth or whatever and not be damaged.
I would say yes. Especially considering what you collect. First thing I do when receiving an ancient coin, or 19th century coin, is to throw it on the scale. They're super cheap.
Those 2x2s, is there a cheap way to buy a nice variety pack? I seem to find mostly big packages of single sized ones. BUT, since I am 95% bullion-interested, most of my stuff is in only 38-40 mm size (silver 1 oz) and 30 mm (gold 1 oz) and 16ish mm (1/10 oz gold) sizes. Plus the occasional $5 gold piece or Sovereign size.
Never seen one. Good idea for an ebay seller. My last dealer visited had open boxes, but the price per each was more than doubled over a quantity.
I believe JPs Corner allows a mix and match option. I buy most of my stuff from Wizard Coin Supply. You might also try Brooklyn Gallery. This is per 100 each though.
The big stuff (1 oz pieces) are not going to do well in 2x2s. They are just too big. The 1/10 oz will fit well - your best bet is to just get a pack of holders that's about that size (and another one for the sovereigns - they will probably fit in a quarter dollar, or modern small size dollar holder)
I agree with the others, an accurate scale is a must for serious collectors in this age of fakes flooding the hobby. I weigh every silver coin I buy, it's my first check. Also a pack of wood toothpicks to remove coins I buy from those cardboard paper flips. I use the toothpick to pierce the Mylar and release the coin. Staples can cause damage and I never keep my coins in those cardboard flips.
Absolutely brilliant in the obvious simplicity. Fifty years I been peeling coins out of those stapled cardboard flips nervous that an errant staple may inflict damage on my precious coin. Never again now that I read this. Thank you.
Yes, poking the edge of the mylar is good. Or use scissors to cut the cardboard just under the staples. Two or three edges cut and you can free the coin.
That's what I used to do, wood toothpick is fast and removes any chance of damaging the coin with a metal edge.
Funny you should mention the toothpicks. I have not seen a stapler with a staple remover on the side for ages.
