Show Me How You Sort!

Well, when I recently got back into coin collecting, my wife started complaining that I had Dixie cups, Sharpies, baggies, albums and other "crap" spread out all over the dining room table. So to appease the boss of the house, I spent $20 and built a self contained sorting box.

I purchased most of the components from a local Japanese dollar store.

 

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The box is made up of two deep wooden trays ($3.00 each) which I hinged together. The upper tray I used mini food containers as sorting bins, the lower tray I used to do the actual sorting. The surface is a piece of scrap plexiglass I bought for $4 that is supported by some cleats. I cut the plexi short so that there was a gap where I could drop or flick the discards into a basket underneath.

 

On the flipside of the plexiglass, I used a Sharpie pen to write down key dates and coins I need (Roosevelts on the left, cents on the right). I fould this cool eraser that removes Sharpies from smooth surfaces. It's a great help to have those dates close at hand.

 

Cool idea! You could sell those things.
Guy~

 

Underneath the sorting tray is a compartment where I store my magnifying glass, loup, "scale" and gloves.

 

Oh... of course I can't forget my "ghetto scale". Special thanks to the Lincoln Cent Resource for the detailed blueprints of the scale. :hammer:

 

Well, that's what I use to sort coins and avoid the wrath of my wife. I hope my design inspires other cool diy coin projects. So now I'm interested in seeing some of your other setups especially those of you folks that sort through boxes of rolls!

 

Very cool. I love DIY coin projects. I'm working on a small series of them. If you're interested in writing it up in detail I can add it to my series on my site (still working on it) www.rollhunting.com

BTW, you forgot your coin degree finder: http://www.rollhunting.com/diy-coin-degree-finder.html

 

Thanks for the heads up on the degree finder. It'll be storming out here on the west coast and the whole family will be hunkerin' down for the weekend. I've got 30 rolls of lincolns and 5 rolls of roosevelts to go through. I'll also be working on a diy copy stand pics to follow.

Stan

 

Really nice idea. Lots of work though to avoid a little work and time. This is great for normal everyday coins. However, if your looking for the highest grades possilbe, think of the scratches those coins acquire during this process. Again, great for sorting normal everyday coins. However, I have anothe suggestion. Just take the entire mess to a bank, let them run them through thier counter, put it all in a checking account and send me a check for the total amount. Since I'm saving you the trouble of making such a sorter a small donation would be acceptable. :goof::smile

 

Thanks! The box came together in an afternoon. This sort box is for sorting of circulated bank rolls. I search through one roll at a time. Each roll is opened and laid out on the plexiglass. I pick up each coin individually and check them under the glass. Any key dates, upgrades, ones I need or beautifully toned are albumed, tubed or put into a cardboard flipper. Discards go into the basket, into a ziplock and off to the bank. Wouldn't imagine using this on uncirculated or old coins. For that I have a tray I made with a removable and replaceable felt liner.

BTW, check is in the mail.

 

WOW, pretty darn cool and looks like you put some thought into it. I'll agree and say I bet you could sell those on Ebay too !!

 

Very cool job man, very cool! :thumb: :kewl:

Phoenix

 

Thanks for clarifying that you use it for already checked coins. There are always those that would make something like that and dump everything in them. Again, nice idea. Possibly you should have considered a patent prior to posting. Maybe not but now if those suddenly becomes an item in a magazine for xxx dollars, you'll be saying AAHHHHHHHHH.

 

see ya, im off to timber mart... gonna go get me some supplies!!

 

It's not about the money, it's about sharing with friends. But just in case any of you get the wrong idea... my in-house counsel tells me that my publishing this thread is enough to secure rights to it's design and any monies procured as a result of the sales of the "Stanford Sorter" (tm) (r).

BTW, also printed out this thread and secured it into my safe and faxed a copy to my attorney, took pictures of it, put it onto a flash drive and sent it off to my offshore safe deposit box. :goof:

:hail:

 

This is my method of sorting coins.






This is where they end up. Rhubarb

 

Holy Crap! That's awesome! Wierd, I sort with my computer right next to me too! Love lincoln's much?

 

i like the little box that says.. "ugly coins"

 

wooo RHUBARD!!!

that is intense man. I like the setup!