Thanks, my friend. There are more replies concerning about my already contaminated coins, thanks to these replies they come from serious collectors concerning about my issue and provided useful information. But I need to keep asking questions so I can get the answer to my more concerned question -- How much my NEW collections will be affected -- and @GDJMSP @Kentucky also gave answer to it. I was just keep clarifying my question, doesn't mean I don't value any given advice. Thanks to all, I know what to do now.
Hey where did you get your Ph.D degree of Sarcasm? maybe you should find a job with this skill, posting these pictures at this forum is wasting your talent, we don't need them.
New and trying to learn, so, do you all prefer the plastic type saflips or the cardboard for not-so-rare coins?
Neither one as they both can be harmful to your coins. My philosophy is this - if a coin is worthy of being in your collection at all, is it not also worthy of you spending 50 cents or so to protect it to the best of your ability ? I mean you'll never miss the 50 cents, but in the years maybe decades to come, it's a near certainty that you will be extremely thankful you spent it
Just one person's opinion, but I think this is among the most valuable nuggets of wisdom a new collector can take from this site. And no, I'm not sucking up to Doug when I say that.
I disagree with GDJMSP's statement. It's a bit elitist. There are tons of coin collections that have no business being put into 50-cent capsules (e.g. almost all of those blue Whitman folders with wheaties pressed into them by a some kid - this folder is absolutely worthy of being in that person's collection). It's not practical to encapsulate these coins, thus he's implying that these collections are not worthy.
True. Unless you subscribe — as I do — to the corollary of Doug's comment. Which is: If it's not worth protecting, perhaps it's not worth collecting. I understand that's a controversial notion and I'm not trying to start an argument, but it's a notion that's really helped me focus my collection over the past several years. Today I own fewer coins than I used to. But I also own a better (and adequately protected) collection.
No I'm not, not in the least. Anybody and everybody should collect what THEY like, and only they can decide that. My philosophy is based on practical considerations, nothing else. If you want to collect something, regardless of what it is - how can it possibly be a good idea to store it in a manner that has been proven beyond a doubt to be harmful to what you are wanting to collect ? edit - The one and only person who can ever decide is something of worthy or being in your collection is you - nobody else.
Because of costs. It's ridiculous to suggest to someone to spend 50-cents to protect a coin that is worth 1-cent.
I guess I can see why you'd say that. But for me, adopting a more ambitious approach to coin storage was more enlightening than it was elitist. It helped me recognize my hoarding tendencies, made me analyze more thoroughly why I owned a coin and why I should want to keep it, and ultimately made me more discerning in my purchases. "Collect what you like" is a mantra we should all embrace. But "know what you like" is darn good advice, too. Upgrading my storage standards contributed to my growth as a collector, and that's an insight I'd like to pass on to new collectors. You know, because of that other mantra we should all embrace: "Share the knowledge."
Most inexpensive binders are bound in PVC covers, Check for a label saying No PVC or look for the recycle symbol and see what number is in the center. You do NOT want the #3 ( PVC) or #7 ( Other or mixed), Jim
Hi everyone, Three weeks, a Schulz folder and 50 lighthouse coin capsules later I'm still working on my coin collection storage. One of my many problems here in the UK is i dont have access to that many "good" coin accessories suppliers. I dont like mylar cardboard flips for my own personal choices. I like the lighthouse capsules but I'm still getting used to correct sizing. I do want to handle my coins as I'm a bit of a magpie and like looking at my various collections. I was looking at Saflips as an alternative for my commons (non capsule) coins but I have around 500 coins to store. So as an alternative I was thinking poly ziplock bags, but dont have access to the Whitman ones so would any poly ziplocks be okay ? Also on a different note, are foam inserts inert as i've seen conflicting views for coin capsules.
Without going back and reading this entire thread I don't know if I mentioned if I mentioned it previously in this thread or not - so I guess I'll just say it. Even though they are made of inert materials, Saflips have their own downside. Because they are made from a harder plastic, the edges of that plastic at the openings of the flip is sharp. And it can and will scratch coins as you put them into and take them out of the flips. And, since the coins can and will freely slide and move around inside the flips, the flips themselves will impart wear on the coins. So in my opinion, these two things make Saflips a bad choice. Sure, they may be inexpensive, but if they can and almost certainly will cause harm to your coins, is it a good idea to use them ? Each collector must make his own decisions on such things. Are small ziplocks made of inert materials OK to use ? The inert part is OK, but the other aspects, not so much. Just like with flips, the coins will move around inside the bags and that causes wear. Also, bags and flips of any kind provide zero protection from impact. Even if you drop another coin in another bag or flip onto a coin in a bag or flip - the impact is going to leave a mark on the coin being hit. That aint a good thing either. Sure, it's a cheaper way to go, but as the old saying goes - you do get what ya pay for. Not all foam inserts are inert - some are inert, others are not - it depends on who makes them. The foam inserts in Air-Tite brand holders are 100% inert. I cannot speak for other specific brands.
Based on your thumbnail I'm guessing your an Aussie (Maybe wrong, if so apologies), if so at least you get access to purple penny the supplier but those American air tites arent cheap here..... I'm thinking I might have to go down that route with my rares and silvers or find some inserts for my lighthouse capsules (If they do them....?) as they didnt come with any but maybe ziplocks for the rest till I sort and grade my collection as something I want to give them a basic sort and file ready for a better storage in the future. On that note I saw you mention foam strips but I cant find where they are from ? I appreciate your advice though as I have been through about 10 or so threads on the subject here and another 5 on numista website (where ppl dont even bother replying)...
No apologies needed, I'm an American. As for Air-Tites being expensive in the UK, you can buy them here in the US easily enough and fairly cheaply, (at least by my idea of cheaply) and they will ship them to you. But you'll have to figure out for yourself is the least expensive - buying them there in the UK, or here in the US and adding shipping. As for foam strips, I'm not really sure what you're referring to - are you talking about the foam inserts in Air-Tite holders ? If you are, when you buy Air-Tites you have the choice, buy the holders with the inserts, or buy the holders without the inserts. Direct fit - https://www.jpscorner.com/collections/direct-fit-air-tite-coin-holders With black rings - https://www.jpscorner.com/collections/air-tite-coin-holders-with-black-rings With white rings - https://www.jpscorner.com/collections/air-tite-coin-holders-with-white-rings With colored rings - https://www.jpscorner.com/collections/colored-ring-air-tites-i