OK, who is with me on not liking albums and why?

I know I will catch some flak for asking this question, but I have never liked or stored my coins in direct albums like Whitman, Dansco or even the much vaunted Intercept Shield albums. It is a pain to get the coins in them, usually you can not see the rim, limited or no provision for recording information, potential that the coins could come loose or even fall out, damage to the coins from the album itself or poor protection from the elements and the unsightly holes that need to be filled. Lower end circulated coins, if that is what you are collecting are not so much of a concern, but nice AUs, MS and Proof coins seem to suffer eventually when stored in a direct album. Who else agrees with me or NOT? Just my 2 cent-you may fire when ready.:goofer:

 

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Sorry, no agreement here. I love my dansco albums

 

yes & no.

Some albums are okay, but, as you stated, they can conceal flaws, so, take them out before buying.

 

Man, I just think a full set looks so nice in a good album. You could get a full set in NGC holders I guess. Doesn't have the same effect for me.

Some people here have said their coins didn't change a bit for 40 years sitting in a standard Whittman folder. Once it's done, the album is likely going to sit there, not moving, in the dark, untouched, for how long? Besides temp changes or chemicals in the air which the IS stuff is supposed to take care of (and should have no way of getting to them anyway), what's going to happen to them?

I can understand they may not be everyone's cup of tea though.

 

No problem with the IS albums getting them in. Info is recorded on my excel program. Some with pics. They can't fall out. Protected from the elements so long as you keep the humidity down, which I do. Unsightly holes are motivation to keep buying and complete.

I haven't had enough life experience to see how they deteriorate or not in albums. For high dollar stuff, I much prefer the slabs. Agree with you there. But I probably will never be in a position to put together a really high dollar set.

 

Agree, rather keep my Roosevelt dimes in 2x2 and 3ring binder than an album. But one day my dealer gave me an old Whitman Mexican typeset album. It was the greatest day in my collecting life when I filled that last hole…then I took pictures of the album and put all the coins in 2x2.:whistle:



Hey 300 posts in 3 years. Ok back to the shadows.

 

I use dansco albums and I like them. No problems here.

 

Zonk! BIFF!!! BAM!!! Whamp! Ooch!!, Bonk! Wow, I am really getting it on this one. :') LOL!!

 

Lol, I understand what you're saying, Virginian. They do have a tendency to produce minor scratches. But aesthetically, I find that a smart looking album only compliments a good looking coin. Thats why many dealers have velvet trays to put raw coins in.

 

With circulated coins, the albums have their merits especially if they are not mid-high value coins. With mid to high dollar AU, MS and Proof coins, other than putting it in PVC or no holder at all, I honestly (with no malice intended) could not think of a worse way to store coins. I collect more than invest per say, but as the temporary custodian of these pieces of history I want to make sure they don't get scratches or are subjected to any form of oxidation whatsoever. With circulated Roosevelt dimes, albums may be fine, but for nice BU blazing red Lincoln cents, they are probably not the best choice.

 

I own quite a few albums actually but have never really bought one. I have bought a Capital Two Cent Holder which my #1 set resides in. Come to think of it I have a few Capital holders but small ones at that. Odd denomination and U.S. cents.
The others that I have were generally bought as a "deal" at the shop album and all. Most are incomplete with circulated coins although my Jefferson nickel set is pretty nice.

Hey, a deals a deal. If the boss is giving it away cheap I'll generally jump on it. I have a lot of empty holders laying around. Suppose I should sell them someday. I'm certainly not using them.
These were all given to me for free along with a lot of snap tights. Collections walk in, boss buys em and I strip em down. He usually just gives me the holders so why not? Free is good.

The bulk of my collection actually resides in good, old fashioned 2x2s. Those are stored in the long double row boxes.

I have the complete clad, proof and silver proof quarter collection from 65-98. Those are in tubes. It's not like I look at them just figured it was a good idea to buy them BEFORE the State quarters started. They are buried in my safe taking up very little space.

I can understand why people want albums though. Just not really for me. Too much like being organized I guess.

 

Sorry Virginian...old buddy..old pal. Another vote for albums.

 

The albums help me keep better track of what I have and what I need to add.
An important part of my collecting is to be able to brag about my coins
by showing them to my family and friends. That would not be possible if I kept them hidden away in small holders. Somehow that doesn't have the same impact as opening the album and having them see the coins in full force.
Most of my friends have never seen sets of coins in uncirculated or proof condition. They are totally amazed at how nice a coin can be. Even the kids can be impressed, and that ain't easy to do these days.

jeankay

 

albums for my ms coins are a no no for my lincolns i have made an exception

 

I'll have to say that I'm in favor of albums also. I have kept my coins in Whitman Classic albums for at least 20 years and have never had any problems with coins falling out, coming loose or changing/toning because of the elements. As far as the "unsightly holes" in the album, that only encourages me to try harder to fill those holes. Usually I buy the most expensive or key dates first anyway and dont have to worry about open spaces, even if the coin is in a slab instead of the album I know that I have it. I've always liked the look of silver coins on those blue pages...pretty.

 

I don't think you're getting too beat up on this one. I like my Dansco albums, but at the same time I have coins I like out of albums. I love the look of my Morgan collection in album form. But my capped bust halfs will probably reside outside of one forever because thats the way I like it. It's all a matter of preference.
Guy~

 

I have mixed feelings about albums. I like the presentation, but there are definitely better ways to store your coins.

 

I like the albums, great way to display

however, any truly nice coins I'll just keep in a 2x2.

 

I lean your direction Virginian. I agree with op's as far as ease of storage and presentation. My AU/UNC coins will not be placed in an album. When showing my coins, I want my varieties mixed right in. No buff album has a space for a 13 Type 1 3L, 21 S 2F, 36 s/s, etc.

Has anyone used coinedge products? I think I'm going to buy some holders and album pages.....It looks as if they will take up much more space than 2x2's, but maybe not.

 

MY childhood collection (20th Centrury Typeset) IMO was destroyed by an album.

A steel penny, and just about everything else corroded. Oddly enough the only coin that survived was a 1909 vdb. The 09 svdb next to it was toast. Literally every coin I had was corroded on the edge. Makes me sick thinking about it.

My father and my grandfather started it, and me and my father completed it. Terrible loss. Most of the coins were not even worth keeping. It really was that bad.

Gold coins were not obviously not destroyed but tarnished badly. They cleaned up fine with a little MS70.