I've tried searching the forum for a topic similar to this but found nothing, so I hope you can help me.. I am new to coin collecting, and I plan on collecting world coins (anything I come across really..). My question is, how do you catalog your coins, where do you write which coins do you have, and how are you writing it? I prefer to use Excel to catalog my collection but if anyone have a better idea I'd love to hear it. Also, if you use Excel (or anything else..) what info do you record for each coin? Country, type, year etc... I want my records to be "correct" from the start, and need some help with it Thanks!
Excel is probably your ONLY choice if you want to collect world coins. If you know Access, that would work also BUT if you don't already know it, skip it. It's a relational database and that generally means a wicked learning curve. As to what to include in your d/b, look at your catalog (probably K&M for world coins) and see what info they have. Then that's what you probably want too.
Thanks for the help I know access, and I was thinking on making my own program or web site, but all of the options I want are already built-in in Excel.. I might go for Access instead of Excel.. I'll sleep on it As for what to include in my database, I have no catalog book yet, I'll buy one soon but I don't have one just yet, so if someone can give me an idea of what I want to include, it will be helpful.
I've discussed mine in depth here in the past so I'll try to keep this one short. I use a customized Excel spreadsheet as well. I use separate sheets on the same file and name them per denomination. Across the top: Date, mint mark(MM), Grading Co., Grade, Qty., Prch. Date, Prch. Price,(current) value, and a short comments column at the end. All fits on a page. The number columns automatically total. For fun I put a formula in that tallies total bullion content on each sheet as well. Another sheet for bullion. Another sheet for World coins. Another sheet for 19th century. Another sheet for commemoratives. I mainly only take pics for the nicer stuff in the commems and 19th century sheets. Reduce the images down to 1x1s (that can be stretched whenever), obv., rev. pics, side by side to the left. Info to the right. I put one generic image at the top of the other sheets and that's it. A lot of the more common stuff I don't bother with documenting unless it happens to be in a set. Do what you can handle and what makes sense. If you make it too strenuous and complicated, it will take the fun right out of it. Especially getting started. HTH.
i used to teach people access once now i have completely forgotten it. wow. life just moves on at a rapid pace i guess
I just use an old accounting ledger to catalog my coins. A bit old school, but I don't have to worry about how to transport my files when traveling, or carry a clunky laptop to shows or coinstores. Not to mention, filing reciepts and other notes on purchases is as easy as finding a paperclip or post it note. Guy~
I use a google Docs spreadsheet and love it. I can pull it up anywhere that has an internet connection, does not require the computer to have Microsoft Excel, and it automatically saves. I will admit however that it does not have the sorting capabilities of regular excel but it is still very good and works quite well. I would recommend it to anyone! docs.google.com It is also private, you can choose who can see your file
