I'm setting up a new coin collection spreadsheet, using Excel, and I'm wondering what columns other collectors are using in their own spreadsheets. The basics, of course, such as year, denomination, mint mark, grade, location (box 1, box 2, etc.), and qty (single or roll) are givens, but what columns are other collectors putting in their Excel worksheet? Do you have a preference for order of columns? I've already created some of the drop down lists, such as year and denomination, to avoid data entry errors as much as possible. (I hope I have this in the correct forum.) My thanks in advance.
A lot of people try to keep track of the source(s) of their coins. Personally, since a large part of my collection is in the OFEC (one from every country) category, I like the sequence country, regime (many countries have had multiple coin issuing governments), year, mint mark, denomination, number of singles, number of rolls, and grade.
I try to keep track of what I've bought in excel because I can't remember them all. So I put in Date Purchased, Price Paid, Description (date, type, grade), and who I bought it from. If I ever sell the coin I then highlight the row in grey. I try to keep it simple, but I could imagine getting crazy with it if I wanted to put some time into it.
I have a column that I use for the hyperlink to a photo of the coin. I keep my photos on flickr and using just the link rather than including the photo saves a lot of space.
Here are the column headings I use for 2 cent pieces. I insert a cell comment to document purchase information. TWO CENT PIECES Date Mintage Breen Flynn Fivaz/Stanton AU MS-63 MS-64 Proof Excel will let you present information in any fashion you choose. I use background colors to frame each denomination I collect, etc.
My columns go in this order LT to RT: Date, MM, Grading Co., Grade, Qty., Purch. Date, Purch. Price, Current value, and last column is a comments section. I normally use that for listing who or where stuff came from. Other stuff such as commemoratives get their own customized page with reduced pics and details for each individual one. If you keep it updated it's very easy. Keeping it backed up to an external source critical.
I have: Identification number KM# Additional reference (Spink, specialty reference, etc.) quantity date denomination description grade value price paid date and place purchased notes obverse picture link reverse picture link
One of the bits of info I'm missing on a lot of these is the price paid for them, and the date acquired. I've been doing this for over 40 years, and a lot of that info didn't get recorded when I was 15 years old. I bought a lot of unc cent rolls then, and did make note of the price. Some of them were $1.00 a roll, in a plastic tube with screw cap, no less.
This is pretty much what I'd set up, so I guess I didn't miss much. Thanks! How do you go about entering current value for each item? Since market values change constantly, it seems that would be an endless task.
Never thought of linking pics to my list in Excel, kind of like that idea and I might give that a shot At one time I had a column of "Current PCGS Guide Value" that I had set up to automatically update each time they changed it, but it got sort of messy so I took that column out.
Nice timing since I was just sitting here a few minutes ago updating MY BOOK on coins. A long time ago I had columns for all kinds of info and all was handwritten since I started collecting before there was a computer or Excel. Eventually with Excel I began making columns for everything. First the headings of the type of coins, set number, where the values came from, etc. Then naturally the dates, mints, grades, approximate values, face values and on and on and on. I had and still do have a page or two for each Album. Now over 100 Whitman Albums. Then there has to be pages for Proof sets, Uncirc sets, uncirc rolls, loose proofs and on and on and on. This is why I first said MY BOOK. I first started this documentation back in the early 50's. Used to do my inventory about every 2 to 4 years and kept all the old sheets. Now as I use Excel I still print out everything so this has become a BOOK. I've cut down the amount of columns to just the dates and mint marks and approximate values. Anything else is just to time consuming. If you start making all that excessive information, you too will someday say "Hey! What am I doing this for?"
# CAC Phogotraphed Year Variety Type Denom. Descr. Strike Metal Value Grade Location TPG TPG # Price Source Date Destination Notes Notes 2
I never thought of doing this, but it sounds like a good idea. Guess I better get busy on it before I buy more coins.
