Blue Whitman folder storage question

What is the highest grade you would consider placing in a Whitman blue? They are personally my favorite display method but I also want to protect my coin appropriately in relation to their grades. I want to fill them with eye pleasing uncirculated coins. Pennies, nickels, etc. the small change.

Are Whitman blue’s known for degrading coins? Any thoughts? I figure clads are in no danger but silvers may me at risk for high point rubbing.

 

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Not a good form of storage for 'prized' coins.......

 

I would not put anything worth over face value in these holders.

 

Fine?

 

I had this same question when I first joined CT. It was one of my first threads. I had grand dreams of filling a folder with Uncirculated Walking Liberties, placing it in a safe, and opening it it 20 years full of AMAZING toners the likes of which have never been seen before. I was asking the forum which coin folder would achieve this. Doug set me straight with some great advice. I don't know how to find/link that thread.

 

Here you go! I didn't have anything better to do, so I searched your posts.

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/toning.279936/

Chris

 

Low grade coins. It's fun to fill that hole but I'd only use G or VG. It's not good way to store but if low grade, then it's fun and exciting as you plug a hole. What gets filled first? A row across? Or up and down? Which page is filled first? It gets me excited just thinking about it. Have fun and enjoy!!

 

You're the best!! This was an instant education, and I've been hooked here ever since.

 

Thanks!

 

But a totally awesome way to save fingerprints!

 

I personally don't use albums anymore for a couple reasons:
-- there are no albums for my particular collections
-- all my coins are in slabs

BUT

Back in the days when I did I used Intercept Shield albums.
I liked the coin tarnish-resisting pages.
[I don't even know if Intercept Shield albums are made anymore.]

 

I have a pair of Lincoln cents Whitman folders that I bought when I was in high school. My brother had a set, too, that was lost some years ago. Volume 2 is filled with coins that were placed in our folders as early as 1960, and all of them were culled from pocket change that our mom and dad would give us. Coins as early as the prized 1955-S still have their original luster, and all of the coins through the late Sixties still appear to be as new. Even two of my 1943 cents show their original brilliance, but they were given to me by an older cousin who had coffee cans full of them that he had been collecting since the war.

Volume 1 was, of course, not fortunate enough to have such shiny, new-looking coins in it, but my brother and I were still able to find a good many of the coins from the late Twenties on for our Whitman folders. Of course the real valuable ones eluded us even sixty years ago, and I have yet to convince myself that I need the two obvious ones missing that would complete my collection.

Certainly, I wouldn't break open a slab with a certified coin to fill one of those two empty spaces, but if I were to find an '09S-VDB or a '14D in a Coin Star reject bin, I wouldn't give it a single thought to fill those two empty holes. Those holes have been empty for almost 58 years, though, so I guess it's OK if they stay that way.

BTW, speaking of Coin Star, I was surprised to find a very nice looking 1928D in a reject bin just last week. I often wonder how such coins make it back into circulation.

 

speaking of coin storage, can anyone speak to their experience in using either the PCCB or the BCW slab-like coin holders? Are the foam inserts safe? BCW indicates the foam insert should be safe for coins that have not been cleaned or dipped. Has anyone had experience in using either of these products? Thanks

 

Put your circulated or dug copper or clad coins in the three page folders. Even circulated si lver coins will tone in the folders. Put your better coins in Whitman bookshelf or Classic albums. For other brands Dansco has a wide selection that is reasonably priced new and available in used condition. Littleton Green albums are popular and attractive and Intercept Shield are found stripped of coins on the after market.

 

I receive coins from Whitman Books a lot and in general the coins are stained on the reverse so bad they are are ruined. A little advise that has already been posted is to store only A/G - (About Good) and maybe G (Good) and nothing in a Key - Date ever. Store coins in a Dansco or better book with slide plastic inserts and any higher grade/coins have them slabbed but stay way away from Whitman Blue books if possible..

 

I agree with the above advice. I recently was given a few of these books and I was amazed at how ugly the Mercury Dimes were. The toning that had happened was not attractive at all.

 

This is the correct answer, OP. If you just want the fun of filling the holes, do it with low grade coins. Don't let your good coins get anywhere near a Whitman folder.

 

I wouldn't put any coins in a Whitman blue album, especially not copper coins. Even if they are low grade to start with, some may be thoroughly corroded in a few years. I've experienced it. No one wants their coins, even if low grade, to have chunks of green copper salts falling off.

Just finished going through some blue coin eaters that belonged to my wife's late uncle. And, yep, lots of green corrosion on the edges and backsides of some of the copper coins. When it comes to coins, these things should be in the same class as toilet cleaner and steel wool. I don't understand why an otherwise responsible publishing company still produces these things. Perhaps those currently produced are more inert, but I wouldn't trust them based on past history.

Cal

 

Mine are still just fine after 58 years. I can only guess that the blue Whitman folders with corroded coins were stored improperly in the first place. In that case, even such corrosion as you mention might begin within weeks, if not days or hours.

 

Thanks everyone for the advice. I mean, it was one of those thing I already figured but I don't have the experience to confirm. I would never place anything of high value in the folders. It's much like my baseball card collection. I love flipping through a binder and hate shuffling a stack of top loaders, it's just so much more attractive. Good to know the community all seems to agree regarding Whitman folders. Best used to introduce kids to the hobby, I suppose I should start collecting like the adult my age forces me to be!