Hi all, I searched and found a few forums that addressed this topic, but none actually hit on the question I have. I am relatively new at collecting, I started off with the state quarters and really have put together a nice set. I have them currently in one of those Whitman albums that has the plastic that you slide out and in to cover them. I also have been putting together a nice set of pennies. Those I have in one of those green Littleton coin folders. In those, they have nothing covering them. Are these good ideas for storage and display, or will the plastic on the Whitman's damage the coins and the open air in the folders cause tarnishing on those. I also have Sacagawea dollars in one of those Littleton's and I swear I can see where some of them already look "dull". What is the best way to store/display? Or maybe one needs to choose between Store OR Display?
Lots of option. You can go the traditional folder route and try to fill every hole. Of the folders, the ones that cover the coins are always best of course. Penny boards have probably harmed more coins than protected them. Another option is either 2x2's with the cardboard and plastic, or plastic flips. If using flips make sure you get the brittle plastic ones for longer term storage. The cardboard ones allow you to see both sides of the coin in sheets in an album, but you must destroy the holder to handle the coin. The flips you can only see one side in an album but you can take the coin out if needed. For storage, not display, envelopes and small boxes designed to store them in are a great option. This protects your coin well, but of course you cannot see them unless you take them out. "Old School" storage was in a cabinet, but the problem is the coin moved when the drawer slid in and out, leading to "cabinet friction" Go to a large coin supply website and browse around at all of the possibilities. My favorite is www.brooklyngallery.com Personally, I use 2x2 flips to get access to the coins and have more area to write down pertinent information. I mostly collect ancients, though, so handling them is not seen as detrimental as it is with US coins, and I need more room for attributions, weights, etc.
My raw, and individual proof coins are in 2x2 flips, and placed into mylar binder sheets in a binder.
