I have been collecting coins for many years now and about 10 years ago I started to track my collection Excel. It has worked out well but I find myself wanting more from my coin tracking program. Since I am rather handy with both Excel and Access I have decided not to purchase a program but rather to use an Access database. After all, any money spent on a program is money not spent on a new coin acquisition. Before I try to re-invent the wheel and create my own database, I am wondering if anybody knows where I might be able to find a template of a coin database? I have tried to Google search but I cannot find anything.
I recently asked the same question, which program folks perferred. Ironically, the overall answer was excel although other comments about the various tools out there were added. Of the off the shelf programs, most folks noted you get what you pay for, as the more expensive applications seemed to have the more robust functionality. I also thought about throwing together an MS Access database but have since taken the excel approach as well, mainly because it was the quickest to have up and running. Now I do want to note that a few forum members sent me their inventory spreadsheets and I am glad I have an opportunity to view them, because each one took a different approach and seemed to favor specific aspects of the collecting hobby, whether it was tabular listing with background information, or my approach of Type set inventory with value by grade. Keep us posted on your progress...
I too am a Excel fan. I've been using it for many years for coins, guns, knives, taxes, etc. With coins I originally attempted to list just about everything possilbe about each coin. I HAD columns for such things as purchase dates, purchase prices, purchased from who or where. However, I ran into a massive problem there since I've been coin collecting for over 60 years. Not that good a memory. Also columns for date, Mint mark, grade, estimated present value. Another problem poped up with me wanting a tabulation of each collection. I now have over 100 Albums and each with a separate spread sheet. Then there are spread sheets for Proof and Uncirc sets from the Mint. Been collecting those since the 50's. many other spread sheets for items like duplicates in 2x2's, rolls of coins, etc. Then I print out each one and also keep back ups on a CD-R and another on one of those little stick things for a USB port. To sum up this story, one day I said to myself, SELF, what are you doing and why? So now I just list the date, mint mark and grade. I don't care where I got the coin, how much it cost, what it's worth, etc. Just to old and lazy.
It looks like everyone has used Excel at least one time! I'm not the exception. With the time (and being an IT professional) I decided to write a software to track my coins, my trades and other related things. I basically have the following coin "fields": - Coin (e.g.: 1 Euro Cent) - Year - Country - KM # - Composition (e.g.: Cu plated Steel) - State (e.g.: XF) - Mintmark - Mintage - Observation (e.g.: Ruler: Wilhelm II) - Other info (e.g.: Swap with John Doe)
