Collector Accessories

I have a question that I would like your input on...

For the new collector who is bitten quite hard, and is committed to collecting in earnest, there are several pieces of gear that are essential. These are, as I have found: A Red Book, a quality loupe (5-7x, distortion free), a check list or something to keep up with what you have and this site.

What else does the more committed collector need in their cache of gadgets?

A 20-100X stereo microscope for home?
A dedicated 20x loupe?
ANA Membership?
Advanced guides and books?
Varieties guides?
A safe/vault (and if so, does fireproof help)?
Storage stuff (2x2s, flips, boxes, tubes, etc)?

Obviously, my list is limited to what I have come across. Does anything here or anything I missed serve as a "must have" for the collector that is splitting their money between the coins and the tools?

Thanks!
Cris

 

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Nah...I would only go to the 10x because 20x might make the coin TOO big--if you know what I mean

If you go with fireproof make sure you put some silica gel to take out the moisture!

I have not gotten a ANA membership because I'd much rather use the money to buy a nice coin.

Now I don't mean to make anyone mad at me, but in my thought buying "Varieties" and "Errors" is like buying a car without a steering wheel, no wheels, and no motor

Speedy

 

I can't comprehend buying a coin, that I don't know how to grade. I'd have to say that "A.N.A. Grading Standards", is a must have.
At least one good working relationship, with a reputable dealer, is another must.
If your collection warrents it, a rider on your household insurance policy, is another.
If you're going to specialize in a certain area of numismatics, then you should aquire all the referance material you can, that pertains to the subject.
Oh yeah, and it doesn't hurt to have a little bit of an attitude, and a thick skin, to go along with it.

 

Your unspoken assumption is that everyone must collect US coins. A Red Book is worthless, and at least the 20th/21st Century volume of the Standard Catalog of World Coins (Krause) is essential for the collection of world coins.

 

Sorry, satootoko, no assumptions. Just questions and as statement as I found it.

Thanks for the book title!
Cris

 

On the subject of loops, I personally prefer to carry a 10x and 16x at all times. In the majority of cases, I use the 16x.

 

the complete ANA grading guide can be found in any of the Blackbooks

 

Here is what I recommend for American Coins:

Red Book
Walter Breens Encyclopedia
Any book specific to your collected series
5 power loupe
10 power loupe
Quality scanner
Quality camera
7 - 45 power stereo microscope
Great lights.
LED lighted loupe
Grading guide. ANA or Photograde
Silica Gel
Quality safe
Gloves
Subscription to CoinWorld. Others optional.
Felt jewelers tray. Great for sorting.

 

Thanks ND.

So anything over 45x is a waste? And what is your opinion on fireproof vs. steel? I am assuming a fireproof, but ignorance is bliss.

 

45 is too much, but the stereo microscopes come from 7 through 45 with the active zoom. Others sell extra lenses but these are difficult to use.

A safe is like any other thing. If you have $1000 worth of coins, what should you be spending on your safe? Quality should never be sacrificed when it comes to your accessories and supplies.
I know people who own 100,000 dollar coins, and keep them in a 20 dollar safe.
All I can do is make the suggestion, I can't make anyone listen.

 

Here is the one that I use

 

Any suggestions on safes (brands, vendors) appropriate for coins? I have a safe, but it is made for documents, and will release a lot of moisture in the event of a fire. Silica gel helps, but I still worry about the moisture, so I have many of my coins outside of the safe, which I worry about even more.

One thing I might do when I get the time is sort the coins and put the most valuable ones in a safety deposit box. The problem is, I have very few coins worth more than $200 each, but have tons worth between $20 and $100, so space is a problem.

A Nice, dry 8-16 cubic foot safe would be ideal!

 

That is a major question of mine as well, rbm86. I don't mind dropping a few $$$ into a large (3x3x5') safe that is primarily used for guns and is fire rated, but these aren't flimsy little piece of paper or gunpowder; they are coins. Like anything, I don't want to overspend but buying a Sentry from Sam's Club and breaking my back to get that 200+ lb thing in the house is stupid if its 3.8 cuft of space is consumed by what I already have....

 

http://maximumsecurity.com

I won't say their the cheapest, but I love their proucts.

 

Well, I have a sentry safe but the only reason is, that I got it for free

Think about this--
If a thief is going to rob you do you think a safe would do any good???
Look at it this way.
He knows you collect coins he thinks you might have a safe so I think he would bring tools to crack a safe.
I've been around too many policeman

Speedy

 

Well speedy,

Our safes at the office were brought in on rollbacks, so not many fears of it walking away. Safe crackers are pretty much a thing of the past. Crooks are too lazy for that type of activity. Big and heavy are the way to go.

 

Well, I don't own one, and I probably won't buy one because of the cost, but I'm thinking about one of these babies

http://www.safepub.com/Catalog/coins/scale.htm

as a means of ensuring the AGEs I buy are real gold. I recently bought a '93 and a '99, and the color of the gold is not the same. Sorta like the difference between a penny fresh from the mint and a penny that's one or two years old. According to my postage scale, the two weigh exactly the same, but my postage scale (with its one ounce divisions) has too low a resolution to discern slight differences in objects that only weigh one-quarter ounce.

Does anybody here use a scale to verify the exact weight of their coins ?

 

I recommend that those who store any substantial amount of coins invest in both safes and alarm systems. I recommend an alarm system with a battery backup and cell phone backup, and if your relationship with the local police department is good enough, direct or automatic dispatch.

On the subject of a safe, if one or two people can carry it, it is worthless.

 

Personally, if I buy a safe for around $5,000, I fully expect a theif to bring explosives to get to my stuff. Just my opinion.

Oh, and the bloody thing weighs 2,600 lbs. Honestly, it is more for peace of mind and the insurance. Rates go WAY down when you can prove you keep them in something substantial. Without the safe, you are just waiting to get boosted.

Thanks for the link, ND, they are sure to be one of the folks I consider.
Cris