I have a question about those Dansco Albums. How exactly do you put the coins in and do they rattle around in the slots? Is this type of album worth the investment to protect your coins? I have never seen one in person so sorry about a "silly" question. David
Not silly at all. Some coins will "rattle" around in the holes, particularly if you're using the album for highly circualted coins like Barber halves or circulated Morgans. The early cents and half cents in my dansco type book don't even come close to fitting. The holes are about perfect for a coin that has not lost diameter due to circualtion. You must still use caution when putting coins in the album. Do not use your thumb or finger to push it into the hole. Instead, use a piece of plastic laid over the coin to push on. This may not even be desirable if you have very high grade or expensive key dates.. There is a large risk when sliding the plastic cover back into the holder that you may leave "slide marks" on the obverse of the coin. A "completed" set in a dansco or whitman album, or any other is very nice to look at.. For my key date coins I put a common date coin in the same grade as the key date into the hole, but reverse side up. This way the set doesn't have those unsightly holes.
I put on a pair of white cotton gloves, only touching the coins on the edge, center the coin in th hole, then using my thumbnails, I push the coins all the way down, making sure that my nails only contact the rims. Then I slide the top window back over the coins. By pushing the coins all the way down, and only using the top window, you prevent the Mylar windows from rubbing against the coins. No. They fit snug. The inside of the album's holes will contact the edge of the coin, though, and this may be a concern to some collectors. Personally, I like them. Other collectors have their own ways of storing their coins, and I use several storage methods other than Danscos. I don't consider Danscos to be overly expensive, but that's something each individual must decide.
Dansco albums, in my experience, outsell the others 5 to 1. In fact Dansco are the only ones I even carry in the store anymore, aside from the whitman folders. They are compact/easy to store, safe, and have a nice look to them. Just know up front that it's not a good idea to use them if you like to take your coins out from time to time and handle them, show them off, etc. It's best to put them in there and leave them. It's just not as much fun that way Nick
Thanks for your comments. I myself currently use 2x2 cardboard flips and staple them and then insert them into plastic pages. David
When doing this, take notice of the staples on the back of the 2x2, if metal from the staple is not completely flat against the cardboard, it will be possible for the staple to scratch another coin or poke through the window of another holder. The staples can be flattened with a pair of needle nose pliars (carefully).
Im in the prosess of switching my entire US collection from 2x2's into Dansco's. Im about 1/2 way done.
There's also a new handy dandy stapler that crimps the staples down by itself, thus saving the numismatic world untold hours of staple-flattening with pliers. I think they run about $25 each...great investment. I use mine every day Nick
Funny... I did the opposite. I went from the Dansco album to 2x2's in a 3 ring binder. For the early years, I went to an Eagle sheet holder with Intercept Shields. That way, I can take any coin out individually. I staple the 2x2's with a heavy duty stapler and then pinch the staples with pliers. I use small Avery labels and print the year, mint and mintage numbers on the 2x2.
I gave them to the local boy scouts who have some scouts that collect coins. They also can earn a merit badge in the process.
