Discussion of old storage supplies.

American coin collectors have been around since the 1880s. Well probably longer than that, but I think the 1880s is when coin collecting became popular in america. Correct if wrong.

Anyway, so we have a ton of coin collecting supplies at are disposal. Flips, tubes, air tites, 2x2s, etc.

All of the above is made out of plastic, which did not really become existent until the 30s.

So what did the old time collectors store their coins in?

Also I'm trying to find out when 2x2 holders 1st became available.

I believe the 1st ones had square windows, maybe Doug would know?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Probably not in any kind of holder.

 

I've seen photos of coin cabinets that dated to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Most of those I've seen had shallow drawers lined with some type of cloth and the coins were usually laid in each drawer. In some cases, the cabinetmaker would make a wooden grid to provide separate compartments. In other instances, the cabinetmaker would even go so far as making circular cut-outs to lay in the bottom of each drawer and then these would be covered with cloth.

Chris

 

Coin cabinets (as cpm9ball stated), cigar and cigarette boxes, milk and cream bottles, aspirin tins (the small flat kind that held something like 20 aspirins), small cash boxes (mainly in the 20's and 30's) etc. etc..

 

The window 2x2's were around in the 60's so it had to be before that. My guess would be the 50's.

 

Kraft paper coin envelopes were quite common because if the paymaster gave cash rather than checks, the odd change went into a change envelope. They were easily available in staionery stores, so collectors put coins in them and labeled the outside. Many gave us currently collecting, wonderful toned coins.

 

This was on Ebay years ago.

 

Leather pouches were also a good way to store the coins you didn't spend every day. I have one that was used by a great grandparent.

 

Same, I have my 2x great grandfathers. I used it even as part of my user profile pic for here. Hard to see since its size had to be chopped

http://www.cointalk.com/member.php?u=21445

 

I would guess that coins were stored in cans and chests. The rich collectors probably had the cabinets. Although, back in 1880, I doubt there were very many expensive coins out there from the U.S. Bust dollars probably only cost a couple bucks.

 

Well according the movies I watch, they are stored in leather pouches hung around the belt.

Probably wooden cigar boxes though. In Asian cultures from the past, many were stored in tin metal boxes. These were usually buried somewhere in the house underneath a floorboard.

 

coin collecting was common in the United Stated long before the 1880's. Our sixth President, John Quincy Adams was a collector of ancient coins. He died in 1848. those who have the money to spend on them have always collected coins, "the hobby of kings"

 

Its been said Roman Emperor Augustus collected coins.

 

Were any of these famous people's collections found? I bet people would pay big bucks to know that the coin they have was owned by John Quincy Adams.

 

Some ancient collectors here have a coin or two from his collection. You can see some sold ones at:
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1847

Dougsmit has one discussed on his page: http://dougsmith.ancients.info/feac34jqa.html

Most of the ancient I have seen from the JQA have been in pretty ugly shape. Im sure there was a few that may be high end but from just the almost 4 years I have collected ancients the JQA coins havent impressed me.

Edit to add some better ones:
http://www.cngcoins.com/Search.aspx...R_TYPE_ID_2=1&SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_4=1

 

I thought SMS sets first had hard plastic holders in 1966?

 

I have a coin from the John Quincy Adams collection. I will have to dig it out and take pics. It was not bought for the the value of the coin but rather for the fact that he and I share common ancestors making us cousins. I also live less than a mile from where he lived.