This question is asked so frequently I thought that I should start a thread to get some good answers. Too frequently, collectors skimp on their supplies. Why? I have customers that will spend thousands on a single coin, but won't spend $30 on a good loupe. Others have 100,000 dollars of coins in a $400 safe. How many of you have seen rare and valuable coins in a 2x2? The point of this topic is to pass along a little insight. Your supplies should be bought with the same consideration that you place into your collection. You would not buy cheap coins, why buy cheap supplies? Even if you coins are only in the $2 a piece range, they aren't really cheap. Think about it. If you spent $2 on a Cent, that doesn't exactly equal cheap does it? While your coins may not be rarities or worth thousands of dollars, it is still hard earned money spent. Why not protect them with good supplies? Now I don't and would not recommend spending money on the best holders available for all your coins, but your money well spent will only help you to protect your investment.
I bought a Whitman album for my Jefferson Nickels, as that's the coin I started collecting. All my circulated ones go in there. Due to $$$ contraints I decided to get the Whitman folders for my other circulated coins. As of yet, the only coins I have that aren't in a folder or album are ones I recently purchased - some BU Sacajawea dollars and a silver proof NJ quarter. Those are in the 2X2 holders with staples that they came in. At some point I may move them to something else, I'm just not sure what.
Here is a quick thought. I have seen Proof state quarters selling as high as $8 Why have it in a 2x2 holder that costs 3 cents? I see this logic too often.
Not sure. I paid $4 for mine. I am not too knowledgable about containers for single coins like that, so for now I keep it in the 2x2.
I don't want you to think that you are alone in this. We dealers do the same thing. But the first time, you scratch a nice coin with a staple, you will be thinking back to this thread. Airtites run about a dollar a piece. Isn't a dollar worth protecting your coin?
I recently (which for me is the entire span of my collecting life) bought a nice 1879 S Morgan that is probably an MS64 PL. I was asked if I wanted it in an Air-tite, and I just said "Whatever you think" in a really lax way. The dealer broke out the container, put on gloves, took out the canned air and proceeded to ritualistically place the coin in the holder. She was dead serious. I guess I started taking it more seriously after that. These little jewels can only get more worn/damaged if they are not protected properly. Am I going to treat the XF 1921 P Morgan the same way. Nope, but then again, it doesn't cross that personal line of what is valuable and what isn't that I have determined for me. That is the bottom line, right? There isn't a right answer here, so far as I can tell....
So it isn't worth a dollar to protect a $10 coin? A damaged 21 Morgan in XF becomes a $5 coin. Think about it like that.
It may be - I am just not there yet. I keep most of the loose Morgans that I have (not in an album) in flips tucked in a cigar box. They are protected, just not Air-tite protected. I'll ponder on this one...
Think about this. Aitites can be used over and over again. They offer protection, and can be removed when you want to sell the coin. Everyone wants to go out and buy coins. If you spent 1/10th of your collection money on good supplies, you would come out ahead in the long run.
airtites is just a brand suggestion. Kontains or Eagle holders are just as good. The point is, spend money on your collection as well as your coins. A 1/5th or 1/10th is a good formula to use.
I guess what I was trying to say was that I am only keeping it in the 2x2 because I am not familiar with my other options yet. Obviously I value the coin, otherwise I wouldn't have paid for it. What are these Airtites you mention? Cost?
Just look on a Google search for air-tite and check out the prices. They are available for less than a buck.
Any suggestions for preparing coins before placing in long-term storage (i.e. air-tites, intercept shield albums/holders, or even sending to grading services)? I've read in some books that you should dip them in alcohol to remove impurities before placing in long term storage holders.
