So...After 40 years of collecting, I have decided that I have reached the end of my current US coin foray due to coins in the series I would have remaining (1/2 cents, 3-Cent, large cents, Standing Liberty Quarters, etc.) being too expensive to keep purchasing coin-by-coin. I can purchase them but then wouldn't have money to spend on other things needed for real life. Therefore, I have branched out and decided to begin collecting foreign coins for the first time, like Canadian and Mexican. I have everything I collect in US coinage in Albums (CAPS, Whitman, Dansco) and would like to continue that with the foreign coins. Do any of you have any suggestions on albums -- not folders -- besides creating my own binder and inserting 2 x 2 flips? I have seen some Guardian Albums for Canadian Coins but it looks like you just put the coin in the plastic slot. If anyone uses that album, does it affect the coins (toning, etc.)? How about labeling? Are they already labeled or is that something you have to do yourself. Are there others albums out there I am just not seeing for this set of coins? Let's just start with Canadian coins and I can move on from there. I've seen some older Dansco and older Whitman, but they don't seem to come up to current coins. I really prefer albums that already label the coins. Foreign coin collectors, what are your suggestions? Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
There are some options for Canadian and Mexican coins, but you're not going to find anywhere near the type of coverage you have for US coins. Be prepared for either dealing with mixed storage methods or just go your own route.
2x2 in vinyl pages and 3-ring binder. Or in 2x2 in single column red cardboard boxes. Or buy only real nice foreign coins in NGC or PCGS holders, which will tend to appreciate much more than the raw circulated coinage typically associated with 2x2 holders now days. At one time, there were lots of gem world coins still raw, and there still are over in Europe. But much of the raw foreign coins here in the USA are coins no one would waste money on slabbing, and collecting them almost guarantees you will lose money when it's time to sell.
I think you will enjoy collecting Canadian coins. They are very beautiful designs. I have been working on Canadian large cents, small cents, and silver dimes and quarters. I have a “library of coins” book for the large+small cent collection, and whitman albums for the rest.
I consider Canadian and Mexican to be two of the most insipid countries on the planet for coinage. The 1935 and 1936 Canadian silver dollars are very cool, most notably because while similar at first glance, they are actually two very distinctive types on the obverse. Aside from that, nothing of much interest design-wise unless you want to collect modern issues. Unlike US coins where nearly everyone collects by series/date/mint mark, the beauty of world coins lies in collecting by type. Don't need an album to do that, just go after the specific coin designs that you find interesting for esthetic reasons. Once you get the hang of it, you will view modern US coins with nothing but contempt. The real key to getting started with world coins isn't a folder, but rather a good catalog of what you want to collect. There are specialized catalogs for Canada and Mexico, but for the rest of the world your best bet is a Krause Standard Catalog of World Coins. There's a whole world (pun intended) of real cool designs to be found in it, and it will give you all the guidance you need to start collecting in this super fun numismatic niche. Case in point, a 19th century superb GEM, satin frosted MS66 without any ugly stains or problems, and available for under $100.
I've picked up a large variety of foreign coins over the years, mostly impulse buys. I was such an idiot then. I now am working on only two foreign "sets": A British Victorian Type Set, and a Pre-decimal English Shilling set. I started with 1970 and am working my way backward on the shillings. I hope to get one shilling for each Monarch from 1551 through 1970. Hah! I should live so long I used to collect Canadians in a Dansco type set album but sold it off as I lost interest. I never got into any other countries though. I think it's because I've always been fascinated with the history of England. Whatever you decide, have fun! *edit to add: And I don't consider myself to be all that wise.
I like the idea but too much space for me. If I had a "he" shed or my own room, would definitely consider something like that.
