I just got a 1996-Present Coin Folder. It is one of those blue Whitman Folders. I tried putting in a nickel and I literally can't. I don't want to use any tool or anything to put them in the book because that will ruin the coin. Do you guys have any tips to put them in. They made a serious mistake when they designed these folders.
I don't use Whitman folders. I have a few Dansco folders, but many of my coins go into flips, and I use the 20-place pages for a 3-ring, zippered portfolio. Chris
their tough.take a soft cloth,place your thumb over them,and push extremely hard.without sliding the cloth over the coin.or get a hammer. j/k
I used to use Whitman folders when I was a kid. I would fill the hole with water and once the cardboad softened I would widen the hole slightly with a key. Then I would put a "sacrificial" coin in the hole and let it dry. After drying I would pop the coin out and then put the correct one in. Hope this helps.
I don't use Whitman or Dansco albums. When I was a kid the coins would either fall out, or never fit into them. Never used them since. I use 1.5's where I can, and use the 30-pocket pages in 3-ring leatherettes. I think 2x2s are wasteful on space and pages... but that's just me.
I use an old 'beat up' coin to 'ream' out the opening. If you are careful, you won't tear up the folder. I had the same problem with the Harris state quarter folders. The first half folders were fine, but the folders made for the last half of the series were ridiculous. My thumb would hurt for days after trying to get the coins in the folder.
These blue folders are affectionately known as "thumb-busters" for a reason. They key is to not try and push the coin directly straight down in the hole. The holes are made just slightly smaller than the coin so that when the coin is in, it is locked firmly in place. This is a good thing - once you get the coin in. Try pushing the coin at an angle - push almost from the edge of the coin, instead of straight down.
Welcome to my world! I have ruined brand new folders trying to get the coins in. They usually bend and form a creased line that never goes away. Especially frustrating are the new stiff half dollar folders.
When I was a kid, I had those folders. I would force the coin in to make it fit. The ones that were loose where the coins would fall out, I would put a nice big glob of Elmer's glue in it and make sure it oozed out to ensure the coin would stay put.
Those folders are specially made to hold the coins in place. The slots are what is called tapered. That means that the top of the slot is smaller than the bottom. They are tapered that way since many coins are actually smaller from wear than when they were new. The secret is to actually slide the coins in on an angle but as most know, that really doesn't work well either. Most do as noted and use a sacraficial coin to open the slot at the top by reaming the hole. Unfortunately this defeats the pupose of a well held coin. Almost all folders by all manufacturers are similar in that respect. The method of wetting those slots is really the worst thing you could do. The process in the manufacturing of a folder is to slap glue on an entire sheet of paper. Usually done in swipes, not continuous though meaning the glue is in sort of wide lines. Then the slotted cardboard sheets are placed on that and allowed to dry. If you look at the rear of those slots you will note the shine. That is the remants of the gluing process since it is almost impossible to remove the excess glue from those slots. Wetting those slots also wets that glue and that is not the best thing for your coins. Of course many kids in the past with really worn coins appreciated that system since they would spit on the rear of the coins to make them stay in place. Many people have found coins either in circulation or even purchased and they have those dark lines on the rear from that glue. Some of that glue actually makes the paper stick to the coins. Many manufacturers use a glue that does little damage to coins but not all do that since such glues are expensive. Many of those fly by night type companies that just jump on the band wagon care little about your coins future.
Believe it or not I actually use a hammer. I put the folder on a hard flat surface, put the coin in the hole, lay a couple layers of paper over the coins and then use the face of a hammer to press the coin into the hole with a slight rocking motion. The paper keeps the hammer from damaging the coin and the hammer doesn't give like your thumb does when you try and press it in by hand. The hard flat surface keeps the folder from bending.
