Is it just me, or does it seem like everytime I put my coins in certain spots of my coin room, there always seems to be a better place to situate them, and then it turns out not to be such a good place, then comes re-arranging them yet once again, and even one coin can mess up the whole organization of my collection. Anyone else out there having this problem with their private collection? One day it's organized, the next day you have them strung out everywhere... Any comments on how you organize your collection, certain tips, space effecient holders etc, would be appreciated. Sincerely, Mr. Tornado coin room
Mr. Tornado, I have coins in folders, albums, notebooks, cans, jars, envelopes, boxes, drawers (the furniture kind), bowls, flips, safes, laying on top of tables, and even scattered on the floor. Think you're disorganized?
Actually, that sounds exactly like what I have goin on over here, I think turning all the walls into shelves and drawers would be a very good idea
Seriously though, my "good stuff" is very well organized. All documented, placed in archival holders, and stored in fire-proof safes. That doesn't mean that I don't take them out to enjoy them, though.
Heres the problem with my collection, I will get to the point to where I think all my good stuff is organized (somewhat) in a sentry safe, but, then I go through some of my random stuff, and wonder why a certain coin is in there, when it should be in one of my folders, sometimes even in a plastic holder, sometimes have to kick myself when I find out a really really good coin was mixing around with some commen date coins that are anywhere from good circulated all the way to plain out slicks, perhaps I should look a little bit closer when putting up my coins eh? Now that i'm thinking about it, what would be a good solution to getting rid of the green slime that are often seen on wheat cents from being in bad holders, for the ones that are still saveable?
OK, I know what you're talking about. I collect one series as a constantly improving set. I'm always finding a "better" example of a date/MM and then I have to take the old example out of the album and place the new one in. Then I have to put the old one in a flip and put it in a notebook or box. Just an ongoing chore, I suppose, but one that I enjoy. About the "green slime" on copper coins. Well, it definately has to come off. The safest way I know of is to use pure acetone. This can be purchased at hardware stores. It will disolve most of the PVC residue, but you may still have to gently pick out some with a tooth pick. The coins can then be rinsed with distilled water, and dried with a hair dryer. Copper coins are likely to always be discolored from the PVC, though. In general, don't clean your coins, but in the case of PVC, well, it has to come off or it will continue to cause further damage.
Thank you, kind sir. ( was told that brake fluid, or something like that would do the job ) I wasn't for sure on that, so I didn't do it, know anything about it?
A word of caution here - using a hair dryer to dry your coins can be done. But the dryer MUST be used on a COOL setting. Hair dryers can reach rather high temperatures - high enough to cause some coins to tone in an unwanted way. So be careful !
I really do appreciate it guys, i'm liking this forum more and more each day, I'll try and send some more collectors this way, hopefully they will join...
Jody Sounds like you and me would get along great...I bet my room is a lot worse than yours though... Pennycase I use about everything that will hold coins--like Jody..cans--boxes--bags.....just use what fits your needs Speedy
Nope, it is not just you. Reading the thread reveals the basically obsessive-compulsive nature of collectors. Of course, it can manifest itself many ways and being massively untidy but "knowing where everything is" is another way to express the same motivations. I hate to confess this here, but right now, my collection is in an old coffee can under my desk. The ancients, the moderns, all of the best stuff is in some kind of slab, flip, 2x2 or holder and the rest are just loose. I guess that in cross-section, it sort of looks like coin concrete or numismatic fruit cake. Ah! but the BOOKS! Now, THERE is a problem... what goes here... what goes there... what goes next to this one... or that one... Hmm..... and then there are the tools.... and the cats.... and the dishes... and the video tapes.... and the CDs... and the pens and pencils.... paper: blank paper for the printers here or there? Notebooks on top or bottom? Left or right?... OH! NO!!! Somebody moved my PAPERCLIPS!! arrrgh!!
To contrast - I am quite organized. (NOT) In the 53-54 places that I have coins stored, books in the process of being read, magazines being perused, I can find anything quickly. The one constant is that the places are not consistently in the same place. Now if I can just figure out where I put the list.... Oh, and they have to stay away from possible dog slobber.
Hey Chris, I know what you mean about dog slobber! I have a large Lab and He's always getting into everything. For some reason he likes to come over when I'm looking at my coins and sniff or lick them! Bad Doggy! Joe
Organization? Hmmm... I am trying to find a dictionary on this one. I would say that controlled chaos would be a more apt description of my office.
