For me, the majority in flips, a few in cardboard 2x2s, the mini envelopes, three in those little plastic containers that can be pried opened, and the really low grade common stuff in little bags.
Recent purchases go in trays where they can be handled. After a while, they go in paper envelopes in boxes and I rarely see them except in photos. Once I kept all in trays but my safe deposit box filled up and I had to find a system that was more compact. Fortunately this came after I had decent photos of every coin.
I keep the coins themselves in PVC-free sheets, which are kept in a series of 3-ring folders (large colour photos and print-outs describing interesting coin facts and/or info about the Ruler on the coin can also be kept in these binders) ... each coin has its own "tab", so I can flip-through the binders easily and quickly (this way I can keep the actual coin with the coin's photo and a print-out of the coin's info => "I" find my method to be very efficient and satisfying) ... ... it works for me ...
In pvc free flips stored in boxes. Too many to display in folders really, and folders are not conducive to sdb storage. Some are still in manilla envelopes, especially if its an old one. Unfortunately i don't have photos, so my system means i don't get to enjoy what i own often. Someday i will probably buy a large home safe and keep many here, but i will never let anyone know about it. You know the weird hing about me predicament? I somewhat find myself liking world coins more since i do have "junk" world coins at home and can play with them more. However, i still have my books on coins. I actually had planned on photographing many coins this weekend. Unfortunately my pregnant wife had to be rushed to the er friday night, and have surgery yesterday. I am posting from the hospital room right now.
mine are all in pvc flips and stored in a couple boxes, they little silica gel packs with them to reduce moisture. .....but i have relativity few coins. i dig the tray idea ....that's very cool. i've also been thinking about a binder, i have my world coins in binders now.
Thanks man. She is asleep right now, and i am taking my mind off of it by talking about coins. I just wanted to apologize to a couple of people whom i told i was going to take some pics.
It's no problem. Of course the wife comes first in these situations. I hope she gets well soon, everything works out, etc.
I store everything in PVC-laden temporary flips within blue boxes. I'm very hands on with my collection (for research purposes), so I have them every few weeks and change any of the flips that are starting to go bad. I found that the harder, non-PVC flips were too constricting on my irregular and lumpy collection and I became concerned that I would break the coins as I removed them. But this is only a temporary solution. I intend to eventually move to trays. I envision a cabinet with flat trays about a 3/8" high, storing a number of 2 1/4" square boxes for the coins and flips. The ability to move and shuffle around the boxes is key.
medoraman => that must be very stressful/scary => I sure hope that everybody is okay ... man, it sure makes worrying about my coins seem insignificant!! (stay strong brother)