To flip or not to flip, that is the question. As I started to reorganize my limited collection, I placed most in flips to be able to place the grades on the corner. I also placed the flips inside a sheet protector within several binders that I purchased at a local retail center. (Walmart). My dilemma is this. Is there a point in which coin in flips should be transferred to an airtite or Snap-Tite coin holder? Is there a dollar amount that a coin needs to be worth to place them in these holders? The reason for this question is the fact that I want to conserve my collection and at the same time know what I have in inventory. I use a coin inventory program to keep up with the coins currently owned and at the same time it provides me information on grade. I would appreciate any guidance in order to better protect my collection. Oh by the way, I also have many coins that have been certified by the BIG 2. Do I need a special protector for these?
If your trying to put together an UNC set then I would move them. But if there PVC free and common stuff then leave them in if it makes you happy. Anything over $5 I think is worth a cardboard flip.
Sorry I should have specified. All coins are in a cardboard flips. As I asked earlier, is there any dollar amount or grade that I should be aware of to use a holder?
I would (and do) track them a different way. The reason is pricing can change quickly or often over time. Plus - your opinion as time goes forward might also change the grade(higher or lower) as you revisit a coin. I use airtites for loose coins and dansco albums for others.
I like PVC 2x2's, but then again I like to take my coins out of their holders a lot. For really nice coins I put them in airtites and then into the 2x2 flips. I find have two whole sides of the paper better for documentation.
If you are buying your coin supply from Walmart, I would be very concerned with PVC. PVC can ruin your coins. I wouldn't store my coins near PVC for even a minute. Tell me, do your flips or the pages smell like a new shower curtain? That's what PVC smells like. Be careful.
As for your questions: Is there a point in which coin in flips should be transferred to an airtite or Snap-Tite coin holder? Is there a dollar amount that a coin needs to be worth to place them in these holders? The answer is really up to every collector to decide for themselves. For me, the vast majority of my "cheap" coins are in 2x2s. Others are in Dansco albums, and I keep many raw large cents (generally worth $20 or more) in airtites. However, I also keep a few sentimental yet inexpensive coins in airtites too. Oh by the way, I also have many coins that have been certified by the BIG 2. Do I need a special protector for these? I've seen some collectors put baseball card sleeves around their slabs. Some have even used ziploc bags in the right size. Most people I know don't protect their slabs that way. However, I know more than a few (including me!) that use an Intercept Shield box to further protect your slabbed coins. A desiccant is also something you should consider. All of the above IMO. http://www.interceptshield.com/products.html
Maybe I'm too much of a novice for this hobby, but I store mine in a smiliar manner. I use my PVC free 2X2s and put them in a portfolio similar to you. I date my 2X2s and when I browse the collection, I simply replace those that are older than 3-4 years old. Has worked so far, even for the more expensive coins.
For inexpensive single coins I like 2x2's. [NOTE: You get to decide what "inexpensive" is.] For inexpensive sets I like albums (Dansco, Intercept Shield, etc.) I find flips (PVC-free of course) to be rather ugly so I don't use them. Airtites didn't exist when I started so I've never considered them. I tried Eagle holders for a while but found them to be so-so at best. All my better coins are bought in slabs (PCGS or NGC only) and that's where they stay. Then I store them in Eagle Certified Coin Albums.
ferreram - I look at it this way, any coin that you feel is worth having in your collection is worth the cost of an Air-Tite or other suitable hard plastic holder. And there are many ways that the Air-Tites can been sorted and/or displayed - you suit yourself on that point. But nothing you use can have any PVC in it and all storage methods must also employ the coins in their individual holders being kept in a sealed container of some sort along with silica gel packs, and stored where the temperature does not change much.
