Album Pro's & Con's

Although this is basically a Dansco Forum, I mean most here use Dansco, mostly what you'll hear is how great they are. One of the most common statements is they look so much like an expensive book. Yet those are the same people that hide them away so what good is appearances. I'm basically a Whitman Album person. However, there too is a reason for that. I'm in the Midwest and Whitman has always been the more popular in this area since it is made in this area. Dansco is made in the West so naturally it is a better seller in the West.
If you look at Google and type in Coin Albums, you'll find there are many, many different brands. And if you check the Wizard web site you would see a new brand that I've heard they make themselves but not sure. The price for those is fantastically low compared to most others.
For Pro's on Dansco, they do appear to be made better than most. They do appear to look like a leather bound book. The con's to me are the difficulty in removing the plastic slides. The stupidity in planning on how many slots are required per Album. By that I mean most I've seen have slots on the last page with and for nothing. And if you like a Brownish or Tanish book, that is Dansco.
Whitman is interesting. The company was sold and resold several times. Now owned by a company called Harris. If you go to the Whitman web site you would see they make Whitman Albums, Harris Albums and U.S. Mint Albums along with much other coin items. I like Whitman due to the ability to take the slides out easily due to the cut outs at the end. They are Blue in color so Brownish or Reddish Copper coins stand out better. On most the pages over the slotted pages have a tendancy to come loose.
Littleton is just not popular enough so ability to find them too is not easy. Unless in the East where they are made.
Intercept Shield Albums are supposed to be the best from what many say but the prices are really high compared to others.
For prices I've found Intercept Shield to be about the highest followed by Dansco. Whitman, Harris and U.S.States Albums are basically about the same price wise. But the Harris or U.S.States Albums are really difficult to find.
Yet there are many ohter brands out there if you can find them. Might be better than the ones I've mentioned or worse.
If you find out let us all know.
One more thing to add on is removable pages. Most brands today have removable pages. Also, you many want to check to see if additional pagesa are available.

Thanks for the reply just carl. Your posts are great information. Read a number of them.




If I try something different I most certainly will. Might be a good (spendy) exercise. Which ever way I go I'll post back my experience's for others to consider.

But what is it said from time to time. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!"

I got some of the Wizard albums awhile ago - here is the review I posted to CCF.

https://goccf.com/t/108818

I am still happily using mine



edited 'coz I fergitted to paste the link

My local coin shop had a good day today- I went there and bought Danscos for Lincoln Cents and Roosevelt dimes, two series I have a good start on just now. I started out years ago in Whitman Classic albums but sold out mostly and now am starting back again. The Whitmans had recurrent issues with coins slipping down in the pages. I did try an Intercept Shield album that the coins kept rotating in everytime I turned the page. Then tried a Littleton set for my Lincolns. Those albums are just too cheapish for my taste. Also the pages keep hanging up on the rings when turning the pages.

I like the way the Dansco albums look and maybe it's a small thing but I like that they come with the slides already in the slots! Saves a lot of frustration..

Cardboard / mylar 2x2's in clear polypropylene pages for me! None of this PVC stuff!

I use FOUR ring trade catalogue binders. That gives one more support hole. An album page with 20 crown size coins can weigh more than half a kilogram. The album page is less likely to tear out at the holes.

The cardboard 2x2's allow each coin to be annotated. The annotations can travel with the coin, when it comes to periodic re arrangement adjustments to your collection.

Those would have been folders, not albums.

I did some research about a year ago and basically found that Dansco was reported to be the best made album NOT called Intercept that was not going to absolutely bankrupt me, so I bought one for my Lincoln cents to see how I liked it. I always thought I would prefer the 2x2s for my sets since you can write info on the back of them for things like grade, mintages, etc. However, after getting the Dansco, I was more than happy with it. Specifically concerning Dansco 7100 for Lincoln cents, I like that almost none of the eror coins are listed. It annoys me that the 22 no D was even included, as to me, an error coin is not really the same as a common circulation coin, but therein lies the difference in what each of us consider a "set." I also think if you are going to include the 22 no D, why not the 55 double die, 72 DDO, or any other ones out there? You could always buy blank pages and label them as you see fit to include or exclude anything you like. I have purchased Danscos for nearly all of my collection, and plan to finishe it out with Dansco. Yes, it looks like a leather-wrapped book, but I have had no problem seeing the contrast between tan pages and cents, nickels, half dollars, or whatever. The albums feel sturdy and look professional. The coins stay where you put them and I have not noticed any of them turning in the page. I don't know why it took me so long to go this route with my collection. The only thing I dislike (and I use that word loosely) is that you cannot see the rim of the coin, but that's such a mild trade-off for the security and attractiveness of the album.

I'm a fan of Whitman, but that's because I'm used to them and they are very good quality. My only complaint is that the sliding plastic on the face of the coins can be pushed beyond the point where it's easy to pull-out. I have to be careful not to push the plastic too firmly after entering a new coin, or the plastic disappears inside the fold and I have to work it out by sliding from one of the coin spaces...