Folders...bad?

my old uglies are in folders as I try to build sets...i haven't completed any one set yet, but when I do, they'll probably go into a dansco or 2x2 holder binder. my bulk coins go in coin tubes. I've had to resort to prescription bottle containers at the moment while I wait for a large order to arrive from valley coin. I actually store my ikes in large prescription bottles as they happen to fit perfectly. my huge stash of wheats and old nickels are rolled and stored in the coin boxes from which they were pulled. I also store my tubes and 2x2s in coin boxes. easy to stack and put away.

I agree. You have to do what makes you happy or you miss the point of the hobby (or any hobby). It is good to get advice, but make sure that you will be happy with what you finally choose to do.

I've explained this several times on this forum and sure wish I knew how to find them all. Regardless, here is some of the problems with Folders.
1. Ever notice how difficult it is to put most coins in those slots? When the cardboard for those slots is produced, the slots are made tapered. The slots are smaller at the top than at the bottom. This is why when you finally get a coin in, it sort of smaps in place.
This forces people to push with thumbs, fingers and I knew a person that used a rubber hammer to get the coins into those slots.
2. Every time you open a Folder, you risk spitting, sneezing, coughing on them. Not only from you but anyone else in the area.
3. Every time you open a Folder you risk damage due to something falling on a coin.
4. If not deep enough into the slot, the paper from the folded over page can rub against those type of coins.
5. If dropped many coins tend to fall out of those slots and can fall on a floor.
6. Is the worst part of a Folder. That shinny stuff on the rear of the slots is glue left over from the manufacturing process. Kids usually like that since they usually find out that spitting on a well worn coin will reactivate the glue and help keep the coins in place.
When you see or find a coin with darkened streaks on the reverse it very well could be from a Folders glue. The process for putting glue on those sheets is a streaking method not a washing type so as to save on quantities of glue.
Regardless of if you are a serious or amatuer collector, it is just not the best place for your coins.

I have an old Whitman folder from the 50's for a G-VG collection of IHCs that I put together in the late 70s. There is about 35 different dates in there, with some better dates. I popped out the 1870 last week and the reverse looks pretty much the same as when I bought it more than 30 years ago. The glue on the back has gotten very dry and somewhat brittle, and has not affected the reverses. As it was my first foray into the world of coin collecting, my strong sense of nostalgia (I got my coin collecting merit badge with it) for this folder overrides any sense of preservation I might have if these were MS or modern proof coins. Folders seem to be a thing of the past, most collectors are now condition conscious, so albums are the way to go for the better classic coins or for higher grade coins. I personally use labelled 2x2s for common coins, Air-Tites for silver/gold/rare minor coins, and coin tubes for bulk rolls.

1. Lkttle pieces of plastic made to have one coin fit in snuggly so as to not allow any air to get to the coin.
2. Flip is just a term used for either 2x2's, 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 inch sized ones, also the plastic fold over types of coin holders. I would think the term flip is due to the fact that you flip them over when after you put the coins in them.


Most people don't intentionally but you'ld be amazed at how a cough, throat clearing, sniffling, etc. emits moisture droplets that contain almost anything. The reason so many addvertisements warn against even hand shaking. People tend to use their hands to cover their mouths from all of these.
As I've mentioned many times that glue on the rear of the slots is normally way to dry to effect the coins. HOWEVER, moisture in the air, damp areas, your breath even can and many times does activate that glue to a small amount. That darkened streakyness you see on some coins are due to that glue being slightly reactivated.
Yes Folders are OK for many reasons and I think the worst part of them is the thumb or fingers used to push a coin into place.
And just can't beat the difference in price from a Folder to an Album, of any brand.

Never, ever be hesitent to ask, ask, ask. Although there is a Glossary, a Search tab at the top and even Google for many questions, still when you ask a question, you could get many replys. Some are even way off, some may well be more accurate than Google, many I've found I would never be able to find out how to even look it up.
Just one of the fantastic things about a forum like this is many times a member will post something that many would never even know existed. An example is the recent posts on the different locations of the S Mint Mark on Indian Head cents. That one never occured to me that there could be differences until that post was entered. And I've been collecting coins for well over 60 years.
So ask away.

I'm not advocating folders as any means of long-term storage. I've known that folders are bad for long term use. the question was, how long is too long. my folders are used in the interim while I build sets. the main questions I had were how long can folders be used before they have a negative effect on coins and what were some of the methods for storing sets (i.e. albums, 2x2 binders, etc). it should be also noted that not only are folders specifically bad, but any of the paper-based holders where you "pop" coins in or out. I bought a small set from a guy on craigslist a while back. he had coins in a frame that held a cardboard holder which was primarily a small type set. I believe it held about 40 coins, one each of the various cents to dollar coins. all the silver coins in there had varying degrees of the "black staining" that I'm sure most of us have encountered at one time or another. the coins were probably in this frame for 30 years. I handle my folders almost daily and routinely check to see if I notice any changes in the appearance of coins in them. even now, as I'm nearing the completion of a couple of the sets, I'm getting ready to move them to 2x2 binder pages.

If you ask any kid that collects coins and uses Folders they somehow know if a coin falls out, you just spit on the reverse and that activates the glue in the slot and the coin will not fall out again.