Writing On 2x2's

However you like...

I do the date in the upper left, denomination on the upper right. And any notes or variety/error (for the few I have.. ex. " WAM" or "lamination") on the bottom right. And for my world coins I add the country on the bottom left.

Here's how I routinely do my 2x2 and flip-insert write-ups:

country (top left)
denomination (at left), date (at right)
mintmark (at right)
variety, if any (below the coin)
price paid code (at bottom right)

And then on the back:
Catalogue reference number (top left), Sap number (top right)
Acquisition date and initials of who I purchased it from (at bottom).

You will usually put the most important thing you wish to know at the top left, because that's where we Westerners have learned to instinctively begin reading things. Specialists in certain types will put the date there; more generalist collectors of American coins might put the denomination there. VAMmists might put the VAM number there. For me as a world coin collector, "Country" is the most important attribute of a coin, so I want to put that there. I find when I buy American coins from American dealers that I usually have to put them into a fresh 2x2 because the dealer didn't leave any room at the top of the 2x2 to write "United States" up there neatly.

Of course, world coin collectors in America buying Australian coins from Australian dealers no doubt have the exact same problem.

Of course there is no standard way. Go to any coin show and see how different dealers write the information differently. Often the buying price code is on the reverse.
Whatever method suits you is the correct one.
Welcome stispidey!

I store most of my 1932-1964 silver quarters and halves set in a box.
For those, I labeled them like this:
Top left: Date
Top center: Denom.
Top right: MM

Area from top left to bottom left to bottom left center is where I write optional notes like who I got it from, composition, etc.
Bottom left: grade

For my world coins and US favorites, I have those in a 2x2 sheets in a binder. For world coins, I pick my favorite side of the coin as the front. If the date or country is not obvious from the front, I write that info at top. The rest of the space is for notes, like above for my quarters and halves. Else, the flip is blank.

I also have a little neurosis, I guess, of using my blue Canada pen to make these notes. Canada pen was given to me by my Canadian extended family that has the Canadian flag and advertises a Calgary Vet clinic.

If they're re already in a flip, I leave them that way.

I use a Brother P-Touch to seal my 2X2 cardboard flips. I have the Date MM on the top left, Grade top right, I sell on ebay so I have the Item number on the bottom and I seal both sides with barcodes to help the buyer from trying to open the flip and then returning it to me.

It helps me keep track of what I paid for the coin and when I bought it in barcode, too.

I use 1" TZe yellow tape with black lettering for flips under half a dollar and 1/2" tape for halves and dollars.

I fold the tape over the edge on each edge so I can include my ebay user ID and list error or variety type and have different info on the obverse and reverse. This helps with my rule that if the original flip is opened, the raw coin cannot be returned.

Trying to remove the tape rips the top layer of paper off of the filp and the buyer would need to buy a P-Touch printer, yellow tape, read the barcodes and only then could they return the coin as it looked outside.

I also sign and leave a shorthand message inside the flip just to make sure that the buyer doesn't try to switch coins on me.

I've never had a coin returned, so I'm probably using too much insurance that they don't try to switch coins, or they don't want to go through all the trouble to reseal a new flip with all the stuff I use.

I leave the item number off of the coin until it sells.

The main reason I do this is I can't right that small and my penmanship is so bad I can't read what I write.

Ben

I would say stick with what works for you. My method is:
Upper left: Country
Upper Right: Date
Upper Right Under Date: Denomination
Lower Left: Grade
Lower Center: Price Code
Lower Right: Special Notes

I use 2x2 paper envelopes with cloth liners

For me, every situation is different, and in a constant state of evolution.
Mostly, I don't write on 2x2's. Or any of my other holders. It's a historical preseveration/chain of evidence thing.
I like labels. Avery is good. Available at chain stores or garage sales.
I have many collections, use many holders and organize them in different ways. Labels fit them all.




One early purchase got removed from a 2x2 and put into a Snap-tite. I put a label on the new holder, and rubber band the the old 2x2 to the snap-tite.




For one of my more refined collections, I have an actual system.




Top: Date and mint, TPG, Grade
Mid: VAM#, Interest and Rarity, SSDC score
Bot: Purchased from, date, Price.

If you just put a coin in a 2x2, you might want to put your info on a label. Especially if you might dispose of it later. You can peel off the label and have a pristine 2x2 to write on for ebay or the coin show.

It shouldn't be hard for others to show an improvement on my methods, but maybe this gives you a few ideas.