Toned SLQ Set - Dansco Or Whitman?

So here is my 2 CENTS. I use primarily Whitman Classic Albums. Yes all albums have both sides of the coins visible. In chossing there are seveal things to consider. For one thing Dansco is really popular in the West since they are made there. Whitman is still made in Wisconsin but is now owned by Harris and many think that is why the quality has slipped.
If your in the Midwest or East, you would find Whitman Albums AND folders much more available. Replacement or additional pages too are much more available with Whitman. And that is one of the things I do like about Whitman. Whitman makes most Album covers large enough to add many pages but Danscos are really cramped with little space for additional pages.
The one thing you hear about Dansco, and it is true, is their appearance. Looks like leather so has the appearance of a fine old book. However, you really shouldn't put those out on display or you may as well put a sign on your front door saying lots of coins in here. I know many love those brown colors but if no one sees them, so what. I really hate Dansco for Copper Coins since they just don't show up well. Again though so who puts them out on display anyway?
I really like the appearance of a Copper coin in a Whitman Album. True Silver looking coins do not stand out with that blue page though.
I like the ability to make my own types of Albums with Whitman with blank pages, press on letters/numbers. I can fit seveal sets in one Album such s 2 sets of Mercury dimes in one Album.
I presently have well over 100 Whitman Classic Albums, some of the older no page removable types too. I do have about 10 Dansco ones too.
Of course I do have one advantage here. Being in the Midwest and going to lots of coin shows, I get to know dealers. Many purchase entire Albums, put the coins in flips for sale at shows and either throw away the albums or give to beggars like me. So I do get many, many Albums free all the time. Not long ago I did get well over 40 Albums of all varieties free at one show.
So for me it's WHITMAN, WHITMAN, WHITMAN, ETC.

And here is one more thing to consider. Many of the Dansco Albums appear to have little tought in figuring out how many coins should be there. By that I mean I've got a few Dansco Albums where the last page has numerous blank slots due to not having enough of that coin to fill the Album. Whitman Albums seldom are like that. I mean they have spaced all slots to accomodate all the ocins for a series.
I've noticed my Dansco Lincoln Album has only 7 pages and then that is all it would hold which means can not go all the way to present. My Whitman ones have 9 pages so I can have all from 09 to present including all 20 of the 2009's.
If you want to really presearve Albums the Whitman ones fit perfectly in a one gallon sized Zip Lock Bag. Dansco's are a little bigger so some will not fit in the gallon sized ones.

And if all this is confusing, if you check around you would find there are many other organizations that make Albums.
Eagle, Littleton, Gardmaster, Cornerstone, Coin Edge, AirTight, etc.
It just appears that once a name gets started as a household name, many, many just buy that brand due to so much publicity. Kleenex is an example. No one says Tissue, they all say Kleenex and that company loves that.
However, I do admit that from all the Albums I've had in my hands, Dansco does appear to be the best constructed.

Well, I'll post the Album of my choice. Acid-Free, high quality materials. Albums for a plethora of coins. $15.00 at Hobby Lobby.
And I love the "The Official U.S. Mint" Kind of sounds Official.
This is made under license to H.E. Harris & Co.

On that Album look at the rear. Cleerly states Mad in China.
I'm reading that off the one on my desk now. Also, a product of the Harris company which now owns Whitman which makes me wonder where those are really made today. A product of does not mean where made.


Interesting. I'm looking at an Intercept Shield one now. One for Washington quarters. No where on the Album does it state where made. On their web site, which is listed on the back, https://www.interceptshield.com it does not state state where made.


I too have many of each. The Intercept shield one I have right here appears to be really well constructed and states Museum Quality. Slides are easily accesable. Pages are really strong. I do agree that dark Green really is a poor choice of colors for coin Albums. But just where is it noted they are made in China?

Hey, at least my coins aren't "made in China"! Until I find another that I like better, this is it. My opinion.

Score Update

Dansco 16

Whittman 2

Undecided 1

Intercept Shield 3

"The Official U.S. Mint" 1