Need Some Tips On Which Coins Should Be Individually Stored.

G'day & welcome,
most of us have to face up to this question.
Storage is expensive, and adds bulk, which aggravates all the other issues.
In my view, I try to keep uncirculated coins that way. And my particularly valuable coins; or coins that make up sets that I may wish to display.
Coins taken from circulation ought to survive quite well in clean, dry storage with their kin.
I use plastic boxes with compartments, of a similar type to what you might put fishing tackle in.
Peter in Oz

DCV, Welcome to the forum!

I think that most of the circulated wheat and memorial cents can be safely kept in tubes. Make sure you transfer anything in paper over to plastic tubes. Individual coins are harder. Because most of my coins aren't particularly valuable, I use mylar 2X2s and place them in 3 ring binders. This is inexpensive and allows you to see the coins. Albums - most people would go with Dansco or Whitman - are another, slightly pricier option.

If you have any key dates or more valuable coins, airtites are the way to go. Unless you decide to send them out to be graded by a third party. They'll encase your coin in plastic to slow oxidation or other environmental degradation. Speaking of environment - try to keep your coins in a stable environment, without drastic shifts in temperature that might lead to condensation. If humidity is a problem where you live, use come sort of desiccant.

Good luck and enjoy your collection!
patrick

My question is: are they just going to be stored or do you have other plans for them. You did make a comment about putting them into 2x2 flaps so I am guessing that you want to display/look at a portion of the collection and just store the rest for safe keeping. Depending on what you want to do with them will help figure out how you want to store them.

If you are wanting to display some then look into the different types of folders that have been mentioned above. The advantage I have found with the different holders is this:

1. Dansco: It is not that big and bulky and displays your collection in a very nice and easy way. The advantages are that you have a book that will withstand most of the elements if you purchase the slipcover to go with it, the disadvantages are the price ($30-40 for both pieces) and once you have a coin in the holder you really do not want to be trading out coins as often or it slowly makes the holes bigger and can eventually ruin the page. Personally I only use this on higher grade sets and my type coins.

2. 2X2 holders: this is probably the most used way because it is cheap, easy to see the coin, you can write information the the holder and is easy to trade out coins when needed. With this you can display them in a 3-ring binder and store the rest in boxes that will help the coin from moving and not marking it up. The only disadvantages I have had with this system is that if I have not moved a coin out in a long time (years) then it may want to stick and not come out of the pages as easy as when it went in. I have not ruined any coins trying to get them out but have ruined the pages and needed to replace the entire one. Also, do not put too many coins into one folder, the weight will eventually ruin the rings and you could have a mess cleaning up coins that broke loose from the binder.

3. Whitman and Harris folders: these are great for starting up a collection of lower grade coins and the beginner. These are very compact in size, cheap ($1-3) and very self explanatory on the use. The only disadvantage here is that if you are putting in nicer coins, the environment and oils from your skin can easily make the coin change from a nice red to a brown. These sets I use for lower grade sets just for the the exact reason mentioned before, I have learned this by error. I had a few Whitman folders as a kid and had nicer coins in them, over the years I touched them or did not give much thought to them and now that I am collecting again I do not have the coins I originally did.

4. Tube rolls: personally I feel these are the best way to go when storing a large amount of coins. You can easily sort them out to years, decades or sets and they are easy to store. This method is nice because the tube keeps moisture out and the coins will not get all banged up (if you have full rolls). The disadvantages are that you may get a coin stuck in the bottom now and then because of the mold of the tube and/or the shape of the coin. You also need to make sure the tubes are not out in the sunlight because they are clear and the sunlight can eventually effect the coins. And finally, do NOT store them in a hot place or the tubes can warp or seal from the heat.

Before you figure out ow you want to store them you may want to look through your collection first and start separating them. Find your key, semi-key and error coins and see if you can make a set from the rest, if your mom is the original collector then hopefully she has some of these in there. When it comes down to it, you are the one that needs to decide what to do with them and that hopefully there is enough information here to get you started. You should be able to find all the information you need from this site, but you may also want to look at http://www.lincolncentresource.com/index.html for additional help.

anything in the teens put in a 2x2... other than that use your concocted formula up there :P Thats what I do.. :) but I dont have many wheaties... so a wheatie in the teens for me is a big deal!

Just wondering why so many people use 2x2 Mylar flaps for small coins? I use 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 flaps for small coins Dimes, Pennies, Nickles, & Quarters. The 2x2 sheets hold 20 coins, the 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 sheets hold 30. At a $1.00 a sheet why not go for more.

Seeking: Info

Rainman