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What Tools Should I Get?

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New Member

United States
11 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2012  4:34 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add andreus7422 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
I was just wondering what tools I should get to examine coins and take care of them.
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John1's Avatar
United States
56855 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2012  4:39 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add John1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Start with the Red Book. Then get a 10x loupe unless you are looking for errors and varieties then get a 12x-14x. You should get some 2x2 cardboard staple type holders and a pair of pliers to squeeze the staples flat. Agood light is also required.
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CelticKnot's Avatar
United States
12819 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2012  5:28 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add CelticKnot to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply


might want to consider gloves as well. As you start to amass coins you'll want to develop a storage system and inventory system.

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turtleoverhead's Avatar
Australia
585 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2012  5:53 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add turtleoverhead to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Velvet coin inserts, 10x loupe and a lot of numismatics' literature.
I have no idea what is a Red Book and I didn't need one for last 59 years
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coincollect1's Avatar
Canada
1731 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2012  6:42 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add coincollect1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Im pretty sure the Red Book is the American version of varieties and prices?
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jprine's Avatar
United States
1599 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2012  8:24 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jprine to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
At some point you will want to have a scale to check the weight.
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DM1975's Avatar
United States
284 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2012  9:15 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add DM1975 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Books. The more you learn the better off you will be regardless of what you are collecting. Other than that I am still learning all of the tools needed. A magnifying glass has been a very good tool to have so far, plus some form of storage system. I encapsulate my coins in Kointain containers myself. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a soft tipped tweezer, but I store my coins a bit different than others too, and it would make it easier for me to pick them up.
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United States
20753 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2012  9:43 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add just carl to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
I have no idea what is a Red Book and I didn't need one for last 59 years

If you check out the Whitman web site you would see that they are a publishing company that produces a large variety of books on coins. One of the books on coins that they produce is called the Red Book. Actual title is The Official Red Book, A Guide Book of United States coins. Presently on the 65th Edition, was first started in 1946 with a 1947 date. It is possibly the most used coin book on USA coins in the World. There are virtually millions produced each year.
Whitman also issues Albums for coins under the names of Whitman, Harris and United States Mint.
Although you have never had one, nor used one, nor obviously never heard of that book, it still exists anyway.
And andreus7422 I almost forgot to say
As to what you need for coins, so far most already noted for a start. Then stick around here and you'll hear of thousands of other things you really, really need. Kidding of course. Maybe.
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War Nickel's Avatar
United States
172 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2012  9:55 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add War Nickel to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Standard Catalog of World Coins by Krause Publications...check it out of your local library first if it fits your needs...there are a LOT of affordable, interesting world coins out there!

Radio Shack (if you have them where you live) sells ok loupes for about $10-12 US, and they have 3 elements so you can switch from hi to low magnifaction...
If you want archival holders get the brittle non-pvc ones...they are called coin flips...they are ok, for me anyway.
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Peter THOMAS's Avatar
Australia
2830 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2012  11:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Peter THOMAS to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
quote: " 2x2 cardboard staple type holders and a pair of pliers to squeeze the staples flat"
- better still, get a flat-clinch stapler, so you don't put pliers anywhere near your coins

quote: "I have no idea what is a Red Book and I didn't need one for last 59 years"
- it's the Seppo equivalent of Renniks or Maccas.

but you'll need a catalogue that covers whatever area you choose to collect.

a magnet: helps with forgeries.

scales,
and caliper to measure diameter.
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turtleoverhead's Avatar
Australia
585 Posts
 Posted 02/26/2012  05:30 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add turtleoverhead to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:

Actual title is The Official Red Book, A Guide Book of United States coins. Presently on the 65th Edition, was first started in 1946 with a 1947 date. It is possibly the most used coin book on USA coins in the World.

I knew someone will jump on that it was my little revenge for you guys calling
non American coins "dark side"
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DM1975's Avatar
United States
284 Posts
 Posted 02/26/2012  09:28 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add DM1975 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
I knew someone will jump on that it was my little revenge for you guys calling non American coins "dark side"


Lol, my "dark side" collection is in the bottom shelf of my coin cabinet. It is the drawer I let my three year old daughter get into when she wants to help daddy look at coins. That way she doesn't hurt any "important" coins.
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts
 Posted 02/26/2012  4:41 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add just carl to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Not to change the subject but just out of curiosity, that place called Australia. Is that a suburb of Chicago? Couldn't find it on my maps. Do they have money like us there? Is it made of metal?
Edited by just carl
02/26/2012 4:42 pm
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turtleoverhead's Avatar
Australia
585 Posts
 Posted 02/27/2012  07:28 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add turtleoverhead to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
No, we don't have money, it's all just bartering system. Our currency are the tickets on Hollywood films.
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stud722's Avatar
United States
1088 Posts
 Posted 02/27/2012  10:35 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add stud722 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I would highly suggest on getting a flat clinch stapler. It makes it so you do not have to use needle nose pliers to straighten/flatten the staples. I found one on Amazon for around $15.00 for a max. I have also found that Coin World magazine is helpful on learning how to grade a coin. For loupes, if you do not mind waiting a week or two, you can get a really nice one off of ebay for a buck or two.
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ContraJame's Avatar
United States
292 Posts
 Posted 02/27/2012  11:10 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add ContraJame to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I'm closing in on two months of activity in this hobby (not counting childhood). Here's a list of what I couldn't live without to date. A lot if not all of it has been mentioned but I thought it'd be fun to document it all here anyway.

Loupe - magnification! I picked up a B&L Hastings Triplet 10X
Scale (similar to what you'd see students using in a chemistry class) - always check weight for authenticity.
Magnet (the smaller/stronger, the better) - always check metal composition for authenticity if weight fails.
2X2 Cardboard Flips - quick and simple storage for the common but prized coins.
Flat Clinch Stapler - it's much easier to store the 2X2's holding coins if the staples are flat.
100W Incandescent Bulb - this is what I use to look at coins at my desk. It works for me.
Books - Red Book, ANA Grading Standards, Photograde, and Making the Grade so far.
ANA Membership - it has many benefits including a large library of books to rent.
Camera - I picked up a Canon SX130IS. Money and time are your boundaries with this one.
Lighting for Photography - I have two Jansjo's on the way.

An afterthought...most tools are invented as a solution to a problem. If you're not having any problems you won't need the solution to said problems.
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