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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,635 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
Although I have used data for US coins, I wonder if collectors in other countries face the same problem. This is a pet peeve of mine. Ever since I joined the CCF, I have read many messages about albums and storage methods: Dansco vs. Whitman vs. Slabs vs. 2x2s vs. ... Well, the list goes on and on. And every time that I do I scratch my head and wonder: "Why do coin collectors blindly follow the dictates of what an album manufacturer dictates as being necessary for a complete collection?" An example: with the Whitman inclusion of a 1922 "plain" Lincoln, CLEARLY not an authorized issue, it established the "necessity" of its inclusion to make a LWC complete. It is a variety. It has caught the interest and imagination of collectors and now has become --- NECESSARY? I say no. Again I say, "NO!!!" I offer as my the first and only piece of evidence: the Grey Sheet. Their definitions of a complete set, listed as bid and ask prices: Flying Eagle and Indian cents - NO 1856, no 58 over 57, no 69 over 69. Lincoln Cents - NO 22-Plain, 44 D/S or 55/55 or 73/73. Mercury dimes - the 1942 over 1941 is excluded. The 1918 over 1917 is excluded from the Standing Liberty quarters. So too the over-struck mint marks of the Washington quarter of 1950. I have made my own decisions as to what I define as a complete set. Often the good members of the Family tell folks to "collect what you like." I would add, "Make your own definition of a complete set." AND GET TO WORK ON IT! Rant over. Edited by matthewvincent
08/12/2012 09:43 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
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"Why do coin collectors blindly follow the dictates of what an album manufacturer dictates as being necessary for a complete collection?" Your far, far from the first person that has made that complaint. There have been a few posts here about that lousy 1922 Plain being included in Albums. And true, many of the other coins you mentioned are or should not be part of a collection. However, none of any coin collectors complaints do any good. I USED to send letters to Whitman about many of the dumb things they put in their Albums and never even got a response. No most don't just blindly follow what they dictate as to what should be in our coeections. BUT, what if you use Albums made by a manufacturer, you end up with empty slots. So we end up putting blanks in those, nothing in those, bitting the bullet and buying those, etc. If you watch this forum you'll see some that just make their own Albums of those 20 slotted pages for 2x2's and a ringed binder. And here is one more thing to get irritated about. Look in the famous Red Book. Check any coin for example Lincoln Cents. WHY only show some of the Doubled Dies. Why not discuss all of them. Edited by just carl
08/12/2012 09:54 am
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
7096 Posts |
Quote:
I have made my own decisions as to what I define as a complete set.
Often the good members of the Family tell folks to "collect what you like."
I would add, "Make your own definition of a complete set."
AND GET TO WORK ON IT!
In my opinion my "sets" will never be complete, There is always a better or a different coin to add. If it was possible to complete a set it would be sooo boring and the challenge would be over  that is the pure beauty of this hobby, You can do it for decades and the thrill of the hunt is ALWAYS there. Coins and fishing, Amazing obsessions. I hope I never loose the need to pursue these 2 fantastic hobbies they are both a forever learning field and the rewards and experiances are priceless  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2077 Posts |
LOL- Just the other day I was thinking about starting a "BOYCOTT the 22 no D" thread.
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
But if they didn't include the more common oddities then everyone that owned one of them would complain they didn't have a slot. They can't won.
Personally I am a fan of binders and flips. Once I have a collection that is more complete I move it to its own binder and make it more presentable.
If your collection is very dynamic a regular album is just a pain in the neck.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
2x2s and binders allow you to make minor or major changes to the arrangement of your collection any time you want. Move the coin, and the information written on the 2x2 moves with it.
The information you may like to write on the 2x2 may be very different to the fixed information that may be provided on a fully printed up album.
How you arrange your collection depends on how collect the coins.
Horses for courses.
I am a rather perverse collector. Quite often, I will collect only the scarce dates for type, and ignore the common ones, and never have any interest in building a complete set. After all, it is usually only the scarcer ones that attract attention amongst fellow collectors.
One man's meat is another man's poisson.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36724 Posts |
Still hard to beat looking at a nice set in a quality album. Using 2x2's in pages just seemed like a hoard to me and not an organized collection. When I put my Lincoln set together for a 22 no D, I used a 1922-D broken D, for a 1955 double die, I used the 1955 "poor man's" double die with just the last 5 doubled. I don't believe either of those coins should be part of a set but the album makers felt it should be. I hate looking at empty holes so found an alternate to plug them with.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
808 Posts |
I have seen on another thread here somewhere about putting coins in 2X2 and getting the inserts for a 3 ring binder and the 2X2 holder sheets for a collection  to keep them from discoloring. I think that is a good Idea that way you can save what YOU want as a collection! Sounds inexpensive compared to buying Dansco folders. Just my opinion and my 2 cents.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
LOL- Just the other day I was thinking about starting a "BOYCOTT the 22 no D" thread. Not really a LOL. If you do start something like that, you would get lots of followers. One nice thing about Whitman. They make a large quantity of blank Album covers, Blank pages, press on letters/numbers to make your own Album. Of course much cheaper to use the 3 ringed binders that are available everywhere. |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Dont whitman albums have problems with the glue turning the rims colors or is that just a rumor I've herd
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
For the life of me I think that having just one kind of album is really boring. I have a few different kinds of albums manufactured by different makers. It all depends of how much money I have to spend when I'm looking for a new album for a project. Dansco, Harris, Intercept, Whitman etc.
Variety is nice, and besides there are times I just don't feel like reading the label on the album.
:-p
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
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Dont whitman albums have problems with the glue turning the rims colors or is that just a rumor I've herd I suspect your thinking about Folders. And yes, many people have had problems with any Folder doing that to their coins. Not true of any Albums that I know of. Quote:
But if they didn't include the more common oddities then everyone that owned one of them would complain they didn't have a slot. They can't won. I don't think that's true at all. Just who decides which is the more common oddities? Note that there are differences in those oddities in different manufactures now. If people want oddities, errors, etc., why not just put them in a 2x2 and store with other oddities. Quote:
For the life of me I think that having just one kind of album is really boring. I have a few different kinds of albums manufactured by different makers. It all depends of how much money I have to spend when I'm looking for a new album for a project. Dansco, Harris, Intercept, Whitman etc. I like that too. Of course I get all my Albums free so it really doesn't matter who makes them. And since most don't put them out on display, what difference does it make? |
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Moderator
 United States
188110 Posts |
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"Why do coin collectors blindly follow the dictates of what an album manufacturer dictates as being necessary for a complete collection?" Because they are what I used in my uneducated beginning and I feel compelled to finish them.  Of course, I have learned the lesson since then. For example, my Indian Head cents, Buffalo nickels, and Mercury dimes are kept in blank pages. No varieties (real or imagined) required to finish those sets! Now, if I could just remove that "1922-D Plain" mistake in my Dansco.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
I feel this way, too. There are pros and cons to the album approach, and I've said them before on this forum but you have to dig.
Pros: It allows for uniformity.
Cons: It restricts your freedom and creativity.
I am of the opinion that a "set" should all be in the same grade because I see it like a jeweled bracelet; imagine a bracelet with diamonds of differeing clarities, cuts, and colors. They are not uniform and they look bad as a set. Collect the set within your budget and it will look amazing and you won't even notice where the key date is.
So the album gives you a good guideline to follow, but it doesn't protect your coins the way 2x2s will. And as new varieties become known over time, an album will become obsolete.
Edited by Libertad
08/13/2012 9:00 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1723 Posts |
I agree with you guys regarding making your own definitions of the word complete. I'm the camadian dimes album they have the 1969 lg date... with like non in existance mintage...like really what was the F)&*$^g point of that? Or the penny albom having 4 for 1965.....who cares!?! I just want one to read the date for that year....it just sucks that they throw a slot in your album that just would never be filled. Just irritating!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
it just sucks that they throw a slot in your album that just would never be filled. Just irritating!
Exactly the way many feel about either Albums or Folders. I've got a Folder that has a slot for the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel. Not many in change and not many even at coin shows.  |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,635 |
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Posted 08/12/2012 09:56 am
