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 Replies: 18 / Views: 3,446 |
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
Being an average collector with more than a few responsibilities I find it hard to keep track of what I have or need. Combined with the fact that I collect every set at once versus focusing on one set just compounds this confusion. I was wondering how you guys keep track of what you have, need, and want. I have tried several apps for iphone, but most are tedious to use and don't have accurate pricing data. I found this "Coin Collector's Assistant With Coin Values" while surfing Amazon and it shows promise, but comes with a 85 or so dollar price tag. There is always a spreadsheet, but it lacks eye appeal and would be easy to confuse one type of coin with another when all you have are dates and mint marks. So guys what do you do? G Currently working on Lincoln Cents, Barber halves, FEC, Buffalo nickelsFinished Jefferson, Roosevelt, Washington, Morgan, Kennedy, Franklin, Peace, IKE |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1053 Posts |
On a 3x5 card, I write down the dates and values of coins I still need for my sets. I check them off as I get them.
I do not have a large collection, so I have memorized exactly what coins I have
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1109 Posts |
As for the coins in my actual displayed collection, I created a spreadsheet and made a grid for mine. Each denomination gets its own document. I have my first sheet with "coins minted by year/mint" and my second page has "coins owned by year/mint". Anything with a yellow background is something I do not have. Anything I do have, I catalog it. When I add a coin, at the bottom of the chart I have a "total owned" and "total needed" box. As I get one, I add it to the owned and subtract it from the needed. Below these figures is a box that has the owned minus the needed to tell me how many total I still have left to collect. It may look complicated here but it's actually not hard to follow. I have one for Lincoln cents that I would be happy to send you to see what it looks like; if you want to see it, shoot me a message. For the coins I do not have in my collection, I don't catalog them, but I do have photographs of my collections, and I do document it there (for example, both of my 1931-S cents are photographed for documentation, but only one blank space filled is counted in my official collection spreadsheet).
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Pillar of the Community
872 Posts |
I do the spreadsheet, for my personal collection as well as for the business. I can quickly see what I have, and I can tailor it to about any way I wish it. I put in all the important information, including when I purchased it, and how much I bought it for and where I bought it. If I bought it off a reputable dealer of ebay I note their name. I think I have 30-40 fields I have available. I don't use all of them for every coin, but, I do use a lot of them. I do one type of coin per TAB within Excel. So Lincoln Wheat Backs, Lincoln Memorials, Morgans, Mercury dimes, barbers, etc all get their own sheet. You can also URL link within the spreadsheet so you can find something in a hurry should you spot a great deal. You can quickly check prices, or look over a website that shows markers for a particular coin, like at coppercoins.com You can highlight, color, copy and print the ones you want to look for on your next adventure. Its all about taking the time to set it up to your liking, then the appeal and ease of use is awesome. Save your hard earned dollars, There is a much easier and simpler way. PLUS you can reward yourself for creating your own method, and use some of the 85 buckaroos to fill your voids !~ = ) Edited by Collector-Corner
11/21/2013 02:29 am
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New Member
 United States
22 Posts |
That would be awesome I would love to check it out, but the system will not allow me to msg you since I do not have enough posts. BTW I noticed where you live and I live down the road in keller and was wondering if you know of any LCS around besides CR G Currently working on Lincoln Cents, Barber halves, FEC, Buffalo nickelsFinished Jefferson, Roosevelt, Washington, Morgan, Kennedy, Franklin, Peace, IKE |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1949 Posts |
I agree with the above, an Excel spreadsheet works the best for me, and if you have an iphone, just email yourself a copy of it each time you're done so you can just open it up and check it out whenever you need to
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3112 Posts |
for me I take my smartphone and go to my website. I have every coin I own on my website so I always know what I have and what I need. It's probably overkill for most but it's what works best for me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1109 Posts |
Quote:
BTW I noticed where you live and I live down the road in keller and was wondering if you know of any LCS around besides CR In the area, I do not. I mean, I know of a few people who deal in coins, but none of them have a store, so it would be like just knowing some guy who buys and sells coins in a house or something. I try to go to the Grapevine coin shows when I can, but I like CR so it's not a huge deal for me to go looking elsewhere. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1088 Posts |
I use excel spreadsheets and numista to keep track of my collection
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Moderator
 United States
187950 Posts |
Another vote for spreadsheet. They are easy to make and just as easy to modify down the road when you decide you want to add or remove different types of information.
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
Yet another vote for Excel. It may not have pretty graphics, but once you learn how to use it it can be extremely powerful and well organized.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts |
Since I'm usually in the hunt for coins, but not always buying right away I carry around a small flip cover note book. In that book, I keep all my "wants" by coin (e.g., Mercury dimes) on a page with any notes to remind me (e.g., 1934-S; want to upgrade from G4). I write in pencil, so I can erase stuff that I get. The spreadsheet is a good way to track your overall collection, but I've found it difficult to access it quickly when I'm in the buying mood... |
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Valued Member
United States
51 Posts |
I do it simple since I have several collections I carry my Red Book with me and it has every coin I have and the the grade I have it in highlited. With that I know exactly what I have and dont, also lets me know if there is more then 1 type of a particular coin in a series |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
837 Posts |
Another easy way of keeping track of coins you want is by signing up to Numista and then looking up the coins and adding them to your want list & you will have a nice nice list with pics as well ....you can do the same with coins you have too  Edited by DaytR
11/21/2013 3:46 pm
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Moderator
United States
187950 Posts |
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The spreadsheet is a good way to track your overall collection, but I've found it difficult to access it quickly when I'm in the buying mood... To that I will recommend Quickoffice. It works great for me. I do keep my want list in a separate spreadsheet file to make it easier to load and view. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1300 Posts |
I keep a book and note what I have and what the grade is or could be plus I write down all cert numbers for certi coins this has a double use keeps track of what I have and it keeps a record of them so in the event my house was broken into it works for insurance I back it further with pictures stored in the cloud or email them and keep it that way great record keeping is a must especially in the hobby
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Replies: 18 / Views: 3,446 |
Posted 11/21/2013 01:58 am
