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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,244 |
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New Member
United States
17 Posts |
Hello everyone! I have a new coin collection that I inherrited from my grandfather. Only problem is that none of it is orgnaized...it's all just in random boxes and bags. Anyway I am taking the task of organizing them all and was wondering how some of you guys did it. I am thinking about using excel to organize my collection. I just don't know what kind of information that I need to add to my database. If someone could kind of point me in the right direction I would be foever grateful...or a template excel worksheet would be even better :-D Thanks for you help!
Storm-
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Hi Storm Welcome to the forum !! Before going to far .. are you going to continue with your Grandfathers now your collection ? Go to the local book store and buy yourself a RedBook,, sort the coins according to the descriptions and pics in the RedBook,, looking for the key dates as you go for each coin series listed. for a good resource if you plan to keep the collection grades will be needed as well as reference to any Varieties which may be found. If the collection is large this is a good chunk of work to take on ,, but well worth the time spent . We love to help and there are many very knowledgeable folks here, so please ask any questions you may have, none are to small to be asked !! Rick Edited by Metalman
08/12/2006 10:39 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1454 Posts |
Welcome to the forum stormbind. Lucky guy you, to have a grandfather who was a collector. Mine only collected empty whiskey bottles. LOL. That's another story. Anyhoo, as Metalman said, the RedBook is an invaluable list of U.S. coinage. I don't have Excel but do have Word and sort everything out that way into types on different files. It is alot of work but it is all worth it in the end because in order to know what I got all I have to do is pull up those files. I don't have to go hunt down my albums and get them all out, etc., etc.Excel would be much better. I downloaded this thing called dbworx. It is ok as far as databases go but in order to get it's full potential you have to buy it. I only got the freeware version which is limited. It was also very confusing to learn and to try and apply coins to it seemed to be more work than it was worth. Good luck to you and if we can be of any help at all don't hesitate to ask. I am always here it seems.  Edited by Irishraider
08/13/2006 12:12 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2365 Posts |
Rick is right. This is a "chunk of work" and don't expect to get it done quickly. We'll all help ofcourse.
If this is a large collection you will most certainly have to find a good way that works for you to organize the coins. Country, denomination and so forth.
There are several threads with wonderful suggestions on organization that you should find very helpful.
You will need to find out what exactly you have before you even start putting them onto a spreadsheet or other format. Some probably start with the spreadsheet but, I prefer to organize the coins FIRST.
If you need help...just holler. Sorry that you've lost your Grandfather but, he has left you with a beautiful gift and legacy.
Welcome to the CCF!
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New Member
 United States
17 Posts |
Thanks for your replies. I was going to sort out some of the coins when I was at work today but was too busy. I did grab a bag of coins...and while trying to figure what was going on with this bag I discovered that all the coins are silver. I was really excited about that. I can remember as a kid I would go through my pocket change always trying to find a Mercury dime. Yes I do plan on continuing his collection...but the first step is figuring out what the collection consists of. I dont know how I should store them, the physical coins, or what I should look for when IDing the coins. I did go and get The Official American Numismati Association Grading Standards for United States coins 6th Edition. Since I don't plan on getting rid of any of the coins I am not really concerned about that value of them. I have tried dBworx and IMHO it's not suited to coins. I thought that I may program a web site in php for my collection. But for right now I think I am just going to go for an excel sheet just to get an idea of what I am looking at. storm- |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Hi Storm
Very cool that you will be keeping the collection !!
Once sorted By series, finding the Keys and varieties will be much easier,,
We are always here so dont hesitate to ask about the coins as you go through them !!
bags of silver is good !!!
Rick
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Moderator
 United States
23531 Posts |
Although I collect mostly Australian coins, I use the same spreadsheet for my American coins.
If you go to the links page at my web site. You will be able to download a spread sheet that may use. (top of the links page)
It is not locked so you can change any heading or description you wish.
rggoodie
aka Richard
"catch em doing something right"
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Pillar of the Community
United States
751 Posts |
Wanted to let you know about free web-based spreadsheet I just ran across today: quote:
Welcome to Google Spreadsheets
Create, store and share spreadsheets on the web.
Imagine a spreadsheet that's always current and that others can update from their own computers, even at the same time.
Get started quickly.
Import your existing spreadsheets or create new ones from scratch.
Edit your spreadsheets from anywhere.
All you need is a Web browser - your spreadsheets are stored securely online.
Share changes in real-time.
Invite people to your spreadsheets and make changes together, at the same time.
http://labs.google.com/It'd be kinda neet to maintain a CC spreadsheet template. Then Irish wouldn't have to buy Excel Edited by texasmick
08/14/2006 4:41 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
986 Posts |
Even though you're not too concerned about the value of your coins, I'd still suggest you go out and buy a RedBook. It's got some nice background history, and it'll help you ID you coins as well as help you see if you've inherited any key dates. |
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New Member
United States
17 Posts |
yes I do think that it's a good idea now to get a RedBook. I don't know how good the other book I have already purchased is so I am just going to go out and get a RedBook. Thanks for the help guys. One other question...what is a good thing to use to sort the coins. I was thinking of getting something like a fishing tackel box and useing that. Storm- |
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New Member
United States
17 Posts |
I have the next couple of days off and am going to devote a chunk of time to my coins....now that I finally have a dining table I have something to lay them out on. I'll keep you posted on what I find.
Storm-
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New Member
United States
17 Posts |
Sorry for 3 posts in a row...but I just wanted to let you all know that I finally decided on a way to store my collection information. I am going to write a web page in html I decided this mostly because I want to include pictures in my catalog and did not know how to do this in excel.
I'll keep you guys posted on what's going on :-D
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Hi storm
Funny you should mention fishing boxes for sorting,, I use the lure boxes made by shimano ,, the larger ones have 24 seperate compartemants and cost about 4 bucks each,, I have about a dozen of them I use for circulated coins ,,
Good luck on the web page !! cant wait to see it !
Rick
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Pillar of the Community
United States
756 Posts |
Awesome to gain the collection, sorry about your loss. I inherited my collection coming up on a year ago now. I first started out and hand wrote each coin on to a piece of paper, then as I found more, I just added to the list. Then I went out and bought binders for both the coins and paper currecny until I decide which need to be slabbed. I REALLY need to sit down and go through these again. Lord knows, it's a time consuming process. Best wishes and best of luck. |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,244 |
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Posted 08/12/2006 11:28 pm
