OK, I have seen pictures of coin albums other collectors have created using three ring binders and some kind of plastic pages that coins were inserted (like in 2x2 flips or something). I would like to put something simular together but I have no idea what the best way to do it is because I don't want to damage the coins. Are there hard containers that you can get (or are 2x2 flips the way to go) and place the coin in that and then put it into a page-or how what? What I want to do is put together a custom type album but no commercial one has what I want in it. So, I thought I would make my own. I also want it to look nice and be able to lable the container the coin is in if possible. Basically, what is the best way to do something like this (or what options do I have)? Thanks!!!
Like This? 12 pocket 3-ring binder pages from any coin dealer,Whitman/Harris 2x2 U.S coin holders and a big thick zip-up binder from Staples...easy. Harris now has clear holders that were not available when I started putting these albums together and to be honest,if they had been,I would have used them instead of the multicolor ones in this photo.Here is the website.I use them for U.S,world and ancients. http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default.aspx?Page=80&SubCatOID=10 http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default.aspx?Page=80&SubCatOID=17
Thats perfect, I only have 2 questions: First, I noticed you labeled yours-did you buy holders with labels already on them or what method did you use to label (since they don't look handwritten)? Next, have you seen any of these plastic 2x2 holders that will fit coins sizes that are no longer produced. For example, half cents, 20 cents, or gold $1? I didn't see any on that site you sent me.
The labels are just done on Microsoft Word on the PC and cut and pasted on with good old Elmer's glue. For odd sized cons like the ones you mentioned,look up the size in the red book and buy those Airtight holders with the black (or white) foam rings in the correct size,stick the plastic pieces in a drawer You might need them later but not for this use.The foam insides come in tons of sizes but the outside of them are only in two sizes,Half dollar size and mostly,Sacagewea size.These slip right into the Harris Sac 2x2's.Here are some I did like this.
OK cool, that is perfect-just what I wanted to see. Thanks a lot!!! Also, one more question. How do the pages hold up to occassional rearrangement of the coins. Like I said, I want to do a type book so I might not be able to add a 20 cent piece for a while (for example)-so I would just not have one in there. Would the pages be able to handle moving the coins around so when I got one I could put it in between the 10 cent and 25 cent pieces or do the pages get stretched out pretty quick? (I hope that made sense). It also looks like this is pretty cost effective so if I did ruin a page by doing that it could just buy another. Also, it looks like you are using about a 2 or 3 inch binder there. Just for reference, about how many coins can you fit into one of those binders comfortably?
Since most of my collection consists of not especially valuable coins, I use ordinary 2x2s, inserted in the 20-section plastic notebook pages available from any coin store or supply dealer on the internet. I make my ID labels with my preferred word processing program - WordPerfect - on Avery gummed labels. The more valuable coins - gold, early genuine silver dragon sen/yen coins, etc. - are digitally photographed in color, and printed "life" size on high quality photo paper. The prints are then cut into 2x2 squares, and inserted at the appropriate place in the album. On backup sheets I put the details of each variety in a square behind a pocket that is left empty, and I put the year behind each other pocket, so that a completed page shows the coins already found, and the dates of the missing ones, along with the complete variety description. The page shown is one on which I am in the process of printing labels. I do just the opposite of Mikjo0 by using 1/2-inch binders that only hold 8-10 pages each. My Japanese type set takes up 2 books, the date set takes another 8, and the Puppet State collection is in the last 2 of a 12-volume set. The OFEC collection is set up with alternating description and coin windows in groups that allow expansion without having to redo the entire set when I add a new country.
At most of the coin shows I go to many dealers use those plastic sheets, already mentioned, with the 2x2's in them. Again, most use what I think is at least 4" size binders from may be a place like Office Max, Office Depot, etc. Lately I've noticed a large swing to the 1 1/2"x 1 1/2" size flips. I never use them so I can only guess much cheaper. For myself I just put anthing that isn't in an album into a 2x2 and then into those boxes made for them. The problem with those is naturally no idea of what is in them when once they accumulate to about 10 or more boxes.
I found a great way to store slabs....get a 3 ring binder and go to Walmart....look for the plastic sheets back in the paper area....look for the one for Base Ball Cards....PCGS/NGC/PCI/ICG slabs fits great....ANACS are lose so I put a piece of tape over the hole where the slab slides in and out. Speedy
I use either 3 or 4 inch Mead 5-star zippered binders which will comfortably hold 10-11 pages or about 120 coins and the 4" ones will hold 15-16 pages. You've answered your own question about how the pages hold up.I move the coins from pocket to pocket almost every time I buy a new coin and they hold up well but if they rip on the sides of the pockets, just replace them. There is another little trick that I've found useful.The holders tend to not want to sit all the way down into the pockets because of their thickness.Take the page and put in 12 holders,with or without coins in them.Take the page and use a hair dryer to heat up the front while holding just the very top between your fingers.Gravity will drop the holders to the bottom of the pockets when they're soft.I like to make a crease with my thumbs and fingers along the top of the holders to keep them in place even better.Then they will reharden and form a perfect fit. Roy..I really like your system!!
