21
How Do I Determine The Value of My Collection?
www.2-clicks-coins.com
In the most obvious context, the ‘price’ of a particular coin is what an interested collector would pay for that coin when it is purchased, either from a dealer, another collector, or a family member or friend. Conversely, the ‘value’ of a coin is what a dealer would decide to pay to the person offering it up for sale. While coin collecting is certainly one of the most fascinating and rewarding of hobbies, the coin ‘market’ as a whole is an extremely complex and often a very competitive industry, and as such there are going to be numerous factors and market dynamics that have a significant influence on coin prices and their corresponding values. The following coin characteristics are the primary components that play a role in determining the value and price of a single coin, or an entire collection.
Value Factor #1 – The Coin’s Mintage
Undoubtedly, one of the foremost influences that determine either the value or price of a particular coin is the overall ‘supply’ of that coin in a specific grade that is currently available to the general public for purchase. This factor is impacted by the total possible quantity of coins made available to the coin market as determined by the initial mintage or production figures for that coin. In most countries of the world, once the yearly production cycle comes to an end, the coin literally ceases to exist with that year stamped on it, and are subsequently melted down or destroyed and are never used in circulation again. Therefore, the obtainable supply of that coin for that particular date is fixed or set at a given quantity, unless re-strikes are added to the total available inventory.
Value Factor #2 – The Coin’s Demand
Numerous market dynamics will influence the overall demand for a particular type or mintage date of any specific coin. Early in the 20th century, coin boards became very common, which had a significant impact on coin collecting as a popular and rapidly growing hobby in America. Furthermore, with the marketing campaigns and other promotions offered by coin dealers also greatly increased both the popular interest and the resulting demand for particular types of coins. As an early ‘marketing’ case in point, during the Depression in the 1930s, a coin dealer named B. Max Mehl announced across the country that he would pay $50 for any specimen of a 1913 Liberty Head Nickel. Consequently, many new hobbyists began collecting coins while they were hunting for this prized coin.
In a more recent coin campaign, the 50 State Quarters Series promoted by the United States Mint created an entirely new generation of avid coin collectors, of all ages. Likewise, in 2009, the re-designed Lincoln penny brought even more enthusiasts into coin collecting once again. As far as having a major influence on the coin market, each of these factors played a role in increasing the general demand for coins and collecting, and causing an increase in prices and values as a whole.
Value Factor #3 – The Coin’s Melt Value
Naturally, regardless of its mintage, when a coin is composed of a precious metal like gold or silver, the fundamental value of the metal within the coin is an important factor influencing its value and price. Back in 1965, the U.S. Mint started substituting the composition of the dime, nickel, and half dollar from 90% silver with a base metal that was an amalgam of both copper and nickel. Consequently, U.S. coins produced up to 1964 are valued more for their silver content than their intrinsic worth to a collector. As a result, as the price of gold and silver rises and falls on the precious metals market throughout the world, the prices and values of gold and silver coins will mirror those market fluctuations for the very same reason.
Value Factor #4 – The Coin’s Grade and Condition
Needless to say, no matter whether they are a novice or experienced numismatist, coin collectors of any stripe certainly prefer their coins to be of the finest condition possible, which means in the ‘uncirculated’ variety. Getting one’s hands on coins that as appear as though they just came from the mint, they had to have been taken out of circulation and safely stored since their production year. In the 19th century, collecting coins was a rare practice in the United States, which made any uncirculated specimens equally uncommon and very costly. On the other hand, during the 1930s and 1950s the growing enthusiasm with coin collecting across the country caused many new hobbyists to hang on to their mint-state coins.
As an illustration, the 1931-S Lincoln penny not only has a very low mintage, but an uncirculated specimen is not valued for too much more than a circulated coin. The reason is because many collectors during that period began hoarding uncirculated rolls of these coins due to the mintage being so low. Conversely, when there is a high quantity of circulated coins and very few uncirculated, the circulated specimens will be relatively cheap, and the uncirculated will be more valuable. This value or price characteristic is also referred to as grade or condition rarities.
Value Factor #5 – The Dealer’s Inventory
Last but certainly not least, the ‘market’ value and price of a coin can be affected by the amount of inventory an individual coin dealer happens to have available at the time of the offer. It illustrates the fundamental laws of supply and demand once again. If a certain dealer has an abundance of 1931-S uncirculated Lincoln pennies in his or her inventory, there is a good chance the price will be lowered in order to offer more of them to collectors at less cost to decrease the available inventory. Likewise, if anyone is offering to sell a 1931-S uncirculated Lincoln penny to the same dealer, the offered value will more than likely be lower than expected due to the high quantity of that particular coin in the inventory. In other words, the more coins in the inventory, the lower the value. Therefore, it is a very wise idea for a potential coin seller to get a few quotes from different coin dealers before the sale becomes final.
Whether it is a single coin, or an entire collection, in order to gain the most information regarding just how valuable the coin will be to the coin market in general, or to any other collector or dealer specifically, there are a few very important resources to investigate beforehand. One great resource is The Official Red Book, now in its 66th year, and is considered the premiere resource for U.S. coin collectors. This best-selling “one-volume library” helps any collector make smart buying and selling decisions. It contains full-color photographs, detailed technical data, and up-to-date mintage information and statistics.
Another must-have resource is The Official Whitman Blue Book, HandBook of United States Coins. This extremely valuable publication has been the standard wholesale price guide for coin collectors for over 50 years. Every edition contains vital information on grading and collecting guidelines, comprehensive mintage records, significant historical information, and the latest average dealer buying prices for all U. S. coins dating back from 1616 to the present. It is fully illustrated with real-size color pictures and is revised annually.
08
Types of Cardboard Holders Available
www.static.collectons.com
It is also just as important to remember that all coin holders are not created equal in terms of the specific materials used to manufacture them, or which coin denomination each holder is designed to fit securely, and for what length of time. It is also critical to ensure that any coin is perfectly sized to the specific type of holder it was designed to hold to inhibit any unnecessary movement or shifting, especially if those coin holders are subject to being handled or viewed frequently.
Choosing the right coin holder can be a rather simple and straightforward process as long as a few important points are kept in mind. If cost is not the primary concern, given that the value of the coins being stored are certainly worth a corresponding degree of protection, then the next move is to determine the type of coin holder that is most suitable for preservation purposes. The options would include those made from paper, cardboard, plastic, pocket-style or even the Air-tite ring or direct fit configuration, just to name a few. In addition, if a particular brand is both popular and is known to fit well, then it is a good idea to continue buying what works. If exactly what is needed has not yet been determined, then it makes perfect sense to try out a few samples of different coin holders to see what works best.
Foldable cardboard coin holders, commonly known as 2x2s, are a popular and preferred favorite among collectors, and the most widely used coin holders in the coin collecting supply industry. They are very affordable and certainly easy to use. While there are quite a few brands to choose from, each holder is typically manufactured with top quality materials and features a ‘scored’ cardboard design to permit a uniform folding process.
They also include Mylar windows for convenient inspection or viewing of both the obverse and reverse side of each coin. The Mylar windows are the most chemically stable lining on the market for coin storage. It does not tear or scratch, along with being the most moisture-resistant film out there, and has the lowest available porosity to safeguard against dust accumulation. These cardboard coin holders are perfectly suitable for long-term storage needs, are fabricated with archival-safe components, and are sized to fit conveniently inside the 9” red cardboard coin holder storage boxes as well, which are pre-labeled with the corresponding coin denomination.
The design and functionality are quite simple There is a 2”x 4” sheet of Mylar glued to the cardboard that has two identically-sized holes. The coin is simply placed on the Mylar, the holder is then ‘folded over’, and then stapled together. These are perfect for protecting any coin from damage caused by fingerprints and other environmental hazards. There are even cardboard 2x2s that are made with a layer of adhesive that seals the holder closed to eliminate the need for staples. They are typically sold in bundles of 100, or cases of 3000 (30 bundles) and are available in 1½”, 2″, and 2½” sizes.
There is a broad range of cardboard coin holders available for all standard United States coin denominations, which includes 1.5×1.5s for Cents and Dimes, Half Dollars, Nickels, Quarters, SBA/SAC/Presidential Dollars; 2x2s for Dimes, Half Dollars, Quarters, SBA/SAC/Presidential Dollars, and even with three holes for Cents and Dimes, and for Error Cents as well. There is also the 2.5×2.5 style cardboard coin holder with a 1.75″ window for larger coins.
Don’t forget that these great cardboard coin holders are designed to fit perfectly in 2×2 pages to conveniently store and view a coin collection in any three-ring binder. Make sure non-PVC-based pages and three-ring binders are utilized, or else the coins could be damaged because of the PVC leaching from the plastic into the environment surrounding each coin. The pages also come in 1.5” and 2.5” configurations. The cardboard coin holders, the 2×2 pages, and the three-ring binders combine to create an outstanding method to inexpensively store, organize, view, and protect the coins in any collection.
30
Everything You Need to Mail a Valuable Coin
www.ebay.com
If You Ship It, Track It
The first order of business is to always make use of the all-important tracking number. If a package is shipped, and is subsequently lost, the fault will obviously be somewhere down the line. Nonetheless, being in possession of the tracking number as the verifiable proof of the shipment assures that any follow-up procedures and claims can be initiated, and the transaction will not be a total loss. It is also very prudent to make certain that those who are to receive the merchandise are advised of not only the shipment’s status, but that the transaction’s conditions are based on it being undertaken at the recipient’s own risk, especially where compensation or payment is concerned. Once the package is on its way, there are obviously circumstances that are well beyond anyone’s control no matter what precautions are taken.
Needless to say, if the package is given over to a carrier without a tracking number, the entire process becomes a gamble, and any claims filed for any subsequent monetary loss, even if the buyer received the package, becomes subject to question. Without having the verifiable proof of the package being sent, tracked, and received, anyone can be taken advantage of not by only the delivery service, but also by any buyer on the other end who might turn out to be less-than-honest. If the U.S. Postal Service is the carrier of choice, the best method for any valuable shipment is to make use of the Registered Mail option, which requires the person receiving the shipment to sign off on the package being properly delivered and accepted. When it comes to shipping valuable coins, it is a wise policy that any merchandise over a specific dollar amount is sent via Registered mail, and most importantly, at the buyer’s expense. If a serious buyer is willing to pay a substantial sum of money for any valuable coins, paying an additional fee for Registered Mail to assure their coins arrive safely should not be an unreasonable request.
Good Packing Is The Best Insurance Policy
Packing any amount of coins in the safest and most secure manner is an absolute necessity. When it comes to shipping something as valuable as coins, no expense should be spared. This important precaution will significantly reduce or eliminate the chances of any damage should the package undergo any rough handling during the numerous transit points along the way to its destination. The idea is to prevent the package from opening and the coins coming loose or spilling free. In addition, it is also extremely important to ensure that the coins do not make any noise inside the package. If coin tubes are used, they need to be wrapped or enclosed with materials capable of deadening any sound produced to reveal the presence of ‘coins’. It is vital to remember that the sound of coins inside a package would surely generate a tempting idea to anyone who happens to hear it, and any dishonest person in proximity of the package may choose to make off with its contents. If padded mailers are used, another good idea is to double-package them with a good supply of strong packaging tape on the outside. The objective is to eliminate any possibility of damage to the package occurring during transit, which removes any liability due to the carelessness of the person shipping the coins, so make sure the coins are packed with the utmost attention to detail.
Every collector also knows that buying, selling and trading is one of the principal pleasures of coin collecting. While these transactions often involve some form of overland or overseas transport, the most important thing is to keep the coins safe and secure during shipment by using the right coin shipping supplies, such as coin envelopes and coin holders to keep coins in place during shipment to avoid unnecessary abrasion. From there, the envelopes or holders can be shipped with confidence by sliding them into bubble mailer envelopes to allow them to ‘float’ on a cushion of air until arrival at their destination. One of the most secure methods for coin shipments are either Safe-T mailers, the Air-Tite Sure-Safe Shipping Tubes, or the Kraft bubble mailers. After deciding on the method, finish off the package with a strong packaging tape that helps to create a water-resistant seal, while adding a final layer of security and protection between the coins and the hazards and rough handling during transport.
Hefty Express Air Self-Seal Kraft Bubble Mailers
The Hefty Express brand Air-Kraft Bubble Mailers are the made of the highest quality materials, while being the lowest weight available, which will cut down on the expense for shipping coins. They are made with a Self-Seal design, which means that no added tape is required, and are made with a seamless bottom enclosure for optimum strength with a 3/16″ bubble lining. These are available in four convenient sizes – 4″x8″, 6″x10″, 7″x12″, and 9″x14″.
Safe-T-Mailers are the perfect method for shipping coins or coin slabs, and have been used by thousands of collectors and dealers for more than 25 years. Because of their uniquely convenient design, packing coins for shipment is effortless, using the two corrugated flaps of the Safe-T-Mailer, combined with a special, self-adhering adhesive that allows them stick to each other, but not to the coins enclosed inside. There is no awkward taping, peeling or stapling. The secured coins can then be inserted into regular or business-sized envelopes or bubble mailers.
Air-Tite Sure-Safe Shipping Tube
The Air-Tite Sure-Safe shipping tube allows any collector to safely ship coins when buying, selling, or trading any part of their collection or inventory. Coins contained in the tube are kept apart by uniquely molded comb-type separators, and locks shut with the use of black plastic rings fastened over each end of the tube. These tubes hold up to 20 coins between 38mm and 40.6mm sizes, and are ideal for securely shipping Morgan, Peace and Eisenhower Dollars, 1 oz. Silver Rounds, Silver Eagles, or even 1 ounce silver bars.
This is by far the most convenient and easiest-to-use tape dispenser available on the market, and specifically designed to be used with 2” carton sealing tape. It is manufactured with high-impact plastic, along with a heat-treated steel blade. It is a great deal easier to use and far less expensive than the standard pistol-grip style tape dispensers.
19
Storage Options for Currency
www.shopnumismaster.com
From a cultural standpoint, collecting paper currency and banknotes from different countries allows anyone to travel all over the globe without having to leave the comforts of their home. Collecting paper currency, just like coins, allows anyone to explore the many different cultures, countries, and continents, along with becoming familiar with the people, nature, geography, and social influences that play a significant role in the various civilizations of our world. In addition, collecting paper currency teaches the collector about the arts, the history, the foreign languages, and even about the politics and government represented by each country’s particular currency. Once the paper currency or banknote collection begins to grow and diversify, each collector can begin to consider themselves an investor in the world’s marketplace, which in turn helps these economies and cultures to prosper.
Banknote and paper currency collecting is a truly exciting and educational hobby enjoyed by thousands of people all over the world, and as every collector knows, their collection requires not only having the very best methods to display or present it, but also ensuring that it is stored and preserved using the most stable and secure currency storage tools available on the market. There are numerous storage solutions available, from a wide variety of currency pages, pocket pages, acrylic currency holders, currency sleeves in archival safe polyester or crystal clear vinyl, currency boxes and currency cases, to currency albums and wallets from Dansco or Whitman.
Safgard Currency Sleeves are inert and archival-safe, and are perfectly suitable for long-term storage requirements for all bank notes and paper currency. They are manufactured by the industry leader in coin collecting storage supplies – the makers of KOINTAINS and SAFLIPS, and are used by some of the largest museums and paper currency dealers. Safgard Currency Sleeves are available in three sizes, Fractional 5 1/4″ x 3″, Modern 6 5/8″ x 3″, and Large 8″ x 3 1/2″.
Damage to any form of paper currency is all too easy through tearing, moisture, oils, acids and salts from skin contact, or even temperature extremes. Currency pages provide a good level of protection against many of these hazards. This is extremely important when friends or fellow collectors might like to enjoy viewing your currency collection without using their bare hands, while keeping them in a perfectly organized and protected currency binder. Currency pages are one of the best methods for storage and protection for paper currency, safeguarding against the effects of dirt, dust, and moisture. Currency pages are available in either vinyl or vinyl-free components, sized based on pockets per page, and can be utilized as strand-alone sheets or in sturdy 3-ring binders.
These durable, crystal-clear polished vinyl pages are designed with electronically sealed edges, which provide visibility on both sides for the best viewing. The 3 pockets per page for large currency, and the 4 pockets per page style is for modern or small currency. Both page styles fit standard 8 ½” x 11″ 3-Ring binder notebooks.
These SuperSafe pages are made from archival-safe, vinyl-free 100% Protar polyester material that provides an acid, oil and PVC-free storage environment for paper currency. For large currency notes, currency pages with fewer pockets per page are more suitable. SuperSafe also manufactures museum-grade currency sleeves made from 4 mil polyester, and are perfect for long-term storage needs. They have a fold-over design which leaves both ends open and allows for easier insertion of paper currency or banknotes. SuperSafe Pocket Pages fit 3-ring binders and are available in 1, 2, 3, or 4 pocket styles.
Collector Safe Currency Cases are a two piece acrylic, slab-style case designed to hold paper currency and banknotes, and features a snap-together design with crystal-clear views for both sides of the currency. Unlike pocket pages, a currency case prevents the banknote from bending or folding. These holders are archival quality, and are a superior choice for long-term currency or banknote storage, and are available for both modern and large currency.
Capital Plastics Currency Cases
Capital Plastics Currency Cases come in two sizes, Model CH2 is 7.5″ X 4.5″ for modern currency, and Model CH1 is 5″ X 9″ for large currency. Capital Plastics Currency Cases are crystal clear ‘screw-down’ style currency and banknote holders, providing perfect visibility for both-sides viewing and long-term storage protection capability.
Currency Storage Boxes are the perfect solution for storing currency sleeves. They are available for both modern size and large size sleeves. The modern currency box holds up to 125 modern currency sleeves and measures 7 3/8″ x 4 1/4″ x 3 1/4″. The large currency box holds up to 125 large currency sleeves and measures 8 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ x 3 3/4″. They are strong, sturdy, and stackable.
Currency Albums and Currency Wallets
Currency albums and wallets are a superb method for organizing any currency collection, while providing a convenient technique for presentations or display purposes. The albums or wallets open flat, and are available from leading manufacturers like Dansco, Whitman, and SuperSafe. Currency albums are perfect for storing a currency collection inside a safe or on a bookshelf, while the currency wallet allows for convenient portability for small quantities of paper currency.
The Dansco Currency Album comes with eight 3-pocket style pages for modern currency, and is presented in a rich, brown leatherette cover. Each currency sample displays and fits neatly into its own pocket, and reveals both the obverse and reverse sides through clear acetate pages. The album features distinctive gold-tone lettering, is fully expandable, and made from archival-safe materials.
SuperSafe Graded Currency Album
SuperSafe Graded Currency Albums are 3-ring, padded vinyl binders measuring 11 3/4″ x 12 1/4″ x 2 1/4″, and includes twenty 2-pocket style pages manufactured in archival-safe polyester and PVC-free materials. The pockets are sized to contain graded currency or banknotes from PCGS, PMG, and other grading services. The pocket dimensions are 9 1/2″ by 5 1/2″.
Whitman Currency Albums feature a black leatherette binding containing 12 pages, and will hold 36 modern or large-sized currencies. Its durable construction uses metal-reinforced corners and an attractive gold foil-stamped front cover. All currency contained inside will be visible from both sides when using individual currency sleeves. The album measures 10 7/8″ x 13″ x 1 3/4″.
Whitman Currency Wallet features clear, inert-plastic pages offering both-sides visibility with great protection for paper currency and banknotes in a conveniently portable size. It features a blue vinyl cover and back containing ten top-bound currency sleeves, and is available in both large currency and modern or small currency sizes.
07
Why Wear Finger Cots When Handling Coins?
www.providentmetals.com
The key preventive measure is to handle any coin only when it is absolutely necessary. It is critical to keep from touching the surface of any coin, no matter what its condition might be, to prevent the probability of causing any unnecessary wear, or transferring damaging substances that could produce spotting or discoloration to a coin’s surfaces. The best preventative safeguard would be to make sure your hands are carefully washed with hot water and anti-bacterial soap, and thoroughly dried before any contact with a coin takes place. By simple or inadvertent contact alone, fingerprints can decrease a coin’s grade, and therefore, its value as a collectible specimen. Human skin, and consequently, human fingertips, invariably contain oils of a highly acidic nature that can cause serious damage on the surfaces of a coin.
The presence of moisture, oils, salts, and various types of bacteria on human skin has the capacity to corrode the metal coins are made from. Fingerprints left behind on a coin may not reveal themselves on the coin’s surface immediately, but when they do eventually appear, the harm has already been done. The fingerprint will reveal itself much like an etching on the surface of the coin, and will undoubtedly need to be removed with a chemical solution or cleaning agent, if it is still possible to be removed at all.
By any measure, it is important to handle any coin or other numismatic collectible by its outside rim, or the ‘third’ side, between the thumb and forefinger. However, the most preferable method for handling any coin is either with light cotton, latex, or nitrile gloves, or with the much more versatile finger cots.
Finger Cots are ideal for handling any type of coin when a full glove is not necessary. There are a host of finger cots on the market, not only for coin collecting purposes, but for environments such as cleanroom, electronic, industrial and medical applications. Most types are both anti-static and powder-free, and are available in cotton, latex, and nitrile materials. They are the perfect answer for minimizing the corrosive effects of perspiration, body oils, salts, and even hand lotions on coin metals. They are also convenient when using any type of cleaning or preservation solutions on your coins, along with keeping those often caustic cleaning substances from getting on the skin. Using finger cots provides the all-important ‘feel’ when touching the coin, without the need for gloves, and wearing them is like wearing nothing at all.
The most popular type of finger cots are the disposable, 100% Natural Latex Finger Cots that allow you to handle your coin collection without the risk of ‘etching’ them with damaging fingerprints. They are very quick, easy and convenient to use by ‘rolling’ them out over your fingers. They generally come packaged in quantities of 50 individual finger cots, and in regular or large sizes.
When it comes to one of the most inexpensive coin-handling tools out there, nothing beats the finger cot for preventing the most damaging or destructive elements to anyone’s valuable coin collection – the human fingerprint.
23
Top 10 Must-Have Coin Tools
www.carroll.org
#1 The Digital Scale
A precision-crafted digital scale is an absolute necessity for anyone planning to move into the intermediate or advanced category of coin collecting. This type of scale is utilized to precisely verify or establish the exact weight of a coin. This factor, above all else, is a key element in determining if a specimen is the genuine article or a counterfeit. Also, a precision digital scale is also helpful in determining if the coin in question may be an error coin. As an example, you would therefore know if a more modern U.S. clad coin happened to have been minted using a silver blank, or it was struck on a planchet from a different coin denomination entirely. You would also want a digital scale that would permit you to select the unit of measure you desire, such as grams or ounces, in addition to having the sensitivity to measure in levels of accuracy to 0.01 grams. These types of precision scales can run anywhere from $30 to $150.
#2 The Digital Caliper
This great and indispensible tool is also referred to as a sizing gauge, and it is used to accurately measure the diameter of any coin in your collection. It works by placing the coin between the pair of jaws of the caliper, and then those jaws are slowly closed until contact is made on opposing sides of the coin. If a coin happened to have been minted from a collar, or is perhaps a broad type of strike or conceivably minted from an improper planchet, it will not calibrate to the ‘true’ diameter it is supposed to have. The very handy digital display allows you to select the unit of measurement in either inches or millimeters, and the caliper must have an accuracy reading at a minimum setting of 0.01 mm. These digital calipers can range from $7 to $60.
#3 The Stereo Zoom Microscope
This must-have coin tool permits any of the coins in your collection to be inspected at a much high level of magnification than the human eye. It is not only practical but very important that your microscope is equipped with dual eyepieces along with dual optics to reproduce the most precise and accurate view of the coin’s surface. For the best type of viewing experience, the microscope ought to also have alight source mounted inside the neck of the unit for correctly illuminating the coin. The microscope should also have a zoom range between 10X and 45X, which should allow the greatest field of view within those magnification ranges. The stereo zoom microscope is a great mechanism to critically authenticate the coins in your collection and also verify different die varieties. Usually the less expensive varieties of microscopes have optics of rather inferior quality, which offer the viewer a frequently blurred image at best, so it is a good idea to pay for as high a quality microscope as possible. Good quality stereo zoom microscopes can cost anywhere from $150 to $600.
#4 The High-Quality Digital Camera
For superior documentation purposes, nothing beats a high-quality digital camera for creating perfect images of every coin in your collection. This is also a critical, must-have tool, especially when it comes documenting your collection for insurance purposes. It is also important to purchase a model that is equipped with a macro setting on the mode selection dial on the camera. If you want very high quality pictures, then you may want to investigate the digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. One additional advantage of photographing your coin collection, especially with a top-quality camera, is the ability to share, view, or otherwise appreciate some of your more valuable coins without having to remove them from the your safe deposit box at the bank. These digital cameras can start as low as $200, but can easily run to as much as $1,600 or more.
#5 The Coin Lamp
Good lighting is an enormously important element in getting the proper color of the coins in your collection. For precise coin grading purposes, a natural daylight lamp that delivers the full spectrum of colors and natural white sun-like light is an absolute must. Most indoor lights generally have low-spectrum colors and will cause uncirculated copper coins to appear redder than they actually are. On the other hand, fluorescent lights will cause silver coins to appear brighter than normal. A good, natural light source is much better for determining if a coin is genuinely circulatedoruncirculated. The most common lights used by expert numismatists are the ‘Tensor Light’ and the ‘Ott Light’.
The Tensor brand light gives full-spectrum lighting that simulates natural daylight and true-to-life color representation. The 13-watt models have an adjustable shade that automatically turns off the light whenclosed and runs on 110 electrical power. The OTT brand light is known for being the very best for coin photography. It is height-adjustable with ahinged top from 11″ to 19″, and uses an energy-saving TrueColor fluorescent tube with up to 10,000 hours of run-time. It boasts very accurate color matching andsharp contour definition. These lamps run in the range of about $25 to $60.
Every coin collector, whether you are a novice or expert, knows just how difficult it is to keep track of a growing inventory of coins, especially if they start to outpace your ability to keep track of them. There is a perfect solution for this daunting dilemma, called the Coin Collector’s Assistant, a high-quality software package published by the renowned Carlisle Development Corporation. This dynamic and feature-packed coin software is designed to assist and support any coin collector to fully track, inventory, value, and grade the entire scale of their collection. Not only will this great tool easily track exactly which coins and paper currency a collector currently has in their collection, but it will also keep records of which coins are needed to be added, as well as extras and duplicate coins. All coin and currency records can be conveniently and efficiently entered, modified, removed, or viewed, and without any technical skills required to operate the program.
It can also manage all purchases, sales, and profits, while featuring the most current coinage and currency images, information, and market values. It covers a complete U. S. coin database with referencing by date and mint mark of all coins produced by the U.S. Mint, and all U.S. circulating coins, pre-1954 and modern commemoratives, bullion coins, and Hawaiian and Colonial coins as well, including current coin values provided by Coin World, the foremost authority in numismatics. The Grading Assistant component is the interactive edition of the Official A.N.A. Grading Guide, the premier choice for coin collectors everywhere. This program includes over 1,000 superior illustrations of all coin types produced by the U.S. Mint since 1793. This software package can be acquired for about $140.
For quick and convenient viewingof coin details that the naked eye cannot discern, coin magnifiers or coin loupes are must-have tools when evaluating the quality of your coins or determining specific varieties. For grading coins, a good coin magnifier will allow you to inspect the finer details along with any imperfections on the coin’s surface. For coin gradingobjectives, the American Numismatic Association recommends a magnification in the range of 5X and 10X. There are handheld coin magnifiers as well as binocular head-band style magnifiers that allow for hands-free examination of your collection. There are selections that include bar or page magnifiers, or magnifiers with extra-zoom insets, lighted magnifiers, and pocket magnifiers, or styles that can be mounted to your glasses like visors, or loupes that can be flipped up and down when needed. These coin magnifying tools can run from $15 to $60.
#8 Gloves And Finger Cots
Gloves are surely one of the most important, must-have tools in your coin collecting arsenal. As you know, the surface of your coins are exceptionally delicate, and the oils and acids from your hands can cause a significant amount of harm, and often irreparably so. This is even more critical when handling your uncirculated coins that must have perfect surfaces maintained. In order to keep contaminationfrom your coins, wearing gloves is absolutely essential for the maximum degree of coin protection. Gloves fabricated from a soft cotton material are best, and recommended by many expert numismatists and collectors. A good alternative to cotton gloves are the powder-free latex or nitrile gloves, along with finger cots, that can be found at any coin supply site. The gloves run around $2 a pair, and the latex finger cots are less than a penny apiece.
#9 Coin Tongs
Coin tongs are one of the best tools for handling coins around the rim, keeping hand contact away from the surfaces of your coins, especially for proof and mint set coins. Coin tongs are a smart choice for collectors when cleaning or dipping the coins into solvents or other liquids, and most are equipped with a plastic coating that protects the coin from damage while still gripping it securely. These can cost from $3 to $18.
Everyone knows just how frustrating the stapling process can be, especially when it comes to dealing with coin flips or cardboard 2x2s. If you want to eliminate this problem permanently, you need the fantastic Max brand Flat Clinch Staplers which leave the staples flat, and saves a good amount of space when storing your cardboard 2x2s and flips. There are no more bent or crushed staples with this great flat-clinch closing action design, along with reducing the risk of scratches on your coins, and the annoyance of having tore-clinch the staples with a pair of pliers. This handy must-have item goes for around $38.
16
How to Choose a Coin Folder?
Coin folders are certainly one of the most convenient and inexpensive methods around to store and present your coins, along with providing an impressive means to teach and even enlighten anyone you may like to share your coin collection with. Most coin collecting folders are designed in denomination-specific formats and come in eye-catching detail, offering an economical method to store, protect, and display your coinsets of lesser value. Most types and brands of coin folders include the historical information of the coin series, as well as important mintage statistics. No matter which brand you choose, coin folders are an excellent storage device to assist any novice collector, or even anyone who might be unfamiliar with the numismatic hobby, to get a really good start in this fascinating field. For anyone thinking about introducing coin collecting into the home, coin folders are also a great way to introduce youngsters to coin collecting, which will surely become a hobby that will bring them a lifetime of pleasure and satisfaction. Coin folders are designed with individual slots for each coin in a particular series, making it very easy to review which coins are already in the collection, and which ones are still needed to be found to make the set complete.
Coin folders are beautifully designed and great to just have nearby to look through, and are also a very inexpensive method to show off your coin collection as it continues to grow. They are ideal not only for your own collection or to give to friends and family members, but as gifts or just for special occasions. Coin folders are handy because they are constructed to open and lay flat to allow an easy view of your entire collection. Each brand or type of coin folder contains a listing of key information to help anyone to learn more about each type of coin the folder contains. Most coin folders have very distinctive, high-quality artwork on their covers, along with actual photos of the coins for each coin series.
Whitman Coin Folders are perfect for every coin collector, from beginner on up to the serious numismatist. They have been a brand of choice in coin collecting since the 1930s, and have a great reputation for attention to detail and quality manufacturing since they began in the coin collecting supply industry. The Whitman coin folders open flat for that special all-at-a-glance viewing, yet when closed they reduce to the size of a book for easy and convenient storage. They are available in the most popular coin collection denominations, and come with mintage statistics and many other informative details about the coins they contain and feature stunningly designed outer covers.
Whitman also has commemorative coin-boards, like the ones that first brought the hobby of coin collecting into American homes. Whether you would like to start collecting Mercury or Roosevelt Dimes, Indian or Lincoln Cents, Jefferson or BuffaloNickels, Standing Libertyor WashingtonQuarters, State or National Park Quarters, Kennedy or Walking LibertyHalf Dollars, Eisenhower-Anthony, Sacagawea,or Presidential Dollars, Whitman has the coin folder to encompass any coin collecting series.Every Whitman coin folder is manufactured from the safest archival materials on the market.
H. E. Harris coin folders make it effortless to study about and absorb the great history of this interesting and worthwhile hobby, while collecting the rich variety of coins that make up the foundation of any serious collection. Each folder comes with priceless historical and educational statistics about the coin’s denomination and mintage statistics, and presents vibrant, full-color photographs of the most classic specimens. Every H. E. Harris coin folder is designed to open flat to effectively illustrate an entire collection at a glance, and re-close to book size for convenient storage and coin protection.
These top-quality folders have professionally crafted covers that are made of acid-free materials for the ultimate in safety and long-term protection. The H.E. Harris Company is a trustworthy name in the coin supply business, serving the needs of serious coin collectors with distinction since 1916. The H. E. Harris coin folders can cleverly and artfully display Indian and Lincoln Cents, Liberty Head, Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels, Mercury and Roosevelt Dimes, Standing Liberty, Washington and 50 States Quarters, Walking Liberty, Franklin and Kennedy Half-Dollars, Eisenhower, Anthony, Sacagawea and Presidential Dollars, and countless others. They are the top-of-the-line component for managing any coin collection.
Just like the other top-quality coin folder brands, Littleton coin folders open flat for that all-important at-a-glance viewing of your coin series. Each folder includes all the denomination and mintage data pertaining to each of the coins it holds. They are extremely practical and very durable folders and will perfectly illustrate and preserve an entire collection while opened, yet close to the size of a book to store with ease and convenience. Littleton coin folders are crafted to be not only very attractive, but tough enough for long-term use. They feature that highly recognizable ‘Littleton-look’ with simulated green leather and gold-embossed lettering on the exterior cover.
Littleton has one of the nation’s largest coin and currency inventories, consisting of more than 33,000 items, which includes coins from the U.S. and around the world, and everything else you might need for your collection, from supplies to collector guides. Littleton was founded in 1945, and has made collecting fun and easy for thousands of collectors across the globe. Their coin folder selection is outstanding, from Cent, Nickel, Dime, and Quarter Folders, to Statehood and Territories Quarters, Half Dollar, Dollar, 20th Century and National Park Deluxe Folders.
Edelman coin folders certainly have one of the most distinctive of all coin folder covers. The high-quality craftsmanship and artwork on every Edelman coin folder makes a very attractive and engaging coin collection display. The Edelman State Quarter and Territories folder cover features an American bald eagle and the Statue of Liberty. The folders provide an abundance of exceptional highlights every coin collector willvalue, including an extensive array of background information pertaining to the coin series, and a creatively designed back flap that offers superior coin protection. Edelman coin folders are truly a work of art and an outstanding addition for any beginner’s collecting requirements, or an extremely attractive showcase for an experienced collector’s prized specimens.
Edelman’s Presidential Dollar P & D folder is available in two volumes. Volume I presents the years 2007 through 2011, and Volume II continues the series with the years 2011 through 2015. Each tri-panel Presidential folder will hold 36 coins, with slots for both Philadelphia and Denver mints, and includes referencing flaps that fit between each panel for added coin protection, along with interesting facts about each President. Edelman also has a stunning Presidential Date Set Dollar folder, as well as a United States Lincoln Cents 1909-2009 date set coin folder that will hold one penny for each year from 1909 – 2009, with four slots for 2009.
Whatever your coin storage needs, these coin folders can be an integral part of your coin collection strategy. They are great to look at, are both durable and affordable, make perfect presentation or showcase possibilities, and are produced by solid and respectable names in the coin collecting industry. They offer a well-crafted, attractive, and secure storage method for anyone’s coin collection, and will provide many years of efficient, educational, and organized coin collecting enjoyment.
14
Coin Supplies for International Coins
www.leuchtturm.com
LIGHTHOUSEEuro Collection Coin Folder is a two-page 8.5” x 11” folder that opens to 17” x 11”, and allows you to collect and store Euro denomination coins from all twelve countries of the European Community. This folder will hold coins from Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, and will allow a presentation of 2 Euro, 1 Euro, 50 Cent, 20 Cent, 10 Cent, 5 Cent, 2 Cent and 1 Cent from each country.
LITTLETON has also created a Euro Type Coin Album to creatively display and organize your international coin collection. Each album is designed with labeled spaces to hold the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 Euro Cents, plus 1 and 2 Euros for each of the original participating nations in the European Community. It is a very handsome album in an attractive deep green with gold-embossed lettering in a durable 3-ring binder. It is produced with archival-safe materials and features clear protective slides that provide an easy and convenient view of each side of your coin. Some of the album selections are the 1990-Date Australian Silver Kookaburra Album, a World Currency Album, the 1988-Date Canadian Maple Leaf Album, as well as a World Gold Coin Presentation Case.
LIGHTHOUSECoin Capsules are made from extra durable, scratch-resistant acrylic which offers a crystal clear view of each coin in your collection, while providing the maximum amount of long-term protection. They are made to fit a wide range of most of the common U.S. and International coins. They are very easy and convenient to open while offering a secure and ‘locked’ storage compartment for your coin. These great coin capsules can be stored in Lighthouse coin boxes for an elegant and sophisticated display of your collection. The boxes are designed to stack as a unit or store in lockable coin box cases. They come with smoke-colored trays with dark red inserts that create an impressive appearance for your collection, while being completely interchangeable, expandable, and stackable. They are created with an interlocking design that allows the boxes to be stacked securely, or stored in any Lighthouse aluminum carrying case.
Air-Tite Coin Holders come intwo types or styles for your international coins, Air-Tite Holders with Rings or the Air-Tite Direct Fit capsule. The Air-Tite coin holder is a two-piece snap- together acrylic case comprised of a cover and a base to fully encase a single coin. Air-Tite Holders with Rings are capsules that include a soft die-cut polyethylene ring to fit around the coin. The ring serves to secure the coin in place, creating a perfect barrier against all types of environmental contamination. The rings can be purchased as part of a capsule set in either black or white, and are available in sizes ranging from 10mm to 50.8mm.Air-Tite Direct Fit capsules are formed to contain a specific mint condition coin. The coin will fit tightly into the holder without requiring a supplemental sizing ring. Direct Fit capsules are manufactured exclusively for the most popular coins.
The following international coin-sizing chart will provide a quick reference to locate some of the various coin sizes and coin denominations for coins from all over the world, along with both the Air-Tite and Lighthouse coin capsules’ corresponding model numbers.
| Australian Coins |
Air-Tite |
Lighthouse |
|||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| 1/20 oz. Lunar Gold Series 1, 1/20 oz. Gold Nugget |
14.1mm |
14mm |
n/a |
CAPS 14 |
|
| Three Pence, 1/10 oz. Koala, 1/10 oz. Gold Nugget |
16mm |
16mm |
A16.5 |
CAPS 16 |
|
| 1/10 oz. Lunar Gold Series 1 |
16.1mm |
16mm |
n/a |
CAPS 16.5 |
|
| Six Pence |
19mm |
19mm |
A19 |
CAPS 19 |
|
| 1/4 oz Gold Nugget, $2.00 Australian, 1/4 oz. Koala |
20mm |
20mm |
n/a |
CAPS 20 |
|
| 1/4 oz. Lunar Gold Series 1, 1/4 oz. Gold Nugget |
20.1mm |
20mm |
n/a |
CAPS 21.5 |
|
| 1/10 oz. Silver Koala |
20.6mm |
20mm |
n/a |
CAPS 22 |
|
| Schilling |
24mm |
24mm |
A24 |
CAPS 24 |
|
| 1/2 oz. Koala, 1/2 oz. Nugget, $1.00 Australian, 1/2 oz. Lunar Gold |
25mm |
25mm |
n/a |
CAPS 25 |
|
| Penny |
31mm |
31mm |
n/a |
CAPS 32 |
|
| 1/2 oz. Lunar Silver, 1oz. Silver Koala, 1oz. Lunar Gold, 1oz. Gold Nugget |
32mm |
32mm |
H32 |
CAPS 32 |
|
| Lunar Silver Series II High Relief Coin |
32.6mm |
No Holder Available |
CAPS 33 |
||
| 1/2 oz. Silver Koala, 1/2 oz. Silver Lunar (Series I) |
36.6mm |
36mm |
n/a |
CAPS 37 |
|
| 2 oz. Kangaroo Gold, 2 oz. Gold Nugget |
40.4mm |
X40mm |
n/a |
||
| 1 oz. Silver Lunar (Series 1) |
40.6mm |
X40mm |
n/a |
||
| 1 oz. Silver Kookaburra, 1 oz. Silver Koala |
40.6mm |
X40mm |
n/a |
||
| 1 oz. Silver Lunar (Series 2) |
45mm |
X44mm |
n/a |
||
| 2 oz. Silver Lunar (Series 1) |
50.3mm |
Y50mm |
n/a |
||
| 2 oz. Silver Lunar (Series 2) |
55.6mm |
No Holder Available |
|||
| 2 oz. Silver Kookaburra |
53.3mm |
No Holder Available |
|||
| 10 oz. Gold Nugget |
59.7mm |
No Holder Available |
|||
| 5 oz. Silver Lunar (Series 1) |
60.3mm |
No Holder Available |
|||
| 5 oz. Silver Lunar (Series 2) |
65.6mm |
No Holder Available |
|||
| 1 Kilo Silver Lunar, 1 Kilo Gold Nugget |
74.5mm |
No Holder Available |
|||
| 10 oz. Silver Lunar (Series 1) |
76mm |
n/a |
Z10 |
||
| 10 oz. Silver Lunar (Series 2) |
85.6mm |
No Holder Available |
|||
| 10 oz. Silver Kookaburra, 10 oz. Silver Koala |
75.6mm |
No Holder Available |
|||
| 1 Kilo Silver Kookaburra, 1 Kilo Silver Koala, 1 Kilo Gold Lunar |
100.6mm |
No Holder Available |
|||
| 1 Tonne Gold Nugget |
800mm |
No Holder Available |
|||
| Austrian Coins | |||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| 1/10 oz. Philharmonic Gold |
16mm |
16mm |
A16.5 |
CAPS 16 |
|
| 1/4 oz. Philharmonic Gold |
22mm |
22mm |
A22 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| 1/2 oz. Philharmonic Gold |
28mm |
28mm |
n/a |
CAPS 28 |
|
| 1 oz. Philharmonic Gold, 1 oz. Philharmonic Silver |
37mm |
37mm |
n/a |
CAPS 37 |
|
| Bahamas Coins | |||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| 1 Cent |
17mm |
17mm |
n/a |
CAPS 17 |
|
| 5 Cents |
21mm |
21mm |
A21 |
CAPS 21.5 |
|
| 15 Cents |
21.5mm |
21mm |
n/a |
CAPS 21.5 |
|
| 10 Cents |
23.5mm |
23mm |
n/a |
CAPS 24 |
|
| 25 Cents |
24.26mm |
24mm |
A24 |
CAPS 24.5 |
|
| Barbados Coins | |||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| 1 Cent |
19mm |
19mm |
A19 |
CAPS 19 |
|
| 10 Cents |
17.7mm |
18mm |
A18 |
CAPS 18 |
|
| 5 Cents |
20.98mm |
21mm |
A21 |
CAPS 21.5 |
|
| 25 Cents (1973 – 2007) |
23mm |
23mm |
n/a |
CAPS 23 |
|
| 25 Cents (2008 – 2012) |
25.6mm |
26mm |
n/a |
CAPS 26 |
|
| 1 Dollar (1973 – 1986) |
27.8mm |
28mm |
n/a |
CAPS 28 |
|
| 1 Dollar (1988 – 2008) |
25.85mm |
26mm |
n/a |
CAPS 26 |
|
| 2 Dollar (1973 – 1984) |
37mm |
37mm |
n/a |
CAPS 38 |
|
| 4 Dollar (1970) |
38.5mm |
39mm |
H39 |
CAPS 39 |
|
| 5 Dollar (1973 – 1984) |
40mm |
40mm |
H40.6 |
CAPS 40 |
|
| 25 Dollar (1973 – 1983) |
39mm |
39mm |
H39 |
CAPS 39 |
|
| Canadian Coins | |||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin |
|
| Circulating Coins | |||||
| One Cent (1908 ~ 1920) |
25.4mm |
25mm |
n/a |
CAPS 26 |
|
| One Cent (1920 ~ present) |
19mm |
19mm |
n/a |
CAPS 19 |
|
| Five Cent (1908 ~ 1921) |
14.49mm |
14mm |
n/a |
||
| Five Cent (1922 ~ present) |
21mm |
21mm |
A21 |
CAPS 21.5 |
|
| Ten Cent (1908 ~ present) |
18.03mm |
18mm |
n/a |
CAPS 18 |
|
| Twenty-Five Cent (1908 ~ 1952) |
23.62mm |
24mm |
n/a |
CAPS 24 |
|
| Twenty-Five Cent (1953 ~ present) |
23.88mm |
24mm |
n/a |
CAPS 24 |
|
| Fifty Cent (1908 ~ 1967) |
29.72mm |
30mm |
n/a |
CAPS 30 |
|
| Fifty Cent (1968 ~ present) |
27.13mm |
27mm |
n/a |
CAPS 28 |
|
| One Dollar (1935 ~ 1967) |
36.06mm |
36mm |
n/a |
CAPS 36 |
|
| One Dollar (1968 ~ 1986) |
32.13mm |
32mm |
H32 |
CAPS 32.5 |
|
| One Dollar (1987) |
26.72mm |
26mm |
n/a |
CAPS 27 |
|
| One Dollar (1988 ~ Present) |
26.5mm |
26mm |
A26 |
CAPS 27 |
|
| Two Dollar (1996 ~ Present) |
28mm |
28mm |
n/a |
CAPS 28 |
|
| Gold & Silver Coins | |||||
| 1/20 oz. Gold Maple Leaf |
14.1mm |
14mm |
n/a |
CAPS 14 |
|
| 1/10 oz. Gold Maple Leaf |
16mm |
15mm |
n/a |
CAPS 16 |
|
| 1/4 oz. Gold Maple Leaf |
20mm |
20mm |
n/a |
CAPS 20 |
|
| 1/2 oz. Gold Maple Leaf |
25mm |
25mm |
n/a |
CAPS 25 |
|
| $2.00 Canadian |
28mm |
28mm |
n/a |
CAPS 28 |
|
| 1 oz. Gold Maple Leaf |
30mm |
30mm |
T30.6 |
CAPS 30 |
|
| 1 oz. Platinum Maple Leaf |
30mm |
30mm |
T30.6 |
CAPS 30 |
|
| 1/20 oz. Silver Maple Leaf |
16mm |
16mm |
A16.5 |
CAPS 16 |
|
| 1/10 oz. Silver Maple Leaf |
20mm |
20mm |
n/a |
CAPS 20 |
|
| 1/4 oz. Silver Maple Leaf |
27mm |
27mm |
H27 |
CAPS 27 |
|
| 1 oz. Palladium Maple Leaf |
33mm |
33mm |
n/a |
CAPS 33 |
|
| 1/2 oz. Silver Maple Leaf, 1/2 oz. $1 Silver Wolf |
34mm |
34mm |
n/a |
CAPS 34 |
|
| 1 oz. Silver Maple Leaf |
38mm |
X38mm |
H38 |
CAPS 38 |
|
| 1 oz. Sterling Silver Maple Leaf |
38mm |
X38mm |
H38 |
CAPS 38 |
|
| $5 Canadian Wildlife Series Silver |
38mm |
X38mm |
H38 |
CAPS 38 |
|
| $1.00 Loon |
26mm |
26mm |
A26 |
CAPS 26 |
|
| Chinese Coins | |||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| 1/20 oz. Gold Panda |
13.9mm |
14mm |
n/a |
CAPS 14 |
|
| 1/10 oz. Gold Panda |
17.9mm |
18mm |
A18 |
CAPS 18 |
|
| 1/10 oz. Panda-Sterling |
19mm |
19mm |
A19 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| 1/4 oz. Gold Panda |
21.9mm |
22mm |
A22 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| 1/4 oz. Panda-Sterling |
26mm |
16mm |
A16.5 |
CAPS 26 |
|
| 1/2 oz. Gold Panda |
27mm |
27mm |
H27 |
CAPS 27 |
|
| 1/2 oz. Panda-Sterling |
31mm |
31mm |
n/a |
CAPS 32 |
|
| 1 oz. Gold Panda |
32.05mm |
32mm |
H32 |
CAPS 33 |
|
| 1 oz. Panda-Sterling |
40mm |
40mm |
H40.6 |
CAPS 40 |
|
| British Coins | |||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| 1/10 Gold Britannia |
16.5mm |
16mm |
A16.5 |
CAPS 16.5 |
|
| 1/10 Silver Britannia |
16.5mm |
16mm |
A16.5 |
CAPS 16.5 |
|
| 1/2 Gold Sovereign |
19.2mm |
19mm |
n/a |
CAPS 19.5 |
|
| Farthing |
20mm |
20mm |
n/a |
CAPS 20 |
|
| 1/4 Gold Britannia |
22mm |
22mm |
A22 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| 1/4 Silver Britannia |
22mm |
22mm |
A22 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| 1 Gold Sovereign |
22mm |
22mm |
A22 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| 1£ |
22mm |
22mm |
A22 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| 1 Shilling |
24mm |
24mm |
A24.3 |
CAPS 24 |
|
| 1/2 Penny |
25mm |
25mm |
n/a |
CAPS 25 |
|
| 1/2 Gold Britannia |
27mm |
27mm |
H27 |
CAPS 27 |
|
| 1/2 Silver Britannia |
27mm |
27mm |
H27 |
CAPS 27 |
|
| 2£, 2 Shilling |
28mm |
28mm |
n/a |
CAPS 28 |
|
| Penny |
31mm |
31mm |
n/a |
CAPS 31 |
|
| 1 oz. Gold Britannia |
32.6mm |
32mm |
H32 |
CAPS 33 |
|
| Churchill Dollar |
38mm |
38mm |
H38 |
CAPS 38 |
|
| 1 oz. Silver Britannias (includes 2012 £2 coin) |
40mm |
40mm |
H40.6 |
CAPS 40 |
|
| Euro Coins (Euro coins are thicker than US coins. Capsules may not close completely when used with these coins.) |
|||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| Cent |
16.25mm |
16mm |
A16.5 |
CAPS 16.5 |
|
| Two Cent |
18.75mm |
19mm |
A19 |
CAPS 19 |
|
| Five Cent |
21.25mm |
21mm |
A21.2 |
CAPS 21.5 |
|
| Ten Cent |
19.75mm |
20mm |
n/a |
CAPS 20 |
|
| Twenty Cent |
22.25mm |
22mm |
n/a |
CAPS 22.5 |
|
| Fifty Cent |
24.25mm |
24mm |
n/a* |
CAPS 24.5 |
|
| One Euro |
23.25mm |
23mm |
n/a |
CAPS 23 |
|
| Two Euro |
25.75mm |
26mm |
n/a |
CAPS 26 |
|
| Fiji Coins | |||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| Fiji Taku 1/2 oz Silver |
32.5mm |
32mm |
H32 |
CAPS 33 |
|
| Fiji Taku 1 oz Silver |
40.5mm |
40mm |
H40.6 |
CAPS 40 |
|
| Fiji Taku 5 oz Silver |
64mm |
n/a |
Y65 |
||
| German Coins | |||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| Third Reich Coins | |||||
| 1 Reichspfennig |
17mm |
17mm |
n/a |
CAPS 17 |
|
| 2 Reichspfennig |
20mm |
20mm |
n/a |
CAPS 20 |
|
| 5 Reichspfennig |
18mm |
18mm |
A18 |
CAPS 18 |
|
| 10 Reichspfennig |
21.5mm |
21mm |
n/a |
CAPS 21.5 |
|
| 50 Reichspfennig |
22.5mm |
22mm |
n/a |
CAPS 22.5 |
|
| 20 Marks Gold |
23mm |
23mm |
n/a |
CAPS 23 |
|
| 2 Reichsmark |
25mm |
25mm |
n/a |
CAPS 25 |
|
| 5 Reichsmark |
29mm |
29mm |
n/a |
CAPS 29 |
|
| 1oz. Silver Somalian African Elephant |
39mm |
39mm |
H39 |
CAPS 39 |
|
| Israeli Coins | |||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| 1 Agora |
17mm |
17mm |
n/a |
CAPS 17 |
|
| 5 Agorot |
19.5mm |
19mm |
n/a |
CAPS 19.5 |
|
| 10 Agorot |
22mm |
22mm |
A22 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| ½ New Sheqel |
26mm |
26mm |
A26 |
CAPS 26 |
|
| 1 New Sheqel (image) |
18mm |
18mm |
A18 |
CAPS 18 |
|
| 2 New Sheqalim |
21.6mm |
22mm |
A22 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| 5 New Sheqalim |
24mm |
24mm |
A24.3 |
CAPS 24 |
|
| 10 New Sheqalim |
23mm |
23mm |
n/a |
CAPS 23 |
|
| Mexican Coins | |||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| Maximillian |
10mm |
10mm |
n/a |
||
| 2 Peso Gold |
12.85mm |
12mm |
n/a |
||
| 1/20 oz. Gold Libertad |
13mm |
13mm |
n/a |
||
| 2.5 Peso Gold |
16mm |
16mm |
A16.5 |
CAPS 16.5 |
|
| 1/20 oz. Silver Libertad |
16mm |
16mm |
A16.5 |
CAPS 16.5 |
|
| 1/10 oz. Gold Libertad |
16mm |
16mm |
A16.5 |
CAPS 16.5 |
|
| 5 Peso Gold |
19mm |
19mm |
A19 |
CAPS 19 |
|
| 1/10 oz. Silver Libertad |
20mm |
20mm |
n/a |
CAPS 20 |
|
| 10 Peso Gold |
22mm |
22mm |
A22 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| 1/4 oz. Gold Libertad |
23mm |
23mm |
n/a |
CAPS 23 |
|
| 1/4 oz. Silver Libertad |
27mm |
27mm |
H27 |
CAPS 27 |
|
| 20 Peso Gold |
27mm |
27mm |
H27 |
CAPS 27 |
|
| 1/2 oz. Gold Libertad |
29mm |
29mm |
n/a |
CAPS 29 |
|
| 1/2 oz. Silver Libertad |
33mm |
33mm |
n/a |
CAPS 33 |
|
| 1 oz. Gold Libertad, 1 Peso Silver 1957 ~ 1967 |
34.5mm |
34mm |
n/a |
CAPS 36 |
|
| 1 oz. Silver Libertad 1982 – 1995 (too thick for Air-Tite holders) |
36mm |
No Holder Available |
CAPS 36 |
||
| 50 Peso Gold |
37mm |
37mm |
n/a |
CAPS 37 |
|
| 1 oz. Silver Libertad 1996-date, 100 Peso, 5 Peso Silver, 8 Spanish Reale |
40mm |
40mm |
H40.6 |
CAPS 40 |
|
| 2 oz. Silver Libertad (4.5mm thick, use 47mm ring type) |
48mm |
Y47mm |
n/a |
||
| 5 oz. Silver Libertad |
65mm |
n/a |
Y65 |
||
| 1 Kilo Silver Libertad |
110mm |
No Holder Available |
|||
| South African Coins | |||||
| Coin Type |
Coin Diameter |
Ring Type |
Direct Fit |
Coin Capsules |
|
| 1/10 oz. Gold Krugerrand |
16mm |
16mm |
A16 |
CAPS 16 |
|
| 1 Rand |
19mm |
19mm |
A19 |
CAPS 19 |
|
| 1/4 oz. Gold Krugerrand |
22mm |
22mm |
A22 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| 2 Rand |
22mm |
22mm |
A22 |
CAPS 22 |
|
| 1/2 oz. Gold Krugerrand |
27mm |
27mm |
H27 |
CAPS 27 |
|
| 1 oz. Gold Krugerrand |
32mm |
32mm |
H32 |
CAPS 32 |
|
30
Coin Insurance
coins.thefuntimesguide.com
If you are currently in possession of a much larger or more valuable collection than these limitations cover, then it is very important that you consider getting an extended form of insurance coverage for the complete inventory. While most new collectors may find the $200 cap to be adequate for their current needs, as any collection grows, and it probably will, extending the policy coverage to match the corresponding value is part of the long-range strategy as well.
Increasing The Coverage Limit
Should the standard $200 coverage limitation prove to be less than adequate for your needs, then you need to consider extending this limit to ensure a greater level of protection against any uninsured types of losses. This of course will necessitate having to pay much higher premiums, though there will still be exposure to a certain degree of risk. The degree of this risk is because of specific types of exclusions written into the policy, and is present regardless of the increase in the dollar limit one would expect in the higher premium costs. These exclusions also can mean your claim could be denied if your collection, or any substantial part of it, becomes lost, damaged, or even stolen.
Coverage Exclusions in a Policy
In any type of insurance plan or policy coverage, these exclusions will obviously differ from one policy to the next policy, and will greatly depend on each individual insurer, therefore it very important to evaluate the details of the types of coverage and the exclusion listings before making a decision. Some of the more common types of exclusions include normal wear and tear, degrading or deterioration, extreme weather conditions, any damage caused by purposeful means or intent, any loss occurring during transport or shipment including postal services, or any type of theft of the collection if it was left in an unattended vehicle.
The Value of the Coins or Collection
Beyond the coverage exclusions written into your policy, there is the issue of proving the exact value or worth of your collection, not only for your own interests, but for the insurer as well, in the event that filing a claim becomes necessary. Insuring your coins or entire collection at the current market pricing could be problematic if the insurer decides to reduce the settlement amount well below the actual value. This can occur if the insurer happens to value your collection based on a wholesale pricing structure, or they will use a standardized type of pricing model to set the valuations, even in the case of rare coins. Rare coins are especially problematic simply because insurers lack even a standardized example from which to draw a valuation, and therefore any claim settlement could be reduced accordingly.
Collection Insurance Scheduling
Another option to consider when it comes to this type of contingency is to have your collection scheduled, which encompasses having your collection specifically listed within your current homeowner’s insurance policy coverage. To accomplish this, an appraisal of your collection must be done to determine its authentic value, and this is can be accomplished withThe Official Red Book, A Guide Book of United States Coins or The Official Whitman Blue Book of United States Coinsvaluation references, or the American Numismatic Association Grading Guide. Once you reach an agreement on this appraised valuation, the insurer will then add your collection to your insurance policy for the stated value. The primary benefit in the scheduling process is that by determining the real value of your collection before insuring it, the potential for any claim disputes over the collection’s value will be eliminated.
In addition, this scheduling procedure will protect your collection against practically any type of loss. There are certain exclusions, however, such as losses incurred due to natural disasters like flooding or earthquakes, but for a significant majority of collectors this strategy of scheduled insurance should provide more than enough coverage for your needs. One of the disadvantages of this scheduling method is that there is no type of protection against inflationary factors. Insuring your collection at the present market value will not allow for any increase in value over a certain period of time, which means the coverage will only extend to the value at the time the policy was written. Therefore, it will be necessary to get periodic appraisals done, perhaps at least once every year, to ensure your policy’s valuation coverage is up to date.
The Collection Inventory
After collecting coins for a number of years, any serious collector can amass quite a sizable coin assortment. Keeping track of all the coins, the mintage types, sets, and dates can become a challenging and often inconvenient task. Consequently, it is extremely important that you take the necessary time and effort to inventory your entire collection if you plan to insure them.
A coin inventory is just a listing of all the coins in your collection, including all the pertinent and significant details of each coin, such as type, date, grade, metal type, and weight, along with any unique properties or characteristics relative to particular markings or historic value. Another smart method of keeping track of your inventory is to use coin collection software. Along with this, every coin in your collection should be photographed, and the relevant data pertaining to each coin should be included with its corresponding photo in either in a digital or hard-copy layout. This will provide you the means to substantiatefor your insurer exactly what your collection actually contains. Beyond this, a photographic record of your inventory is a perfect way to present your collection to anyone who might enjoy looking at it. You can also post these photos online on coin websites and forums, or send them to fellow enthusiasts via email.
Furthermore, having digital photographs of your collection can be very worthwhile when attempting to determine how much a particular coin is worth. You can forward those images to coin dealers or appraisers all over the globe to get a multitude of opinions on valuation. This type of feedback can be very beneficial in supporting or refuting any valuation disputes with your insurer.
Coverage Premiums and Deductibles
As most everyone is already aware, an insurance deductible is the amount of money that is paid out by the consumer on any claim. Normally, the higher the deductible is, the lower the insurance premiums will be. As a rule, this exposes you to increased levels of risk because you could be paying out added expenses over the course of your claim history. By contrast, the reverse is also true. Making very few or even no claims on your policy can also mean having a higher deductible will save money on your insurance premiums. You can also consider taking out a no-deductible policy, which will obviously mean paying even higher premiums.
Unless you happen to possess a rather large and very valuable coin collection, keeping your deductible at a modest cost level, or at least what you can reasonably budget, is a more financially sound idea. On the other side of the coin, keeping your collection in a secure location, such as a bank vault or a good home safe, or a location that presents a minimal level of risk, then a higher deductible will lower your premiums. The money you save on insurance premiums can certainly be re-invested by adding to your collection, and adding to your collection is exactly the reason why getting a good insurance policy to protect it was such a great idea in the first place.
