Are You An Album Coin Collector, Slabbed Coin Collector Or Both

OAKSTAR

What's your primary method of collecting?

I'll go out on a limb here and say us albums coin collectors are going to lose and we're going to lose big to the slabbed coin collectors! Probably because we're on a PCGS forum. 🤣

With one caveat. I have bought several slabbed problem free coins over the years and have broken them out for the albums.

JBN

Both

My vote assumes Capital Holders are albums.

may

Album Coin Collector

I like to be able to examine my coins without plastic in the way, but if it’s high grade it needs to be in a slab.

Steven59

Both

Both but lean a bit more heavily towards filling albums.

element159

or Other

Neither.
Most of my collection is either raw currency in sleeves, or raw coins in 2x2s. I do have a couple of Dansco's for the statehood/parks quarters, and a few slabs (paper and coins), but those are definitely the minority for me,

Walkerfan

Slabbed Coin Collector

Registry player who only likes PCGS or NGC coins. I try to buy only mint state.

[Deleted User]

Both

Most of my collection is raw, some in albums and some in airtites or flips. I do have some slabbed coins, though.

dbldie55

Both

Both, have a shelf full of Dansco's. Was adding to them this week.

CoinHoarder

or Other

I have both raw and slabbed coins.

I never really cared for albums.

I store most of my raw coins in 2X2s and plastic coin tubes.

Barberian

Both

Originally, I was a Dansco collector, but the reality of collecting SLHs means having to eventually purchase slabbed coins and having valuable raw coins graded.

BillJones

Slabbed Coin Collector

I did use an album for a set of Franklin half dollars, but that was only because I didn’t want to spend a fortune on the certified set. That was the first time I had used a formal album in 50 years. I use Eagle albums to house my political pieces, but there are no defined places in those albums.

JWP

Both

Both for me

Redglobe

Both

Both
Working on:
2 Barbers Quarter albums
2 Washington Quarter albums
And a registry set of Barber Quarters

seanq

Album Coin Collector

I collect coins in albums, and I collect the albums themselves.

Sean Reynolds

golden

Slabbed Coin Collector

I am a PCGS Registry collector, so only PCGS slabs.

124Spider

or Other

I said "other."

I am primarily an album collector. But as the upgrade bug hit, I reached a point (somewhere in the neighborhood of $200) where I am not willing to buy a raw coin sight unseen (and I know of no real coin shop (meaning one whose primary business isn't bullion) in my area, so all my expensive purchases are over the internet. So I started acquiring slabbed coins to replace coins in the albums. And I'm not willing to crack them out, being mindful that either I or my heir(s) will want to sell it someday, and it's easier to get a good price for a slabbed coin than the same coin raw.

So I now have a lot of slabbed coins.

And then I started a "box of 20" collection, all of which will be slabbed (e.g., Pine Tree Shilling).

So my collection is a mix: By numbers, something in excess of 95% of my coins are in albums. But by value, about 2/3 of the value is in slabbed coins.

divecchia

Slabbed Coin Collector

Slabs only for me. Almost all PCGS, except for the one ancient in an NGC slab.

Donato

johnny9434

Both

Both, gotta keep it interesting

ShaunBC5

Slabbed Coin Collector

It’s almost exclusively slabbed for me lately. I still have many (and buy some) raw coins but I’ve never been an album guy.
I did spend time with the kids on some Lincoln albums and it was fun, though. I get it but it’s not how I like to collect.

WALLE

Dansco albums for me.

Dropdaflag

Slabbed Coin Collector

SLABS as it saves time not having to look through all the dreck to find the rare gem. As an example, I recently went through 4 trays of RAW Morgans at a LCS. I did not find a single coin I did hot have some problem with. Time is money.

pcgscacgold

Both

I collect only slabs but have recently started using the PCGS Album feature. I like that presentation a lot.

jfriedm56

Slabbed Coin Collector

Of course, back in the day we all started out as album collectors, as grading services hadn't come into existence yet. I've collected all TPG coins since about 1989, but I still have all my blue Whitman folders and albums along with my Danscos.

asheland

Slabbed Coin Collector

Mostly slabbed but occasionally raw coins in 2x2s

Manifest_Destiny

Album Coin Collector

I'm an old school album collector at heart. I had my complete seated quarter set in a Dansco but I've since gotten them slabbed to make it easier to sell when my kids inherit the collection.

ColoradoCoinGuy

or Other

Other.
I collect both slabs and Raw coins. The Raw coins are then stored in 2x2s and placed in archival 20 coin sheets.
When I was a kid I put my coins from pocket change in the old Whitman blue folders though.

jacrispies

or Other

No slabs, no albums. My Bust halves are RAWWWWW (in airtites).

hfjacinto

or Other

I have all. I have slabbed , I have OGP. In come cases I have all 3.

Same with Paper Money.

pcgscacgold

Both

@jacrispies said:
No slabs, no albums. My Bust halves are RAWWWWW (in airtites).

Cool. I bet that looks amazing when all laid out on the table

RiveraFamilyCollect

Slabbed Coin Collector

I collect Komsco bullion lines specifically Chiwoo cheonwang and Zi:sin series.

coinbuf

Slabbed Coin Collector

Like a few others I am mostly a slabbed registry collector, but I do enjoy filling the odd album now and then.

gumby1234

or Other

Most of my stuff is raw. Then there's a lot of slabs and one Dansco.

Sapyx

or Other

I voted "other", because my entire collection is in 2x2s. I assume coins in 2x2s in photographic slide pages don't count as "albums" in this context.

jmlanzaf

or Other

@Sapyx said:
I voted "other", because my entire collection is in 2x2s. I assume coins in 2x2s in photographic slide pages don't count as "albums" in this context.

I might count that as a homemade album

OnWithTheHunt

Both

My sets are in albums. Most but not all of my slabs are high grade variety and error Buffalo nickels and a few assorted oddities.

The_Dinosaur_Man

I might be biased. I do like being able to pass a collection along and allow someone to browse through it like reading a book or going through a photo album.

OKbustchaser

or Other

Other...I collect coins-plastic or raw makes no difference to me. I don't use albums, however.

bagofnickels

Both

Both for myself. I recently bought an intercept album for Lincoln cents 1909-2007. Should be a fun and cheap endeavor since im not going after UNC early dates. I also picked up a couple Library of coins dime albums, mercury and Roosevelt. I have half a dozen or so raw mercury dimes that really need a home.

But I really like my slabbed walkers, mercury dimes and IHC.

crazyhounddog

Both

I’m in the both crowd on this question. It’s not like I add to my albums very much but when the opportunity comes up and I like what I see my wallet will come out. I’ve owned my album coins for at least six decades. I have a few.

WCC

or Other

None of the coins I collect have albums since this is mostly for US. I mostly buy already slabbed coins but those which aren't are kept in 2x2 flip in a box holding 100 flips.

MapsOnFire

or Other

Neither. (I haven't figured out how to get the blue square into my reply.) They don't make albums for what I collect - mostly VOC copper and silver, plus Netherlands crowns and a few random singles from anywhere.

Jacques_Loungecoque

Both

I guess technically I’m both.

I had previously ordered a binder album from Littleton that I have filled with blank ASE, silver dollar and half dollar pages. I fill about 50% of the slots with slabbed coins that I crack. For some issues I have no problem buying raw. Others where I lack confidence, I like the second opinion a slab offers me.

My goal is to eventually have a type and sub-type of each version of all ASE’s, and 1900+ large coins, ($ and half), silver only issues. NO JUNKY CLAD! Then, one example of each type’s possible mint mark.

If we’re talking Franklins you have 3 uncircs and a proof. Now, for ASE’s and Kennedys, even just the silver issues only, there is a freaking ton.

I will say this, when you commit to a custom set like this, you quickly discover that you have to create all kinds of new rules and parameters. As an example, do I consider the new Morgans and Peace dollars as commemoratives, part of the existing series, or a reboot of the series. I decided they were reboots and not commems. They are also clearly NOT continuations for soooo many reasons.

Then, do I consider the Morgan’s with privy marks to be legit, or novelties/gimmicks. In this case I found them to be illegitimate “coins” and just gimmicks. They’re Philly minted coins with government revenue insignias. I sold the ones I had purchased at issue.

I would soooo much prefer to have a nice new Dansco blank album and slipcase, that I could fill with blank pages in the same format. But, when I started Dansco was in limbo. Guess I’ll see what’s available again. Good to see the US Type is back in production.

Modwriter

I'm all over the place with my collection. One folder for state quarters, a coin album for 2x2's, 2x2's in 2x2 storage boxes, and coin tubes in storage boxes. Voted other.

WAYNEAS

Both

My slabs outnumber my albums by a very large amount.
This is due to my PCGS Registry Sets.
Wayne

NeophyteNumismatist

Both

I have both, but 99% of my focus is on certified coins. I collect modern sets in albums.

BillJones

Slabbed Coin Collector

For U.S. coins, I am also completely a slab collector. My modern coins are mostly raw in the mint packages.

For medals, tokens, British and Imperial Roman coins, I am a "box collector." The coins are in boxes, not albums.

TwoSides2aCoin

I like to hold a coin. The holder takes the joy out of that. Yet, the added value and protection from mishandling are cause enough to have the more valuable ones in holders. I like album collecting for the fun of it. The slabbed coins tend to go to market.

ARCO

100% slab. For the price range I collect $500-$2,000 an unholdered coin at these prices, these days is pretty much guaranteed to be cleaned and problematic garbage.

johnnyb

Both

I am both. I love an album because they display so much easier. I have a great Barber half Library of Coins 2nd album with most coins VG+/- and they look great in it. But for UNC coins or high eye appeal you need the slab to ensure originality, authenticity, and liquidity when you want to sell.

I am very slowly working on an AU/BU 7070 just because it’s great to see the coins together like that. I secretly wish the grading services would certify and seal an album so you get 20 graded coins on a page and not in a box…