Collecting in Books

GOLDSAINT

I have a friend that is an old time collector. He has been at this for about 30 years. His collection is worth approx.$250,000 plus ?. He collects U.S. and world coins many of which I have never seen, and cannot even find in books. On a trip to Europe in the 80's he made friends of a Museum curator in Germany and acquired some pieces that the Museum had doubles of. These were very large coins minted only in a dozen or so pieces when a new King was crowned and given out to Royalty as gifts.They are twice the size and weight of a regular crown piece.
He puts all of his coins in Dansco books with shield pages. When he buys a coin that is graded by a professional service he cuts the plastic open and puts it in the books. He claims he cannot keep track of, or enjoy, his collection in slabs. What is your opinion of this, and do you know others that do this.

MrEureka

Sounds like a nice collection. If your friend is an expert grader, he won't get in too much trouble cracking coins out of TPG holders and keeping them in albums. (That's because he wouldn't buy low end coins.) If he's not an expert, there may be some hidden costs to his storage method.