How do you store and display your collection?

TopographicOceans

One great thing about collecting coins is there are so many different ways, (series, type, date, mints, keys, etc) and everybody can define their own collection the way they want.

I have my Dansco and Whitman albums from when I first started collecting.
But now I have slabs and raw coins in Kointain's.

When PCGS started the Registry, I built a gold type set (this was back in 2002 when gold was ~$200 an oz.) It was a top five complete set, so I had it pedigreed. The reason it was a top five set is because there were only 4 others at the time.

My wife and kids say coins are boring, but I like to get them out from the safe deposit box a few times a year and look at them all. So I need a way to be able to store them in the bank box, easily be able to take them out and enjoy them. When you don't see them after a few months, it's like they're new again.

I looked into Capital Plastics custom made holders and designed what I wanted so they would fit nicely in the safe deposit box but could be easily taken home. The problem I found was they charge a lot of money for custom holders - with a charge for each hole they drill as well as each letter embossed on the holder. I'm a type collector so I wanted to do them in denomination and date order. It solved the problem of storage and display, but it was expensive and I would have to crack out my slabbed coins to put them in the holders.

I'm a type collector, so for all my modern coins I have proof sets (starting at the year I was born). To be honest, I've never shown anyone a President Madison proof saying "check this out", but I have one - along with all the SHQ's - in the proof sets.

I defined my type set using the Redbook and major varieties. But some coins, like a $4 Stella, I'll never own and others I expanded, like 1839 cents - I have a Booby, Silly, and head of 38.

I have about 60 in Kointian's and I think the best plan would be to send those to PCGS so that way I have all my set in slabs. I have my free 8 submissions, so it would run about $1700 to get those in PCGS holders - and that's about 1/2 of what the custom holders would cost. I have NGC, old ANACS and even 1 SEGS but at least my type collection would be slabbed. With PCGS doing Genuine grades I don't have to worry about body bags. My coins are what they are, so maybe some won't grade.

I found these slab albums so I could get some of those, then store the set in the bank safe deposit box and when I want to look at them I can put them in the albums.

I think this is the best solution for me, but I was wondering how others do it?

Twobitcollector

I use those albums for most of my collection and Dansco for my ASE,WLH & Franklin sets.

rec78

Albums,albums, albums. Strictly albums. LOC, Dansco, Whitman. I like albums. I have little use for coins that don't go into albums. However I do have quite a few in slabs. One day I may break them all out and put them where they belong.

291fifth

I store my collection in space rented from Scrooge McDuck in his money bin.

MisterSmithGuesser

I just use the silver NGC boxes to store my collection. I tried the album holders for slabbed coin. But I found that the plastic isn't strong enough and the ring holes would tear. I also prefer the boxes over the albums because they only hold 20 coins at a time. So if I'm looking for a specific coin, I don't have to go through the entire collection to find it. I know exactly what box it's in. And the reason that I use the NGC boxes specifically is because my collection includes both NGC and PCGS certified coins. NGC boxes can hold slabs from both TPGs, whereas NGC slabs don't fit into blue PCGS boxes.

jdimmick

Friend of mine uses those albums to store his collection, has a cert type set in that , and a raw type set in an album. he carries his around everywhere he goes to all shows and with him as he travels back and forth across the country.

BarberFanatic

Get the Eagle instead of the Lighthouse. Have tried both and the Eagle are superior IMHO.

blu62vette

Store at the bank, display it here.

silverpop

china cabinet sitting on white ceramic tiles with a powerful LED light overhead

ricko

Stored at home and displayed in various modes.... some albums, slabs and coin cabinet..... Cheers, RickO

crypto79

here

koynekwest

I use the Lighthouse Encap pages in notebooks for my slabs-an excellent product. Dansco for the raw stuff.

BryceM

SDB

See my sigline for displays.

I'm thinking of having some of my photo coin boards professionally printed so I can hang 'em up at home and enjoy them.

kiyote

For my coins not slabbed, I still love the look of white Capital plastics "sheet" style holders. (like 36 slots for halves) and black Capital plastics for Sac/Presidental dollars. My state and ATB PDSS-S quarters are all in Dansco, as I like the look of the toning on the proof silvers.

LindeDad

My Credit Union has this big box for storage ,and most are shown in the PCGS Registry.

koynekwest

I used to make my own wooden trays for slab display but it was a little too labor intensive. They were somewhat awkward too-bulky and took up too much space. I see that now some large numismatic supply companies are offering something very similar.

BillJones

Almost all of it sits in safe deposit boxes and doesn't get displayed anywhere. It's just a reflection of the times.

Davideo

A few Library of Coins albums for the main collection and then miscellaneous widgets in the desk drawer.

TopographicOceans

You've got some great pictures online. My photos suck. I probably need to get them professionally done, but I'm really not interested in displaying them online.
I want to be able to pick them up and look at them and sometimes have a private showing at home.
Otherwise I could just use the PCGS Photograde site if I want to look at an online type set - or a series because everything is there.

When I get everything out and lay it out on the dinning room table, it looks disorganized with a combination of Kointains and PCGS, NGC, ANACS slabs.

I like albums, but I can't really use albums, because there aren't any made for my definition of a type collection and that's why I'd have to have them custom made. And like you said, I think gold looks best in the black plastic and silver in the white.

For me, there are three considerations:

Security - I have to pay about $900 a year in insurance and bank safe deposit boxes.Liquidity - After I'm gone, I don't want to leave chaos. Heck the family will probably use some future iSell app to get Bitcoins Enjoyment - That's the whole reason I collect coins

Cameonut

I now use the bank safe deposit box.

Years ago, I used the Eagle slab pages in a three ring binder. Over time, they scratched the surface of the holders - PCGS more than NGC. It got so bad, I had to reholder a number of coins. I wish I had never used the Eagle slab pages as I lost the original green holders. Never again.

I do recognize that Eagle may have improved their product over the years - but for me, it is not worth exposing the holders to potential abuse. So I now use PCGS and NGC boxes to transport coins to shows, etc.

Sonorandesertrat

<< <i>Almost all of it sits in safe deposit boxes and doesn't get displayed anywhere. It's just a reflection of the times. >>



Yup

AnkurJ

Bank.
Displayed in registries as others.

Baley

Part of the type set is stored and displayed like this:







(the album is kept in bank box, but is very easy to retrieve, transport, examine, share, and replace, as it looks an feels just like a book)
This group is what it is, no problem with it not being a "complete" US type set, the other coins are stored in all manner in the SDB, mostly slabs and 2x2 safeflips in boxes.

Barndog

I miss my type set and my 7070 style type set, though I do enjoy the half dimes that the funds from those sets brought

coinnut

<< <i>Almost all of it sits in safe deposit boxes and doesn't get displayed anywhere. It's just a reflection of the times. >>



Yup +1

Really nice 7070 you've got there Baley.

koynekwest

The Dansco gets it right on the Buffalos and Standing Liberty Quarters-these coins are indeed "varieties" and not "types." My best stuff is in a SDB-can't take the chance of keeping them at home so I can see 'em when I want to. Sad really. I have pictures, tho.