Whitman is this a good thing?
Lyndag
Posts: 99 ✭✭
While visiting friends in key Largo before I head home to Georgia, we discovered, after telling them about my very new hobby, that he had a few coin books but hadn’t looked at in many years. So he let me bring them back to the room. Been looking and I know I’ve heard of Whitman before. I don’t know way too much but I think this book is not good for these coins. Should I tell him to repack them in something else. It’s possible he could have some interesting collection pieces. Your opinions and expert/ knowledgeable eyes are greatly appreciated. And I didn’t want to over do pics and I used my phone but the books do have the actual coins in them. Many have very low mintage years like 13 mil, 24 mil 30 mil and of course the 69 mil 70 mil and on up. I’m impressed but also worried that the coins in the book are not in a safe holder. 
Comments
If the coins have been in the album for decades what difference will a few days/years make now?
Nicely album toned coins can be a good thing. Depends on the collector. Everyone is different.
Enjoy the coins. Pics of coins, please.
Millions and perhaps tens of millions of collectible coins have been stored in these style of albums since around 1940. There is nothing inherently wrong with using this style of album made by this particular producer.
If certain coins in these albums are in top condition, one might wish to remove them and place them in some better holder. The viewers here would need to see the contents to offer a more detailed suggestion on exactly how to proceed.
But the albums are not inherently bad, and offered an inexpensive alternative to storing the coins loosely.
I’ll post one book, not completed, tonight and I’ll post the others tomorrow. Can’t the silver dimes be salvaged. I’m just thinking of what to tell
him. He’s not a collector at all. Just has these
What is there to tell?
You tell the owner(s) they have nice coins.
Who are you or I or anybody to judge how someone collects or stores their coins in a Whitman.
@hemispherical that’s exactly what I told my very dear friends. No one is judging anyone. And as I said i only know the name Whitman name as a good one. I just wondered if the direct contact of the blue cardboard might be contributing a little to the deterioration of his coins. I don’t really need criticism if I worded my comment incorrectly to whomever views this post. Go to bed!!
Many earlier persons collecting by date and mintmark were essentially 'hole fillers' and today's emphasis (over-emphasis) on super top condition didn't exist back when the blue books were originally put together. Also,you filled a hole with what you had, and then if something better came along later, you could always pop-out the prior coin and replace it with the better piece that you just found. Most of this style of collecting was done with coins obtained from circulation at face value. Coins was a popular hobby from say 1945 to 1970 and when you collected from circulation, you could always pop-out mistakes and simply respend them.
Key Largo...not bad man! Have fun there
As @BillDugan said, many a collector began by filling holes in Whitman folders.
More power to them!!!
The coins you show look like they were collected from circulation and are probably only worth melt value. I'd leave them where they are.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
@BillDugan1959 @PerryHall thanks guys that’s the kind of response I was geared towards. Just the first time I ran across something like that. After looking at them last night I agree that they appear to be circulated coins. There are a few from 1959 to 1970S that are in a plastic viewer that are BU that are in really excellent shape. That’s what made me notice the difference in the appearance of the ones in the books versus another source of storing. Anyway thanks for your “kind” words. Have a nice day.
😴
I started collecting coins back in the 60's in these very same folders, and never changed. Based on their condition, I'd say those folders are perfect for them & not to worry. Maybe suggest that he can find fillers for many of the remaining holes at the local coin store/show.
agreed and finish them out. shows got plenty there to get what you need. then you can go to bed to
Thanks for all the comments, they are ALL appreciated. I will return them to him today with your words of wisdom. And then I shall be on my way back home to good ole South Georgia. Until next years return.
Of greater concern than the albums being used might be the Key Largo climate itself. Nevertheless, if these are circulation finds, as it appears they are, there's really no urgency to change to a different album. Cents stored in these albums for a long time can take on some attractive toning.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I was just going to post that. Yes, the humidity can be a factor but whatever he's doing, they look ok.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
For circulated coins, like these pieces are, this type of album is perfectly okay. The only negative is when the coins fall out of the holes. Some albums were better than others.
I have dozens of blue Whitman holders with coins in them. Some coins have been there near 60 years. None are problem coins and all from pocket change. Never have had a problem with the Whitman holder harming the coins. As a young collector it was fun to fill them up and then start another, over and over.
Just leave them as is, enjoy them, don't mess with them in any way. Do not attempt to "conserve or clean" them. Not necessary to do anything with them at all.
If there happens to be a 1909 svdb or other expensive coin you could remove from the album and put into a more secure holder or get graded. But, why? Been there this long already.
The only problem with the Whitman's is that you do not get to see the backs of the coins. Some of the other albums do allow for viewing both sides. That is a possibility perhaps.
bob
Those coins are where they belong. Maybe buy some junk silver and try to finish filling them. I started out filling Whitman's from pocket change now you will have to buy junk silver, but not a bad idea to have some junk silver around. Whitman's are ordinary holders for ordinary coins, but I still like the look of a full Whitman.
Bought many a set of coins in these albums, if stored in the wrong environment damage can be really severe- especially to the backs of the coins. Silver takes on a dull gray finish- usually on the backside toward the paper, copper can be left with "stripes" from the paper. Nickel coins get funkly as well. I believe its mostly from the moisture and paper reaction in older albums- newer whitmans maybe ok. Personally I would tell them to remove them, I know even if just silver it can be hard to sell if coins have a musty and blotched look to them.
@Hemispherical hey. Before I go to bed I wanted to share a very nice thing. I appreciate all your comments and I’ve always admired your wisdom. Thank you for your humor. So I returned my dear friends Whitman books and the pack of BU coins and said that being as he doesn’t or hasn’t looked at the coins in years it was nice of him to trust me. So tonight he brought a tin can full of mostly silver dollars and some half dollars. Had to be 100-150 total coins. Maybe more. There were many many Morgan and Morgan O’s. And even older dollars. He said one with a lady walking Walking. He has no clue what he has. His grandma gave them. Look what he gave me off the top. I’m not sure myself but will puddle tomorrow and see. Not best pictures but I thought it was nice
Very nice!
1 - 1964 50c Kennedy
1 - 1928-S $1 Peace
5 - 1886-O, 1886, 1899-O, 1921x2 $1 Morgans
@Hemispherical do you think it’s worth it to send any one or just any of these pieces in for grading or just put them in a little cover with a label and tuck away and hope it’s worth something down the road for my 2 year old grandson. I ordered my cherry pickers guide and it got delivered somewhere besides my hotel. So I’ve reordered another to be delivered to my home as I’ll be going home sometime this week. Hopefully then I’ll have a little time to send in a couple of test pieces for my first submission
The albums will not hurt the coins, they are circulation finds and clearly show that status. Those Morgans and Peace dollars are nice old coins... Not sure any are worth grading, but the pictures are not good for detail. Good luck and enjoy your vacation. Cheers, RickO
@Lyndag
There are two volumes. Make sure you get the one where your focus is or get both.
Volume I covers all United States series from half cents through nickel five-cent piece.
Volume II covers half dimes through modern dollars, gold dollars through double eagles, and classic commemoratives.
@Hemispherical thanks. I’m gonna keep my head to the books and continue to educate myself. With you guys great input and advice I’m sure I’ll be ready by next year or sooner to get a good piece.