Are Dansco albums still the favorite or are people moving towards the intercept albums?

TheNumish · June 1, 2003 1:12AM

In 1991 I started building a roll set of all currently designed coins and am just about done. I'm getting ready to buy a bunch of albums to build sets and was wondering if the Dansco albums are still the favorite or if the intercept shield albums are better. Has Dansco ever changed their plastic sleeves so that they don't effect the coins? Are the intercept more expensive but better for the coins? Does it make any difference? Which do you prefer and why? Thanks

DragonAzz · June 1, 2003 1:23AM

I personally prefer the Intercepts for the little added protection as well as eye appeal. I think silver coins look better against the green and the albums come with an outer sleeve. The color of the Danscos doesn't do anything for me but they are more versatile in that you can add pages or assemble your own entire album.

DHeath · June 1, 2003 1:24AM

The quality of the intercept alnums suck. The adhesive they use to hold the cover to the cardboard page gives up very easily, and if you aren't very careful inserting coins, one push and the page is seperated. Once that happens, the coins can easily fall out of their hole and bunch up in the bubble. When you insert coins, the only way to be successful is to lay the page completely flat on the table, balancing the album in the other hand.

All that said, I prefer the idea of the Intercept album, and use them. Dansco is a sturdier book. JMO

Barry · June 1, 2003 1:26AM

I prefer Dansco. Construction is much better. I know several people who have had pages literally fall apart in the China-made Intercept albums. Also, I'm not convinced that the Intercept Shield technology works on coins. In theory, it sounds good, but I'd like to see if there really is any difference 10-15 years down the road.

Bikingnut · June 1, 2003 1:29AM

While we're on this subject, anyone out there use the Whitman, Littleton, or Airtite albums. I'd be interested in opinions on those as well. I'm about ready to purchase an album for extra Washingtons that I have and have been looking at all these brands. Good info on the Intercept type as they are the most expensive. I may steer clear of them if they don't hold up well.

crito · June 1, 2003 1:47AM

I prefer the dimensions of Whitman albums, Dansco and Intercept are unwieldy. I'm using Intercept for my Washington quarters at the moment, though. Bought soon after they came out and haven't had any problems. Holes are cut a little tight, but that's better than too loose IMO.

Bigern · June 1, 2003 2:01AM

I have all my coins in albums. Either Dansco for the raw coins or Eagles for my slabbed coins. Since these are like comparing apples and oranges I cannot really say which is the best. I have never used any tohers, IMO both are good for a specific purpose.

TommyB · June 1, 2003 2:02AM

I use intercept for reasons mostly listed above, but I am bothered by the fact they have no Type Set album, and the JFK, Jeffersons, and Roosevelt albums all end in 2002. No ability to add new pages and nothing new on the horizon bother me. I really think the Dansco are so ugly, but may have to go that way.

tporreca · June 1, 2003 2:07AM

The Littleton claims are largely unsubstantiated, just marketing for all I have seen. I think most modern albums are pretty coin safe, i.e. no PVC or acid paper. I prefer Dansco as they are well contructed, you can add pages and.....they have better availability.

ldhair · June 1, 2003 2:20AM

I have never used the Intercept albums but have used Danscos.
Back around 1991 I started a few sets of current coins in Danscos.
I took great care to pick a nice UNC using cotton gloves to insert in album.
The cardboard dust was a real pain. It seemed to always show up on the coins.

I never figured these would be worth much. Just something to pass to the grandkids.
I had hopes these might get them into the hobby and they would carry on the sets.

Looking at them today, here is what I see.

Cents- haze, carbon spots, a few with a little purple tone, what I call mint bloom is mostly gone.
Nickel- no spots, a slight yellow tone, a few with some color toning. Not bad looking sets.
Clad- mostly even yellow tone throughout the sets. Ok looking but nothing special.
Proofs- Haze, spots, ugly. Don't do it.
Early Comm half- Look just like the day I put them in. No problems, very little toning. Go figure.

For the few dollars I put into these, I can't gripe. The kids love them- but a collector? Probably not.
Maybe Dansco has changed these over the years. I'm not sure.
The slides seem to drag and drop dust on the coins. Thats been my biggest gripe.
On one set the slides turned milky white, but don't feel they actually did any damage to the sets.

I,m a real nut about storage and humidity control. If not I bet my results would be totaly different.
Hope this was helpful to some here. I have to say it was great fun over the years.

toothpuller · June 1, 2003 2:59AM

I prefer the Dansco to the Littleton. They are much better made. My daughters both have Littleton albums for their state quarters and although the green cover color looks nice the coins won't stay in their holes and slide around between the pages similar to the way D Heath describes the Intercept albums.

Typetone · June 1, 2003 3:33AM

One of our coin club members has a set of Washington quarters and a set of Jeffs in Dansco albums. He purchased the coins white, and after some years many now have beautiful and remarkable toning. Because I like the toning so much, I offered him a multiple of sheet for the Jeffs, which he turned down. I don't know if the current Danscos tone coins, but if you like toned coins, give them a shot. I like the look of the intercept books, and have an IKE set in one. I do agree that they are a little cheap.

Greg

TheNumish · June 1, 2003 3:58AM

Thanks for all the input. The info has helped me decide to stick with Dansco.

SarasotaFrank · June 1, 2003 4:25AM

another Intercept problem is that the pages warp and curve in the albums with more than four pages. They curve badly and give you a "damnit" kind of feeling when you open them to enjoy an otherwise positive experience of looking at your collection.

I gave them a shot, and have many of them, but they are a bummer.

morganbarber · June 1, 2003 6:15AM

I really like the Whitman Classic albums which have the slides like a Dansco. I would prefer a brand new Dansco for my nice coins, but I have several circulated series in used Whitman Classics. I like the antique coins in antique albums.

TommyB · June 1, 2003 7:39AM

Wow, up until today I kind of liked the Intercept. From what it sounds like, someone could do really well by designing a really nice album and charging a bit more for it.

Are Dansco albums still the favorite or are people moving towards the intercept albums?

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