| You will receive the most enjoyment of your coin | | | | both sides of the coin it is held securely in place |
| collection if you store and protect it in a coin | | | | and protected from outside contaminants. |
| album. Albums are easy to keep in a handy | | | | There are several reasons why albums are |
| location like on a bookshelf. They are designed to | | | | superior for the average coin collections. |
| keep the contents in and the dust out. And, unlike | | | | * Albums are about the size of a text book. This |
| folders, albums allow you to see both sides of | | | | makes it possible for a collector to store an entire |
| your coin collection. | | | | type of collection in a single book and to keep it |
| I am frequently asked for the best method for | | | | on a bookshelf. You can't do that with a bulky |
| storing a coin collection. My answer depends on | | | | state quarter map or in plastic coin tubes. |
| the contents of the collection but for most people | | | | * The sandwich page construction with two plastic |
| we're talking about small denomination coins that | | | | sheets allows you to see both sides of the coin. |
| may or may not be uncirculated. For this type of | | | | You can't do that with a press-in coin folder. |
| coin collection, which has little likelihood of | | | | * The plastic sheets surround the coins on the |
| significant appreciation in the short term, I always | | | | top and bottom while the page itself protects the |
| suggest coin albums. | | | | sides. This minimizes airflow around the coins and |
| Coin albums are relatively inexpensive, ranging in | | | | keeps them relatively dust free. You can improve |
| price from about $12 to $35 dollars depending on | | | | the protection by keeping the album in a tight |
| the number of coins being held, the quality of | | | | fitting slipcase. |
| construction and whether it includes a protective | | | | * Many albums provide additional information |
| slipcase. The most popular album by far is the | | | | about its collection. There is often a description on |
| Dansco brand. There are other well known brands | | | | the front inside cover, a listing of the quantity of |
| like Whitman, Intercept Shield and US Mint but | | | | coins minted by year on the inside back cover |
| Dansco rules the roost. | | | | and the coin mint year and mint mark under the |
| All albums have similar characteristics. They have | | | | opening on the page. |
| thick pages with a sandwich like construction that | | | | * Probably most important, albums can be shared. |
| provides a sturdy inner core, two pieces of clear | | | | You can pull them off the shelf and hand them to |
| plastic on either side of the coin and a protective | | | | guests and friends. You know that your coins are |
| coating on both sides of the page. The pages | | | | safe. They won't fall out. They won't even be |
| have holes in them that are the size of the coin | | | | touched. |
| being stored. The clear plastic sheets slide in | | | | Without a doubt, coin albums are the most |
| channels between the inner core and the | | | | versatile storage media for the average coin |
| protective coating. Coins are placed into albums | | | | collection. If being able to see and handle your |
| by sliding the top clear sheet to the right, inserting | | | | collection is important to you a coin album is the |
| the coin into the exposed hole and sliding the | | | | best choice. |
| sheet back over the coin. With the clear plastic on | | | | |