| I am often asked how to load a coin album page. | | | | the middle layer is another acetate sheet followed |
| It is actually a fairly simple process but if you | | | | by a final fifth layer which is another cover for |
| have never used a coin album it can be a little bit | | | | the back side of the page. Some pages will be |
| confusing. This article describes how an album | | | | screen printed with a title at the top and labels |
| pages are assembled, how they work and how | | | | around each coin opening. |
| they are loaded. There is also a link at the end of | | | | The trick to loading an album page with coins is to |
| the article to a page with a short video so that | | | | recognize that the cover layers are not directly |
| you can see exactly how the process works | | | | adhered to the center layer in all places. The |
| instead of trying to imagine it. | | | | cover layers are actually only joined at the left |
| Coin albums are similar to photo albums in that | | | | spine edge, the top of the page, the bottom of |
| they are large books with thick spines and | | | | the page and in rows between the coin slots. This |
| removable pages. The centers of each page are | | | | leaves a tunnel across the coin openings from the |
| stiff and designed to hold coins and they can be | | | | right edge of the page to the about 3/4" from |
| removed or added to albums. Most albums hold | | | | the left spine. The acetate sheets are held in |
| some predetermined type of coin collection, such | | | | place by these tunnels and can slide all the way |
| as Lincoln Cents 1909 to 2009, however, | | | | out of the right side edge of the page. |
| manufacturers also sell binders and pages | | | | Now that you understand how an album page is |
| separately so that you can make your own album | | | | constructed it should to imagine how coins are |
| collections. Coin albums are generally considered | | | | loaded into pages. First, slide the top layer of |
| superior to coin folders because they allow | | | | acetate to the right so that it comes out of the |
| viewing of both sides of the coins while providing | | | | right side edge of the page but bet sure to leave |
| additional protection with a thin, clear sheet of | | | | the bottom acetate in place. Put your coin into |
| acetate. | | | | position and slide the top acetate all the way over |
| Coin album pages are constructed like a five-layer | | | | the coin and back into its original position. You |
| sandwich. The top of the page is usually a | | | | should now see that the bottom acetate sheet is |
| washable cover. Below the top layer is a clear | | | | held in place by the bottom cover and that the |
| acetate sheet that is usually the width of the | | | | top acetate is held in place by the top cover. The |
| page and a half inch or so larger than the coin | | | | two acetates work together to hold the coin into |
| opening. The middle of the page is thick, like a | | | | place and to protect it from contact with fingers |
| coin, and is usually some sort of cardboard. Below | | | | or other objects. |