SophieCat

Hi everyone Apologies as you’ve probably been asked this a million times! I'm a fledgling collector as far as actually trying to get organised and care for my coins, but I’ve been collecting in a very loose sense for many years. Having read up a bit about it, I know I’m doing it all wrong! So I want to store things properly and get some real information on everything. Coins have always fascinated me, especially the old ones with a real life story in every scuff and mark. I’ve got a bit of everything at the moment, but nothing (as far as I know yet!) of any great value. Just a few small collections that I’ve picked up in jumble, and my own years of adding this and that to a pot... I’d like some advice on the best equipment to get for a beginnner watching their pocket, and I’d also like to know a second tier of storage for more protection that costs a bit more. I know to avoid PVC, to not clean your coins, to only touch the edges (only found that one out recently!) and that circulated coins operate in a whole different sphere to mint and proof coins in blocks and specialist cases. Nubim and lighthouse, pockets and pouches, acid-free and non-pvc... I’ve read a few forum threads and some websites, but there isn’t much straightforward advice for the enthusiastic beginner who wants to treat their coins as well as they can afford, and just wants some pointers I’ve probably got about 300 British coins 1700-modern, and another 100 of many different countries, and a couple of roman coins. One third reich 1943 ten pfennig coin, black with age and portent, which fascinates me. Also some presentation coins, a couple in hard plastic cases and one in a wallet. I’d like to keep everything together, and I’d love to be able to label them (I can do small, neat writing). Specifically, I’ve read a lot about not cleaning your coins, but the latest lot I got (for free from a chap clearing out a relative’s things) which had been stored in a coin bag, each ten or so wrapped in cling film, and they feel all sticky and have sticky-looking marks on them, which I think I should get off before they get damaged any further. Do I just do the distilled water 30-day soak, or use a cleaning cloth, or almething else? Are gloves necessary? Can you recommend a good starter book for reference?! Looking forward to some of your suggestions, and I’m excited at the thought of starting to collect more seriously. Thank you so much!

Never! I like a good port and like whisky, you can taste what you've paid for... Soph.

I will! Thank you I will raise a glass of port in your honour, lol (and drink it of course...) Sophie.

Thank you so much Will that’s amazing of you... Sophie.

Thank everyone Of course I’d rather have the hard cash, but my family aren’t very ‘cash’y at Christmas! They like to give things...which is lovely of course, hence me giving them a list of everything I want, in links, so that they don’t try and get creative ?. Nothing fancy, just the basic kit to get me started and preserve what I have got without further damage. I saw the little paper discs, but I’ve asked for the cardboard holders (oh dear can’t remember the name!) - flips?! white ones, which I can write on. And the albumt to hold them I’m entering them into a spreadsheet at the moment, and learning lots as I look each one up. Amazing the varieties involved... Sophie.

Ahhh that worked! A screenshot clipped down to tiny size...hmm... Sophie

Thanks Peckris. I’ll keep trying...? very frustrating! Sophie.

Thanks copper123, but I’ve done my Christmas List for family and already filled it with coin storage, reference books and other paraphernalia! Will be exciting...hoping someone will but me some actual coins too lol! I’m finding more and more at home, turns out I’ve been collecting unusual coins since childhood...? Soph.

Trying a different way Oooo does it show?! Fab. My initial interpretation of a spreadsheet...I’m sure it will change! lol. Soph. (It was showing, but now I’ve posted it’s gone. It says it’s not available for my account...what am I doing wrong? ?)

Thanks Rob. Unfortunately the issue for me is that I have to use an iPad, so I don’t have Paint, but I have got a resizing app so will have a tinker with that and see if I can get it to do anything... Soph.

Just seeing if this works it’s not a coin though, sorry! Can you tell me if you can see anything?! https://pin.it/ids2tvv6mpygjc Soph.

Thank you Rob and 1949threepence Sad about the gallery images, that must have been gutting. Seems insane that it has to be so difficult to upload images to a post. Thanks for the image advice, I’ll have to have a play and see if I can get something to work.., Soph.

I’m tagging onto the end of this thread as I read through it all hoping for guidance! Is there an easy way to upload images via the iPad as I do everything on one, and I think most of the image advice is for those with PCs. I tried to change my profile picture earlier and it just ignored me completely! I’m hoping to take some coin pictures one day too... I was quite sad to see so few coin photos in the forum gallery - I thought there’d be masses on there. I know there’s some in threads as I’ve seen quite a few, but it’s not quite the same as having them all there to see together. Is there a reason for this? I also can’t see how to do a member album on there, although I appreciate that’s probably my newbie hat rendering me a bit thick lol! Thanks in advance Soph.

Lmao...okay, Chris gets my order first ? Thanks guys, really nice to have a warm welcome. It’s scary when you first dip your numismatic (is that right?!) toe into expert waters... Soph.

Lol, not even that Peter! ? But it’s a great thought, and if I can do it one day I’ll enlist your assistance...! Reference books are always indulgent. So the Collectors Coins GB, and a Spinks too. Can you recommend a grading book title? It’s fab that there are so many really knowledgeable people in this forum Thanks again. Soph.

Thanks so much Rob, but no wheelchair for me, lol, I’m an odd bird! ? Bet it’s amazing to go to... I actually went into a coin shop a few years ago when I was still able to get out a bit, and it was fascinating, but I feel I really missed a lot of what was there...just from not knowing the subtleties and complexities of everything. I’m sure virtual reality will catch up and let me go to a fair soon lol - now there’s a challenge for them! Soph.

Hi Peter, Thank you for all the answers! Brilliantly helpful I am in the West Midlands, but sadly I’m not able to travel due to disability so my passion will be very much as a home bird! The internet and books will have to do, lol... Shame, because I’d have happily spent hours pottering around a coin fair! Ooo I love a good spreadsheet. What sort of thing do you record? Do I do an entry for each coin, give it a code, etc? I really need to read up on grading and the other little watchwords I’m seeing you all use as I read through threads. Any examples? I’ve had a smooch on Arrowfile so that’s a relief, I can get the flips and albums. Thank you so much for advising the acetone degunk. Such a relief to know I don’t have to leave that clingfilm crap on my poor coins! I’ll be happy as a pig in you-know-what Do you have any advice about how best to handle them during the soak, getting them in and out etc? Oh dear.. I can feel myself falling headlong here...walking before running though ;-) Soph.

Thanks Pete. I’m definitely going to keep on reading! I promise absolutely no cleaning will take place unless I’ve got really clear advice about what I’m dealing with Sophie