How to Number & Store Coins
Numbering and storing a large collection of coins in an orderly fashion is very important, as this will enable you to keep track of your purchases and identify gaps. Suitable storage is also crucial for maintaining your collection in the best possible condition. The most straightforward method for the general collector is to adopt a uniform numbering and storage system, in this case cardboard 2-by-2s annotated according to the KM system.
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Instructions
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Purchase or borrow from your library a recent edition of the "Standard Catalog of World Coins." This is the source of the so-called KM numbering system, named after Krause and Mishler, the authors of the first catalog. While there are other numbering systems for specific collecting areas --- such as FR numbers for British coins --- KM numbers have the advantage of being extremely comprehensive and widely recognized within numismatic circles. Looking through the catalog, you will find KM numbers displayed in bold type next to a coin's denomination.
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Staple your coins inside individual mylar-lined cardboard folders known as 2-by-2s. As you do this, refer to the catalog, establish the coin's KM number and then make a note of the denomination --- i.e., the face value of the coin --- and the country of origin on the cardboard sleeve. You may also wish to jot down such information as the date of issue or current value.
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House your coins within an airtight box specially designed to store 2-by-2s or lay them out on a fitted tray, which you can then store within a larger container. Keep coins from the same country together, organizing them either by their KM numbers or chronologically and by increasing denomination as in the catalog itself.
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Tips & Warnings
For 2-by-2s, holders and trays, visit any online numismatic store. They cost just a few cents each as of 2010, while a holder retails in the region of $8.
KM numbers aren't appropriate for all specializations. For Chinese coins, for instance, there are K numbers named after the numismatist E. Kann, but you will find these listed in the Standard Catalog.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit coins in sorting trays image by studio vision1 from Fotolia.com
