After forty years in this business, we've seen the full range of coin collections come through the door — estate boxes, inherited albums, shoeboxes stuffed with rolls from the 1960s. The well-organized ones always have two things in common: proper storage and the right reference material.
Whether you're building a collection or trying to make sense of one you've inherited, here's what's worth having.
Series-Specific Coin Books
General references give you values. Series-specific books give you the context to understand why those values exist and to identify coins that general guides routinely undervalue.
A Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars
The Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars is deep enough that a dedicated reference pays for itself immediately. This guide covers every date and mint mark in detail, including die varieties, key dates, and semi-key dates that a general price guide glosses over. It explains why a coin that looks nearly identical to its neighbors might be worth five times as much. If you have Morgans in a collection, this book belongs with it.
A Guide Book of Peace Dollars
The Guide Book of Peace Dollars covers the series from 1921 to 1935. It's a tighter series than the Morgan dollar, but key dates like the 1921 and the 1934-S carry premiums that require real context to understand correctly. A dedicated reference makes that context accessible without having to dig through a general guide that covers the series in a few pages.
A Guide Book of Lincoln Cents
The Guide Book of Lincoln Cents spans more than a century of American coinage and include some of the most significant key dates in all of U.S. numismatics—the 1909-S VDB and the 1914-D—being the most famous. But condition rarities and die varieties throughout the series reward collectors who know what to look for. This guide covers the full series in the depth it deserves.
A Guide Book of Washington Quarters
The Guide Book of Washington Quarters covers one of the most widely collected U.S. series. The 1932-D and 1932-S are the key dates most collectors know, but the series has depth beyond those two. The transition from silver to clad coinage in 1965 created its own collecting landscape. This guide covers the full series including key dates, varieties, and the modern statehood and National Park quarter programs.
A Guide Book of Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollars
Half dollars are underappreciated. The Guide Book of Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollars covers both series in detail. The Franklin series (1948-1963) and the early Kennedy series (1964-present) include significant full bell line varieties and proof issues that general guides don't cover adequately. A dedicated reference covers the series in the detail collectors need.
A Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels
The Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels covers a series (1913-1938) that is among the most artistically significant in American coinage, and it includes some genuinely scarce issues. The 1916 doubled die, the 1918/17-D overdate, and the 1937-D three-legged Buffalo are the most famous varieties, but the series has enough depth to warrant its own reference.
Coin Collecting Albums and Folders
Reference books tell you what coins are worth and how to understand them. Albums and folders are how you organize, store, and display them. The right storage protects value; improper storage causes damage that can be permanent.
Whitman Folders
Whitman folders are the most recognizable introductory format in coin collecting. Cardboard folders with individual holes for each date and mint mark in a series, they cover virtually every major U.S. coin series. The state quarter map, the National Park quarter book, and the standard Lincoln cent and Jefferson nickel folders are all Whitman products. Affordable and widely available, they're a reasonable starting point for organizing a collection. They are not archival-grade storage for valuable coins.
Dansco Albums
Dansco albums are the step up for collectors who want better protection and presentation. The construction is more durable than a folder, the slides protect coins from environmental exposure and handling, and the overall presentation is significantly better. For a collection with meaningful value, Dansco is worth the upgrade from a folder. The company produces albums for virtually every major U.S. series, and the quality is consistent across the line.
Littleton Coin Albums
Littleton produces albums in a similar format to Dansco, with a strong catalog of U.S. series coverage. Their two-page album format for larger series is particularly well-regarded. For collectors who can't find a Dansco album for a specific series, Littleton is the reliable alternative.
Coin Collecting Folders for Specific Series
Whitman produces dedicated folders for penny coin collectors, quarter collection books, nickel series, dime series, and the Presidential dollar series. The penny coin folder and the quarter folder are the most popular introductory products. For younger collectors or for families just getting started, a folder and a roll of coins from a specific series is one of the best ways to get into the hobby.
Coin Display Cases and Holders
For individual coins or small groups, acrylic coin display cases provide protection against handling and dust while keeping coins visible. Coin holders—both the standard 2x2 cardboard flip style and rigid plastic capsules—are appropriate for individual coins that aren't being submitted to a grading service. For high-value coins, PCGS or NGC certified holders provide the most secure long-term storage. Coin storage containers for bulk silver or common coins can be as simple as airtight tubes designed for the specific coin diameter.
How to Store Old Coins Properly
The general principles: never handle coins with bare hands (skin oils cause toning and long-term surface damage), store in a stable environment away from humidity extremes and temperature swings, and use storage products that are PVC-free (PVC in cheap plastic flips releases chemicals that damage coin surfaces over time). Cotton gloves for handling, quality holders for storage, and a dry environment cover the basics for most collections. For high-grade or high-value coins, professional grading and sealed holders are the right long-term answer.
Paper Money and Currency Reference Books
Currency collecting is a substantial hobby in its own right, and old paper money surprises people regularly. Bills that look worn and unremarkable can carry real value depending on the series, the issuing bank, the serial number, and condition.
The Official Price Guide to United States Paper Money
This covers Federal Reserve Notes, Silver Certificates, Gold Certificates, National Bank Notes, and older large-format currency from the 19th and early 20th centuries. If you have old bills in a collection, this is the starting reference. The variety of U.S. paper money is broader than most people realize, and this guide is the most accessible single-volume introduction to it.
Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money
Krause Publications produces a more detailed catalog of U.S. paper money for collectors who want deeper coverage than the price guide provides. It includes more complete listings of National Bank Note issuing banks, small size note varieties, and obsolete currency from the 19th century.
Currency Serial Number Lookup and Fancy Serials
Serial numbers add value in ways most people don't know to look for. Low serial numbers, radar notes (reads the same forward and backward), repeater notes, solid notes (all one digit), and star notes (replacement notes marked with a star) all carry premiums with currency collectors. The MyCurrencyCollection fancy serial checker and PCGS Currency platform are the standard tools for checking whether a serial number pattern adds value. It takes two minutes to check and occasionally turns a face-value bill into something worth significantly more.
Standard Catalog of World Paper Money
For foreign currency, Krause's world paper money catalog is the most comprehensive reference available. Organized by country and covering several centuries of world banknote issues, it's the starting point for identifying and valuing foreign currency from any collection.
Money Albums and Currency Storage
Currency storage requires different materials than coin storage. Mylar or polypropylene sleeves are the standard archival material for paper money (never PVC, which damages paper over time). Lighthouse and Guardhouse produce currency albums in standard bill sizes for collectors building organized collections. For high-value notes, PCGS Currency and PMG (Paper Money Guaranty) provide professional grading and sealed holder storage equivalent to PCGS and NGC for coins.
Frequently Asked Questions About Coin Collecting Books and Supplies
What is the best book for coin collecting beginners?
The Red Book (A Guide Book of United States Coins) is the standard starting point. It covers U.S. coinage comprehensively, updates annually, and is widely available. Pair it with free access to PCGS CoinFacts online and you have a solid foundation for understanding any U.S. coin collection.
What is the best coin collecting album?
Dansco albums offer the best combination of protection, presentation, and availability for most series. Whitman folders are the right starting point for beginners or for series you're just beginning to build. For high-value coins, PCGS or NGC certified holders provide the best long-term protection regardless of the series.
How do I store old coins without damaging them?
Never handle with bare hands. Use PVC-free holders and storage products. Keep coins in a stable environment away from humidity and temperature swings. For valuable coins, certified holders from PCGS or NGC provide the most protection. Coin tools like cotton gloves and quality magnification are basic necessities for anyone handling coins regularly.
Are coin collecting folders good for valuable coins?
Whitman folders are appropriate for circulated common coins being organized for display or completion. They are not appropriate for high-grade or high-value coins, where sealed holders and controlled storage are the right answer. A 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent does not belong in a cardboard folder.
We carry a selection of coin reference books, albums, and supplies at Xenia Coin Shop. If you're looking for a specific series guide or album and aren't sure what's available, call us at (937) 376-2807 or stop in at 30 W 2nd St in Xenia. And if you have a collection you want evaluated, appraisals are always free, with no obligation to sell.