Coin Collecting Folders are very important as they help you organize your coins according to a specific theme …
… However, I’ve noticed that some people are not sure about which folders they should go for. That’s why, I’ve decided to put together this short post where I list the best coin folders out there.
Hopefully, you will find this list useful!
1. Coin Collecting Starter Kit (Bundle Tools)
This is technically a bundle kit (Check it Here at Amazon), but I believe this folder and all the other items that come with it make it worth mentioning on this list.
For one, you get the Littleton 1999-2008 state quarter folder which holds your coins securely. The folder measures 6 1/2″ x 8 3/8″ to easily fit on your bookshelf. It has a green leather exterior with gold embossing to add a touch of elegance.
Included is a deluxe 2×3 frosty case featuring a flag backdrop with holes for a P-mint and a D-mint State Quarter of your choice. Ideally, it would be your favorite quarter design. Also you get 10 coin envelopes for more storage. These small envelopes have long been popular for storing coins up to silver dollar size.
The most interesting addition to this kit is the interactive CD-Rom – it contains Coin Collecting Treasures by Truth Fanatic: Some Fun Facts About Coins, Coin Collecting Glossary, Beginning Your Collection, What To Collect, Storing Your Coins, Tools Of The Trade, Amassing Your Collection, Handling Your Coins, Cleaning Coins, Grading Your Coins, Determining Your Coin’s Value, Pricing Coins, Most Requested Coin Values, Expensive Coins, Kids And Coin Collecting
2. State Quarter Collection Book Folder Map
This folder map (Check it Here at Amazon) is much larger than the last one, but that’s a good thing. It features a map of the United States so you place each state quarter where it goes on the map. The full color map features all the state plus D.C. and America’s territories.
The United States 50 Quarter Program began releasing five quarters a year representing each state from 1999 to 2008. Every 10 weeks a new state quarter was available to the public in chronological order in which the state became part of the country.
These state quarters and their designs were only meant to be minted within this time frame. Which means the designs are limited.
Most collectors begin with either national parks or state quarters since they are still widely available. This would make for a good starting point for a beginner collector. Unlike the previous folder, this full color map adds to the appeal of your set.
The map measures approximately 11″W x 17″L (folded). You will need plenty of space to display this large map. You will want to once you collect all of them. I think it would have been a good idea for the folder to have holes punched out and reinforced so you could hang the map.
3. National Parks Quarters: 50 States + District of Columbia & Territories
Starting in 2010, the United States Mint has released 5 quarters each year representing a different national park throughout the country. In addition, you have space for the District of Columbia and the other American territories.
This durable 3-fold folder (Check it Here at Amazon) contains 60 slots for your collection. It does not contain quarters. Depending on your collecting goals, you will need two folders if you want to collect from each mint.
Warman’s Collector Coin Folders are of high quality and it shows in this hardcover folder. My only complaint is the inside of the folders are lacking any type of design. Considering the price and convenience of offering more coin slots than most other folders, Warmans is a good choice.
The folder measures in at 10 inches tall which is a reasonable size for a coin folder. It also helps that it is 3-fold rather than like most books. Being 3-fold makes it compact and easier to stack with other folders on this list.
4. Buffalo Nickels Folder 1913-1938 (Official Whitman Coin Folder)
Whitman coin folders are synonymous with coin collecting That’s why another Whitman (Check it Here at Amazon) is on this list again. Also, Buffalo nickels are a personal favorite of mine because of their design, history, and rarity.
The Buffalo nickel is a copper-nickel five-cent piece that was struck by the United States Mint from 1913 to 1938. Also commonly referred to in error as the Indian Head Nickel which was minted between 1857-1909.
Buffalo nickels featured a head shot of an unidentified Native American as did the Indian Head nickels. For the years 1913-1938, these nickels featured a prominent American Bison on the reverse.
In fact, the design of these nickels was never meant to be released. Government officials were not impressed with the design and neither were coin enthusiasts at the time.
Most interested in numismatics at the time declared the coin to be a failure, not just in design but in the manufacturing of the coin.
Buffalo nickels degrade faster than most coins. The markings on the coins, including dates, tend to smooth out over time. Eventually disappearing.
If you are fortunate enough to get your hands on Buffalo nickels then you should definitely protect and this folder is an excellent way to do that.
5. Washington Quarter Folder 1965-1987 (Official Whitman Coin Folder)
Any quarters minted before 1965 were made 90% silver. What does that mean for you? Well, it means they will be harder to come by as most collectors have begun getting their hands on as many as they could. From 1965 till now, quarters are nickel-clad copper pieces.
Instead of focusing on gathering as much silver as you can, if you are a beginner collector then this Folder 1965-1987 (Check it Here at Amazon) offers you a better chance of actually finding these years, but still has some challenges to them.
The older the coin, the more difficult it is to find since other collectors are doing the same as you. However, coin roll hunting might turn up some years and mint marks you are missing. If you solely focus on these years for quarters only, then the most you’ll invest is your time.
You can visit your local bank and ask if you can boxes of quarters and search through them. Return what you don’t need to another “dump bank” and repeat the process till your folder is full.
Again, Whitman is one of the best folder brands you can get on the market. The company has been around for more than fifty years because of their quality and affordable price.
6. Harris Liberty Head Nickels 1883-1912 Coin Folder 2677
Liberty Head nickels (Check the Related Folder Here at Amazon) were the coins before the under appreciated Buffalo nickels and still are popular with coin collectors.
They replaced the much older Shield nickels. Liberty Head nickels got their name because they feature the head of Lady Liberty on the obverse side of the coin.
In 1881, Mint Superintendent Archibald Loudon Snowden ordered Mint Chief Engraver Charles Barber to produce uniform designs for the three-cent nickel, and five-cent piece.
He asked Barber to include the Head of Liberty in the coin design. It was a specific request that Lady Liberty be included, which was a bold design decision in my opinion. Definitely more appealing than the previous shield design.
Harris folders are high quality and that are a direct comparison to Whitman folders. However, this folder has an edge over Whitman in the design department.
Unlike the solid color folders Whitman offers, Harris offers large full color photos of the coins on the front cover. Personally, I think these folders are better for displaying and owning because of the photos on the front cover.
The only issue will be finding these coins to fill up your folder. They are available online, at local shops, and coin shows. You are highly unlikely to come across one coin rolling. Then again, you might get lucky.
Are coin collecting folders for all types of coins?
For the majority of most minted coins, yes there are folders for these sets. It’s worth mentioning that special commemorative coins typically come with their own case or folder specific to that set.
As a beginner, the sets you will be suggested most often to start with, such as the state quarters, will have folders widely available.
Your local coin shop will have plenty to choose from since they are the most convenient way of storing your coins. Rare or graded coins within cases will not have folders available. They are too bulky to fit in one.
Do beginners need to use folders?
Any level will benefit from folders. It depends on what the goal is, and how you would want to store your coins. Beginners would benefit the most from folders as it adds a sense of structure to the hobby.
If you don’t have anywhere to store your coins, you run the risk of keeping them laying around increasing damage done to them.
It’s better to keep them in a folder than loose. When starting out, it’s more likely that a beginner wouldn’t know how to properly store a coin. Folders take care of that problem.
Finally, are these folders worth it?
Definitely! They are an inexpensive investment to protect and store your beloved coins. Folders have been the go-to method of coin storage for decades. They take up minimal space, inexpensive, and provide a sufficient amount of protection for a collection.
But, again, it also depends on the goal of the collector. If you decide you only prefer graded coins, then a folder will do you no good since no folder will be able to contain a graded coin case.
For all other collectors, folders are definitely worth investing in.
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