I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I feel this might just be my favorite post on this site. There’s something intriguing about looking at where people stash their possessions, especially their prized items. Much like how money discussions are hushed these days, sharing images of someone’s coin collection might be too.

Although I won’t be revealing *everything* today, I’ll give you a peek into my collection that’s been growing for two years, along with how I store and track my coins. While it’s not as exciting as peeking into someone’s financial life, I have that covered too: Check out my Net Worth Tracker at RockstarFinance.com, another project dedicated to financial motivation 🙂

Once you’ve finished ogling, come back and read on…

I split my coin collection into two categories:

Now, collection #2 isn’t full of worthless coins – some are quite nice – but they’re ones I prefer not to store with my “special” coins. This might be because I already own one, or the type doesn’t interest me at the moment. Separating them isn’t just about distinguishing between valuable and less valuable; it boosts your trading or selling power! Which can then be used to enhance your #1 collection 🙂

[Side note: I used to keep everything together, but it wore on me mentally. Every time I sat down to enjoy my favorite coins, the others distracted me. It’s fine if I planned to sell them, but that wasn’t usually the case when I took out my special box.]

Before diving into the two parts of my collection, any new coin first lands on my desk beneath my computer monitor. As seen here:

This way, I can admire them before they settle into one of my collections. They stay on my desk until I tire of them or newer, more captivating ones come along. They provide a pleasant workday break, as I pause to appreciate them every few hours 🙂 (I work from home as a self-employed entrepreneur)

You can learn more about my approach to appreciating coins here: How to enjoy your coins more.

Now, onto my collections…

This is where the magic happens 🙂 My favorite coins, acquired through inheritance, purchase, or even trade. This pictured container is my go-to whenever I want to revisit “my collection.” If you’re a minimalist, you might appreciate this setup since everything’s neatly stored in one small place, making it easy to secure in a safe. Though at the moment, there’s nothing particularly valuable in mine, haha…

I’m also particular about how I like my coins. I prefer them “raw” and unslabbed, so I can hold and appreciate them fully, while maximizing space in my box.

Although I’m not opposed to slabbed and graded coins – I’d consider professional grading for a really valuable one – I favor the less bulky option. It feels more authentic and thrilling, and I keep them safe using direct “air-tites,” my preferred storage choice. They don’t fit every coin perfectly, but ordering one size up works just as well. Here’s a size chart I use, if it helps.

Additionally, a part of me cherishes wondering if my coins are worth more than I initially thought or traded for 🙂 Without professional grading, there’s always a small chance for a delightful surprise, haha… Though admittedly, the opposite could be true as well.

Here’s a glimpse of this collection:

As you can see, I use an old cigar box picked up years ago at a yard sale – it’s nothing fancy. You might use something similar, or opt for a bigger/smaller box depending on your collection. I’ve heard mixed opinions about using cigar boxes for coins—some say they’re harmful without the humidifying part, while others argue it’s fine, especially with air-tites. Maybe someone reading this can offer insight? Are my coins destined to lose value over time? ;))

That’s a good look at my special collection for now. Perhaps I’ll showcase more in the future if I’m feeling adventurous 😉 Gotta keep some mystery to ensure you return, right? Plus, as mentioned earlier, there’s really nothing too secretive or valuable there anyway. I’ve been collecting for two years now, and I’m fairly relaxed about it. I haven’t allocated a budget for coins yet, though I hope to one day!

This part sees the most action! It includes all coins or currency available for trade or future sale. Anything not deemed “worthy” of my special collection goes straight into this compact binder.

Here’s what it looks like:

And here are a few pages for you curious folks 😉

As you can see, it’s packed with various treasures: American coins, foreign coins, paper currency, tokens, and even some old stock certificates. If it’s related to numismatics or somewhat close and I don’t intend to keep it long-term, it goes here. Often, I change my mind about items and swap them back and forth between collections—it’s constantly evolving.

This is one way of managing things, and I’m sure it’ll adapt over time, but I thought I’d share it in case you’re looking for ideas. For now, it works like a charm.

Here’s why:

As I said, this is just one approach. I’d love to hear how YOU store and organize your collection.

Do you organize your collection similarly? Or do you have a different system that works well for you?

Please share if you have the time. I’m sure everyone reading would love to learn more!

Before wrapping up, I want to mention *tracking* your collection too. I’ll delve deeper into my tracking method in a future post, including the spreadsheet template I use, but the beauty of this organization is how it simplifies inventory management. Knowing where everything is makes it easier to maintain an inventory! For me, it looks like this:

Updating it promptly is another matter, haha, but this system works well once you kick it off 🙂 It just takes a few keyboard taps and some computer paper. Plus, it saves time and effort compared to constantly re-checking for information! You only need to refer back to one spot!

Oh, and I almost forgot about this last box… My foreign coins/currency. (Why does this always slip my mind? :)) Aside from favorites in Collection #1 and potential trades in Collection #2, I’ve got a lovely old box from my grandfather filled with non-U.S. coins and paper money.

I used to scatter these all over, but now it’s all in one place for easy access and addition. It contradicts my minimalist approach mentioned earlier, but there’s something irresistibly charming about them! So this third box is likely to stay unless I eventually decide to sell them… not sure where I’m headed here yet. I just know I’ve got a while before it’s full to the brim 🙂

So there you have it! You now know the secrets to my collecting skills 🙂

Use this knowledge wisely, friends. It’s powerful stuff! And please – share your methods with us below. I’d love to improve my management – I’m still learning!

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UPDATE: I’ve uploaded the spreadsheet I use to track all my coins. It’s simple but effective 🙂 Most importantly, it gives me a clear view of everything I own and their value (or my best guess at their value). Here it is if you’d like to check it out/use it: Coin Collecting Spreadsheet

Some notes on it: