(Part 3) Best hobby coin collecting products according to redditors

The coolest things so far for us:
 

Homemade laser-cut acrylic token markers for Suburbia plus expansions with the original iconography from the games (you place these on the tiles and can easily scan for which tiles will change/be affected and the quality is amazing) for $45: https://squareup.com/market/upendedgames ETA: http://www.topshelfgamer.com also has some of the acrylic upgrades (room holders, scoring track overlays, etc) for Suburbia and Castles of Mad King Ludwig.

 

Metal Asian coins (Tokaido, At the Gates of Loyang) for $5: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CVBAUXS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Metal Coins (Viticulture, Suburbia and any game that requires coins) for $20: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018YBAYJI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (better picture: http://m.imgur.com/WzTalef)

 

Glass gemstones (Splendor, Karuba) for $15: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015KFAKTK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Tea Tins (great holders for game resources, we use these for TtR) for $12: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006R7FPXM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Blank Die to make custom action choice die that replace the flipped cardboard characters in Mr. Jack Pocket for $6: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XN6AZLC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Mini glass bowls (for coins, cubes, glass beads, etc) for $5: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D9F5UNU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Deck box (for card games like San Juan, Koi Pond, etc) for $4: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002TT3LG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Homemade oak wooden card holders (for any game really) for $7: https://www.etsy.com/listing/211174550/oak-wood-game-card-holder

 

Homemade oak wooden deck draw/discard holder (for any game really) for $10: https://www.etsy.com/listing/210637478/oak-wood-card-deck-holder

 

Centimeter plastic cubes (for any game with cubes we go between these and the translucent ones from BGG), 1000 for $17: http://www.eaieducation.com/Product/531004/Centimeter_Cubes_-_Set_of_1000.aspx

 

Polymer resources for Targi: https://www.etsy.com/listing/255646787/targi-game-polymer-clay-resource-set?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=targi&ref=sr_gallery_1

 

Polymer resources for Finca ($25): https://www.etsy.com/listing/200134004/finca-resource-tokens-fruits?ref=related-0

 

Buttons for Patchwork ($3): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BS2TIY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 


I also enjoy making custom polymer pieces for games (e.g., custom branches for Morels, homemade expansions for Viticulture, etc). That's probably my favorite way to add to our games and anyone can do it for cheap and easy! MeepleSource and Stonemaier games also have a lot of 'upgrade resource kits', though MeepleSource does theirs in wood while Stonemaier does actual pieces out of metals and resins.

This was actually one of a five piece set from "American Coin Treasure's". Basically a company that bought up uncirculated quarters, painted them, wrapped them in a box and tried to sell them at 1000% profit.

Here is the exact set on Overstock. Com

With a better example of image,

Here is the set on Amazon

1943 before Germany fell makes it super awesome... idk how much it's worth if I had to guess not much, maybe 10usd

Edit: Found it

Maybe this?

Chinese Snuffbottle Brocade and Coin Notebook - Grey https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094S5KWW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_u4SRAbWW2RF48

Or, you know, you could save yourself the time and just buy a set: http://www.amazon.com/1999-2008-Complete-State-Quarter-Coins/dp/B002MY7IMA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1411497740&sr=8-5&keywords=state+quarters

https://www.amazon.com/ESD-Vertical-8-Coin-Chute/dp/B004MC1MM2

It appears to be that model or an older one. They're called a "vertical 8 coin slide". That one says it uses quarters and allows for 0 to $2 pricing. The left side looks slightly different than that model, but it could just be wear. Without doing a bit of work it's hard to judge the exact dimensions.

Better than what and for what purpose?

here are some ideas I have used.

CD cases. pop out the black tray and a couple little round tabs on the case and it they will fit 16 caps. 4x4. Makes them easy to store and even display. Easy to get in/out.

Cardboard and plastic wrap. Probably best for large quantities. Cut pieces of thick corrugated cardboard. I generally do something around 12x8" but you should probably pick a size that works for the box you will put them in. I place caps on the cardboard. A 12x8" piece will hold about 100 caps. Then once it's filled I place a piece of plastic wrap over the caps/cardboard and fold the excess around the back to hold the caps to the cardboard. I then stack these into large boxes. I'd guess a standard size moving box will hold 1-3k caps when stored this way. Keeps them organized and from getting scratched up.

Coin pages. I can't remember what size I have. Probably close to this. https://www.amazon.com/BCW-Polypropylene-Pocket-Coin-Pages/dp/B009K4WUQ4 . With that product you could store 2k caps in pages in binders for under $20 (if you already have binders) Would be a good way to display them for sale at a show.

http://www.amazon.com/Operation-Neptune-Spear-Challenge-Coin/dp/B00AS05GFG

I've never used it, but it seems to be an acidic stripper. Doing that type of action is only used as the last possible attempt to save an encrusted coin. When you get to that last ditch method of stripping, then lemon juice or vinegar works well as a mild acid. So I don't see a point to this mixture.

The advertising I see says "all natural", which to me is a tip-off that there is something a bit dodgy. Why would being "natural" be better than other methods, and what does "natural" mean? I used to work in analytical chemistry, and "natural" doesn't really describe anything of value in this case. They may as well be advertising "less fattening" or "ligand free". It's meaningless hype.

People don't like to do the slow soak and scrub, or the tedious dry cleaning methods, and are always looking for that magic bullet instant cleaning method to knock all their coins clean instantly, but there really isn't anything like that. If there was a magic solution, there would be no dirty coins.

Leaving a verdigris layer is often the preferred look for coins. This product strips it all away.

Cleaning coins takes a lot of work and patience.

EDIT:

http://www.amazon.com/Mint-State-Restoration-Artifact-Cleaner/dp/B00574RPC0#customerReviews

Here is a link to the product, and notice the before and after photos of the coin. The coin they chose has very little pitting in the metal, so people get the idea that this solution will give them unpitted coins. That's not true, and from the before photo, I think this would have cleaned up much better if a layer of the verdigris patina had been left on it. Just my opinion. This coin didn't need to be stripped to the bone. I see some red on it, so it may not have come out so great. Really encrusted coins often have chewed and pitted metal, so don't expect this product to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

The reviews on that page have most people complaining about the product. A couple of the reviews mention it not touching their coins, and I suspect they were trying to remove dirt, or some other encrustation that is not going to be dissolved by an acid.

Add to your other gift: LEO Challenge coin only $14.95 solid feel to it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006W9VBVK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Use coin cases. They work great and are reusable: coin cases

Edit: Found smaller 25mm ones.

I used to store everything in 2x2 cardboard flips with mylar windows like these which work great for modern low relief coins but were causing visible contact marks with higher relief ancients. I later switched to 2x2 SAFLIPs which are a bit thicker and seem to fix the contact marks problem but I found to be brittle when regularly handled and easily scuffed, obscuring my view of the coin. I finally ended up switching to 2x2 envelopes which seem to hold up better and provide plenty of room for writing down info about the coin. They're also very compact, much moreso than SAFLIPs, which is nice.

For both flips and envelopes, I prefer 2x2 double row cardboard boxes for storing all the coins in.

My bad I misunderstood. AirTite Y65 for this one and other 5ozers.

Looks like the same one here


https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Coin-House-CONSTANTINE-IMPERIAL/dp/B002E7LCPO/ref=pd_sim_21_5/161-4438569-5580162?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CKS1FHY2P6WA41TAGG9N

> I just flipped a coin. It came up tails. I've now concluded that if I need a coin to show up as tails, I should flip a coin.

But only 50% of the time, it works 100% of the time. Clearly you need to maximize flip rate so that 100% of the time, it works 100% of the time!

http://www.amazon.com/Double-Sided-Coin-Penny-Tail/dp/B006H6OMQO

"I'd prefer platinum-190"

My only month of gold ever is about to end, and of course, it was gifted by the ever elusive Keyser Soze...I mean...M. I don't want to be too greedy and ask for all 12; that's just not right. I'd like to say that I'm worth at least six, but that means fewer people people can be gifted. Soooo, I guess I'll ask for three?

Link

Different option for ASE- link

The servo itself is this http://www.radioshack.com/radioshack-standard-servo/2730766.html#.VQYyWPnF_Hs
The coin acceptor is this http://www.amazon.com/Sintron-Kai-638-Comparable-Acceptor-Arcade/dp/B00C188QRS which I have connected to its own power supply.

I don't need coin values or anything else, I just need the aduino to detect that a coin has been inserted into the acceptor and then have the arduino make the servo rotate quickly to 45 degrees and back to its start position until another coin has been inserted. Every code I have seen has to do with values and what not making it more difficult than what I need.

Money is sometimes hard to come by, so what's the next best thing to have. ... this

This is the battery holder I am talking about.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DK89QRM/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485479444&sr=8-1-fkmr0&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=harwin+coin+cell+2032

Basically, I have been removing the tabs and dead batteries in my cartridge games and replacing them with the battery holders. So, in 20 years or so, it will be a very quick fix to replace the batteries in all my games.

Desolder old tabs, remove them, solder in battery holder, insert new battery.

What I have not been able to find is anyone that have used battery holders for game boy advance games. All of the videos that I have seen are using batteries with solder tabs.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ES2B0CI/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485479733&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=cr2032+tabs&dpPl=1&dpID=517gcE-07oL&ref=plSrch

I am just trying to find out if anyone has found a solution for those of us that want to solder one time and be good to go from then on.

Here is a video that shows what I have been doing.

https://youtu.be/uYFXNEH_vvk