Coin flips. Glue or staple?

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Hi guys. Probably a basic question, but I have ordered myself some mylar cardboard coin flips and was wondering...... what is the best way to seal them up? I've looked around online and here in the forum and I see examples of coin flips stapled and some seemingly not stapled. I am also led to believe that the idea is to get an airtight seal so the coin is protected.
As for myself, I'd prefer not to use staples as I'd like to be able to write on the cardboard and I think the staples look .. meh. They also may damage the plastic inserts of my coin album over time.
So what to use? and what does everyone here do? If you glue them closed, what glue is suitable and safe to the coin? Is stapling the standard way?
Also, what would be the relevant information to place upon the flip?
Collector of Third Reich coins (1933 - 1946), and Australian coins.
Not swapping at this time.
Welcome Kipsley. I am an old fart and only use staples. And hand write on my flips. On the flips I put the country on top, on the right side I put KM number. On the left side put position and mint mark. On bottom left I put value and bottom right put year. And on back put any other information.
It is, what it is, or is it.
Brain fart - on your staples you need a flat bottom stapler. Most are round, and stick out where the flat is flat on flip. If you can not find a flat bottom one use one of these to make the back of staple flat.

Make them nice and flat, I also think you get a better seal.

And how my flips look

Well happy coin collecting.
It is, what it is, or is it.
I don't like staples either, but fortunately, you don't have to glue your flips. There are two kind of flips, the ones you have to staple and the self adhesive ones, so no glue required. The self adhesive ones cost a bit more, but you don't have to worry about damaging your plastic coin pages and there are no ugly staples on your flip.
Of course they have some disadvantages too and not only the higher price. I always compare my new coins with the ones in my collection and exchange the coin if I find a better one. With stapled flips you only have to remove one or two staples and exchange the coin using the same flip. With self adhesive flips you always have to take a new flip, they are not reusable.
Me I have been using staples from the 1970's. And I guess , it just does not look right in non-stapled flips

I have even kept some of my old flips. Here is one from the 1970's
It is, what it is, or is it.
As Essor Prof said 'With stapled flips you only have to remove one or two staples and exchange the coin using the same flip'.
You can purchase a flat clinch stapler at Officeworks for just over $10 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/J-Burrows-Effortless-Flat-Clinch-Pocket-Stapler-Assorted/222243210690?hash=item33beba45c2:g:gMQAAOSwAk9ZnfDr
Staples are preferred back when I used to use 2x2s, but glue just seems really messy.
When in doubt, get plastic flips. Not the mylar type though!
Mmmmmmmyeah ok. What's a KM number?
Collector of Third Reich coins (1933 - 1946), and Australian coins.
Not swapping at this time.
A KM number is a reference number or a catalog number given to a coin by Standard catalog of world coins. There are many reference numbers Spink's and Y and C numbers. The number going for only one coin or a coin series. There are much better people here who can explain much better than me.
It is, what it is, or is it.
Like the Dewey decimal numbers for books. But every country starts with one
It is, what it is, or is it.
https://en.numista.com/forum/topic39528.html
https://en.numista.com/forum/topic61518.html
You may find this helpful. On the forum page upper right hand there is a search box. Hit it and type in like what is a KM number. It will go to link from the forum past that have answers to the question.
It is, what it is, or is it.
Hi Kipsley they make self adhesive coin flips as well as the stapled variety they are the ones I use so no glue involved 8) oops just read the full post so I guess you already know :wiz:
What's wrong with mylar? They are completely inert.
Library Media Specialist, columnist, collector, and gardener...
Quote: "Oklahoman"​What's wrong with mylar? They are completely inert.
​I agree based on personal experience with them (I have a few hundred containing my collection), but there's a lot of complaints that mylar causes PVC damage to coin surfaces over time.

I've seen coin dealers dig out coins that have been in the back room for God knows how long, and where the inside of the mylar flip is all sticky and grimy, with the coin's surfaces being in a similar condition.
For most common coins, using stapled 2x2s is sufficient and most affordable way of preserving them.
HoH
I'm right now moving from stapled 2x2's to autoadhesive ones. They look way better and do less damage to the holder.
If a flip is gunky than it is not mylar. Mylar does not do damage. Flips that contain pvc do damage. Even mylar over time does not damage a coin. Mylar flips and flips that cause damage are two separate things. And it is the same with banknote holders. Mylar is inert and will cause no damage, while holders with pvc will end up damaging your notes. Mylar holders are more inflexible, but they do not have the "swimming pool" smell of pvc holders.
Library Media Specialist, columnist, collector, and gardener...
I personally always use staples and write on any key points.
I actually like the stapled look but I understand many who don't.
The glue can be seriously messy, due to this if staple don't float your boat use adhesive.
Be careful if the holder contains pvc though as it causes damage to the coin eg.

Copper - copper sickness - the coin be come green and corroded - hard to impossible to remove.

I love that beautiful coin ALLRED1950, the holder gives an aged effect in my opinion.
          'We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.'
                                                      Sir Winston Churchill
Well, I staple mine as I forever switch them around in the 20-coin plastic pages I use. One page from 1974 had a square to split on its own in about 1979, but still holds in the 2x2. I could one day replace it with a new one, but I've been saying "next year" maybe for 40 years! I always staple above and below the coin, and the tear is not connected to stapling. The bends in the wire DO cause convolutions in the plastic pages, but I never let that bother me. "Flat-stapling" staplers are available to flatly crimp the wire staples.
I do keep US silver dollars and Russian 10 ruble bi-metals in unglued, unstapled 2x2s, inserted into the pages. Small dime, kopeck sized coins could "walk" from the window of the 2x2 if not secured. You can do this too, unless you fear a coin can slip out and be damaged if handling it, especially the little ones as I mentioned. I fear vapors from some adhesives could stain or tarnish coins. Iodine will I know, propane "stench oil" attacks copper, and who knows what is in a glue! Best regards and best results!
As for info, I put country at lower center, date L.H. corner, and used to use Yeoman numbers in right top, but few use Y numbers anymore it seems. Except on lookalikes (thin planchet/thick planchet) or coins with tiny letter font variations, I never use KM numbers. That helps me to not swap unique coins! If you buy a coin and list the price paid, date it for historical value. Something like" '18 $2.25". It is an individual decision, what is relevant to you. If "John" gave me a coin and I had no other of the type, on the reverse side of the holder, I would write JOHN in tiny letters; making a souvenir.
One more notice. If you buy a coin which is inside clued coin flip and you would like to take a photo of that coin or measure it, you have to brake the flip. So I prefer staples too and I'm almost old fart.
Quote: "Oklahoman"​If a flip is gunky than it is not mylar. Mylar does not do damage. Flips that contain pvc do damage. Even mylar over time does not damage a coin. Mylar flips and flips that cause damage are two separate things. And it is the same with banknote holders. Mylar is inert and will cause no damage, while holders with pvc will end up damaging your notes. Mylar holders are more inflexible, but they do not have the "swimming pool" smell of pvc holders.
​Yes, that's exactly the distinction I was looking for, thank you! :`

Mylar being more inflexible as the key distinction between the two types of clear holders; I have about 200 of the former (mylar) type and 500 of the type that gunks up. Looks like I was right to reserve the 'hard' mylar ones for my silver and gold.
Or, use 'self adhesive' and leave a section of the backing paper on the glued side of the flip,
allowing access to the coin.
Miniature works of art struck on metal with an infinite number of variations, from all around the world, found in your pocket.
So I'm reading from many people that one advantage of using stapled 2x2's is that one can remove the coin and put it back again. I wonder, are they so expensive in your countries that you can't cut or tear it, and then staple a new one? Or is it just because it's faster?

I mean, I am myself using stapled ones (though switching to autoadhesive), but whenever I need to take out a coin, I use a new holder after tearing the old one.

Besides, I also used to write denomination+year+km+own ID number (from my database) onto the holder. Now that I am switching to autoadhesive, I will leave the holder blank, and put an identification paper printed in a sheet behind. I will post some pics later. I hope it will look great... though switching from stapled to autoadhesive, and printing all labels, will probably take me 2 or 3 years. 8~
Could you list some brands of suitable coin flips that sell in Europe or still better in Italy?

Thanks
Gianna
CirculableCoins
Leuchtturm or Lighthouse
Hello guys

i have made a website to flip a coin, please rate my work.

https://flip-a-coin-tosser.com/

Thanks
Quote: "roitx"​Hello guys

​i have made a website to flip a coin, please rate my work.

https://flip-a-coin-tosser.com/

​Thanks
​That’s... not exactly what we mean by a coin flip, and as a rule of thumb you shouldn’t really revive any old thread anyways, but thanks I guess?

ps. Your website is cool.
光復香港 時代革命
五大訴求 缺一不可
Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our times
Staples have a tendency to rust.....
Globetrotter
Coin varieties in French:
https://monnaiesetvarietes.numista.com
i usually staple them. I do also have some 2x2s that are self-adhesive. I still staple it after sealing it up though

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