Folders….. So do we need them? Or not?
The thing is…. not all coin collectors want them in the first place. You see, some people will choose to keep their treasures in capsules or coin books instead. And if this is the case, then folders are irrelevant from the off.
However, some people do buy folders to house their coins. So, I am writing this today with those collectors in mind. Because I have some serious concerns about value for money.
You see, like many things these days, it is worth noting that the quality and standard of folders has dipped a fair bit. A good example would be the three ‘Beatrix Potter’ ones. The first of these (2016) was really nice. Coins were pressed into the actual card and delivered a satisfying click when fully inserted. The artwork complimented the coins and the whole thing felt and looked well made. But then, without any warning, the spirit of penny-pinching paid a visit……
By the time the second and third ‘Potter’ folders went on sale, it became immediately apparent that things had changed for the worse. Instead of coins slotting directly into the card, these were now flimsy and cheap looking plastic inserts to hold them. Sure, they still featured the same style of art…. but the overall look of the later folders had moved towards ‘Cheap-and-Nasty-Ville’. The 2017 and 2018 versions paled dramatically beside the 2016 one and looked very much like something you would find in a discount store. The kind of store that sells JML ‘wonder-inventions’ and those crap devices which cut tomatoes into ‘exciting’ shapes for salads. Yup, it had all gone tits up.
So, in summary, many folders from more recent years are flimsy, plasticky and… well, erm…. crap. And not just the ‘Potter’ ones either. In fact, most are now constructed in this format with ultra-thin plastic bubbles and card barely any thicker than your average cereal box. This is, of course, only my viewpoint of it all but most people would agree that standards have dropped significantly. If you are lucky enough to own one of the original Royal Mint ‘London Olympics’ folders then it really does illustrate just how much things have changed for the worse. Yet prices for these items have crept up.
‘The kind of store that sells JML ‘wonder-inventions’ and those crap devices which cut tomatoes into ‘exciting’ shapes for salads. Yup, it had all gone tits up’
There have been some very nice releases to house coins over the years…. but if you do decide to go down the folder route, then you are going to be a bit disappointed when it comes to more recent releases. They will also look a bit lame when stored on a shelf beside the decent ones of yesteryear.
Perhaps, once that large companies have scrimped on materials so much that they are forced to go back to producing goods properly, standards will revert. I mean, just how thin can you make the metal on a can of Pepsi…. before it is no longer fit for purpose? And did they really need to reduce the amount of pellets in a pack of chewing gum yet still sell it for the same price??? Tight comes to mind…. like WATER-tight.
What we need is enough people who will bitch and complain about exploding cola cans that, in turn, will force manufacturing giants to pull their finger out, move away from ‘maximaising profits’ and concentrate instead on selling items of a suitable calibre. Coin folders are a perfect example of this. They were perfectly alright and scrimping on materials in order to make more money per unit is greedy. It also leaves collectors with items that look naff. Perhaps if people simply refused to buy them until things improved, we may see things improve.
Of course, if you are cool with spending ten pounds or more on a thin bit of coloured card with half a dozen blown-plastic bubbles, then ignore everything I have said and crack on. And the best of British to you 🙂 But just remember – if it ever gets to the point where folders are merely sheets of paper, I did try to inspire people to make a stand back in 2022! Lol
© Article is copyright of Ghost Writer 2022 an anonymous writer who lives in fear of being vaporised by lofty powers purely because of his opinions
