Collectors throughout the world love to catalog their collections, yet some folks are just not proficient with creating or using spreadsheets and databases. Some cannot be bothered with the time investment of creating the file and still others simply do not like the constraints presented by these tools. So what is left for a collector? The only option left (besides pencil and paper) is to buy a commercial software package.
Though buying a pre-made software package sounds easy it's far from it:
- Choice. There are at least 13 titles with even more that are likely on the way.
- Features. Not all software packages are created equal. Some have more features than you need while others have less. You really need to find that balance between what you need and what you like.
- Content. Do you like built in coin info or are you just looking to enter data yourself
- Cost. Solutions starting as high as $99 or as low as 5$, so what's your budget like?
- Complexity. This is a big factor, especially if you are not comfortable using computers. Are you proficient or familiar with databases?
Listed below is a table that summarizes the current software available to help you in your search for just the right package. Unfortunately, the table does not include anything in regards to complexity as complexity in this context is almost impossible to define as it is based on individual perspective.
Click here to download .xls file
For a list of my preferred chices then click here
Summary Table
| Product Name | Exact Change | Coin Collectors assistant Plus | Coin Collector Professional | Coin Elite | CoinManage | Coin Organizer Deluxe | EzCoin | Coin Collector v3.0 | Visual PackRat Plus 2.0 | Pro-Coin 2006 | Coin Tracker | Numismatist's Notebook | Coin Keeper Deluxe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher | Wild Man Software | Carlisle Development | Robert W. Benjamin | Trove Software | Liberty Street Software | PrimaSoft PC Software | SoftPro 2010 Inc. | Duck Software | Spectrum Software | MWP Software | CyberNiche Software | Sandy Knoll Software | HobbySoft |
| World coin database | 60,000 types, 240 countries | 5,000 types, 40 countries | None | Canada and Mexico sold separately ($30 each) | 750 types from 12 countries included | None | 5325 US types, 1850 Canadian types sold separately ($44.99 each) | None | None | None | None | None | Canada and U.S. Commems sold separately ($24.99 each) |
| Includes Stock Coin Images | More than 18,000 images | U.S. coinage only | None | U.S. coinage only | 459 images | None | 1330 US images, 1450 Canadian images (when both products are purchased) | None | None | U.S. coinage only | None | None | U.S. coinage (U.S. Commemoratives and Canadian sold separately) |
| Ability to Load Your Own Images | Yes | No But will display images from links | Yes | Yes | Yes but complicated | Yes | Yes | Yes but only one image | Unknown | Yes | Yes but only one image | Yes | No |
| Ability to Create Categories | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Ability to Create Want Lists | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mintage Figures Included | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Foreign Date Converters | Hebrew, Roman, Arab, Burmese, Thai, Bengali, Nepalese, Japanese, Taiwanese | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | |
| Ability to import .xls or .dbf | Unknown | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Unknown | No | No | No | No |
| Ability to export .xls or .dbf | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Unknown | Yes | No | No | No |
| Medium | DVD | CD | Download | CD | CD or download | CD or download | CD or download | CD or download | CD or download | CD or download | CD or download | Download | CD |
| Minimum Operating System | Windows XP | Windows 95 | Windows 95 | Windows 95 | Windows 98 | Windows 95 | Windows 95 | Windows 95 | Windows 95 | Unknown | Windows 95 | Windows 95 | Windows 95 |
| Price as of June 2007 | $79 | $84.95 | $19.99 | $59 without values or $79 with values (Canada and Mexico additional $30 each) | $49 for download, $59 for CD | $65 (additional $8 for CD) | $44.99 for U.S. $44.99 for Canada | $14.95 | $25.95 download, $29.95 CD | $34.99 - $59.99 | $25 download, $30 CD | $5 | $89.95 (U.S Commems and Canada additional $24.95 each) |