Every collection begins in a drawer. Coins, shot glasses and medals pile up because each one means something, and nobody wants to throw one out. At some point the pile becomes a collection, and a collection deserves a place where you can see it.
Displaying small objects is easy to get wrong. Too many in one spot looks cluttered, too few looks lost, and objects at the wrong height disappear. These are the principles that work, and the products that suit each type.
Principle one: show the collection, not the pile
A display should do three things:
- Make every object visible. Nothing should hide behind something else.
- Protect from dust and damage. Cleaning is the main cost of a display.
- Make it easy to change. Collections grow, and favorites rotate.
Anything that fails one of these three is a bad buy, however nice it looks.
Challenge coins and military medals
Coins are flat and round, and they look best standing in grooves or rows. Capacity varies widely, from a few dozen to over a hundred.
The solid wood challenge coin case with an acrylic cover and drawer has 8 recessed rows and holds roughly 80 to 100 standard-size coins or medals. It measures about 13.8 inches wide, 5.9 deep and 11.8 high, comes in one piece with no assembly, and costs about $41. The acrylic cover keeps dust off, and the drawer holds the overflow.
If you want a smaller piece, a double-sided rotating stand holds 33 coins: 24 in three front rows, plus nine single grooves on the back for your favorites. It sits on a desk and turns, so a colleague across the desk sees the best ones.
A few coin-display notes:
- Challenge coins are usually 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter, but check yours. Oversized and thick coins need wider grooves.
- Keep the oldest or most valuable coins in the closed case, and use the rotating stand for recent ones.
- Do not clean coins with polish. For valuable ones, handle by the edges and leave them as they are.
Shot glasses
Shot glasses are an odd collection. They are small, they come in countless shapes, and they pile up from every trip. They also break.
Display choices fall into two groups:
- Wall shelves: use a lot of wall, need drilling, and are exposed to bumps.
- Freestanding cases: sit on a bar cart, shelf or counter and need no tools.
The 3-tier rotating shot glass case is freestanding, holds more than 30 glasses, and costs about $30. Because it rotates, you can see every glass without lifting one. A larger 5-tier shelf holds 35 or more, with four removable shelves you can adjust for taller glasses.
Practical tips:
- Group by trip or region. It gives the collection a story.
- Tallest at the back or top. Short glasses on lower tiers stay visible.
- Leave a finger of space between glasses. They clink and chip when packed.
- Wash before display. Dust and residue build up on glass over time.
Medals, ribbons and awards
Medals are the hardest to display because they come in different sizes, weights and ribbons. They hang, they have ribbons that twist, and they tarnish.
A wall-mounted medal rack with a trophy shelf solves most of this. The 3-tier medal hanger with a trophy shelf has a top shelf for trophies and certificates, a velvet-lined middle section for pinned medals, and heavy-duty metal hooks below for ribbon medals. At about $30, it holds a whole wall of achievements in one unit.
Hanging tips for medals:
- Hang by the ribbon, not the medal. The weight is on the fabric, not the clasp.
- Keep ribbons flat. Smooth them each time you hang one.
- Rotate seasons. Put the newest medal on top so it gets seen.
- Keep away from sun. Ribbons fade.
How to arrange for impact
Whatever you display, a few design rules apply.
- Group by theme. Army, Navy, a single race, or one year looks intentional.
- Use odd numbers. Three or five items in a cluster look better than two or four.
- Vary heights. Use a tiered stand so items sit at different levels.
- Light it softly. A small lamp nearby helps. Avoid direct sun.
- Leave breathing room. A display two-thirds full looks curated. Full to the edges looks like storage.
Choosing a location
- Desk or office: a rotating stand shows off a few key pieces to visitors.
- Living room shelf: a case with a clear cover blends into the room.
- Man cave or garage bar: a shot glass tower or a medal rack suits the space.
- Hallway: a wall-mounted piece takes no floor space.
A note on insuring and recording
If your collection has real value, whether monetary or sentimental, take photos of each piece and write down where it came from. A short note on the story behind each coin or glass is the kind of thing nobody regrets keeping, and it makes a collection far more interesting to show to a visitor. Keep a copy somewhere outside the display, and, if some pieces are valuable, check whether your home insurance covers them or needs a rider.
Dust and cleaning
Open displays need dusting every week or two. Use a soft, dry brush, such as a makeup brush, to reach into grooves. Closed cases need dusting less often and protect better. For metal pieces, avoid household cleaners, and wipe with a dry cloth.
When the collection outgrows the display
It happens. When it does, do not squeeze. Add a second display, or start rotating: keep half the collection in the case and half in a drawer, and swap every season. It also lets you see old favorites in a new way.
Coins, tarnish and wall versus desk
How do I keep coins from tarnishing?
Handle them by the edges, keep them in a dry room, and avoid cleaning them. A closed case with an acrylic cover slows tarnish more than an open stand.
How do I choose between wall and desk?
If the collection is growing, choose a desk or shelf piece, since it can move. If you have a fixed spot and want a feature, choose the wall.
Where to look next
If you collect something else, from knives to trading cards, the same principles apply: visible, protected and easy to change. Browse our collectible display cases to see every type in one place.