Protoslabs. Post a slab-before-they-were-slabs.
Weiss
Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
1811 Gold 20 Francs
From James Halperin's New England Rare Coin Galleries of Boston, MA
Circa 1980
Note the attributes that would become standard:
1) Sealed (literally sewn shut!)
2) Assigned grade
3) Serial numbered
Got a slab before they were slabs?
https://www.inc.com/magazine/19830201/3069.html
We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
--Severian the Lame
--Severian the Lame
15
Comments
Nice, I don't have any "photo slabs"
I like how the insert has (at least) two different fonts. The sewn shut thread is pretty cool!
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
I showed this a few years ago. It is an O.114, from the R.E. Cox collection.
Sadly, just two are known to have survived in this customized holder, circa 1958.
Lance.
Sheridan Downey's catalog description:
Robert Earl Cox was the preeminent collector of United States Half-Dollars in the years preceding Stack’s sale of his collection in April 1962. (Metro. NY Numis. Conv. Sale, April 26-28, 1962.) His virtually complete collection encompassed the gamut of 50¢ pieces. It commenced with a VF specimen in copper of Peter Getz’ 1792 depiction of George Washington and ended with a date set of uncirculated and proof Franklin half-dollars. It included patterns, errors, die and hub trials, fantasy pieces, commemoratives halves and the territorial issues of Hawaii.
Cox displayed his half-dollars in sturdy cardboard holders made by Art Craft. The holders were individually prepared. Each shows the date and denomination along with the Beistle attribution, the common name of the variety, if any, and a word or two about characteristics of the die pair. Thin black tape was used to seal the edges and provide a narrow frame for the holder.
Cox purchased this coin from B. Max Mehl January 2, 1958. A page from his ledger shows the cost, $50 plus $4.75 for the Art Craft holder.
Amazing, @lkeigwin !
--Severian the Lame
Sent in:
My YouTube Channel
Interesting... I never saw examples of the first two before.... Thanks for showing them. Cheers, RickO
Does this count?
Coins are Neato!
"If it's a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, then someone...somewhere...is making a penny." - Steven Wright
I'm intent on winning this contest
"I think there's some chance this TPG idea might catch on -David Hall"
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
>
I don't think anyone can top that one, @airplanenut !
--Severian the Lame
Very interesting assortment of early graded coins. Glad I saw them. Now they're in my memory bank. Peace Roy
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
APN wins! Is that yours??
Here's a Defalco flip - well, 1/2 a flip ......
Purchased in 1974 for way to much money at the time, sent to ANACS some time in the 80s (?), now resides in a NGC AU Details, Improperly Cleaned holder.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
I wanna play....
Some of these have two grades - is it one for the obverse and one for reverse?
Yes. Back in the day, the early TPG's posted an obverse and reverse grade. I believe my holder above is ANACS Type 4.0:
Interesting they define grade MS67 as GEM - I thought that was MS65
Definitions change over time. In 1981, I was a Gem too. Now I'm just a Tim.
Tim
ANACS type 1 certificate. Issued from 1972-1976.
@CoinRaritiesOnline once had a wooden (!) slab. Can't remember the coin, but for some reason I want to say either NJ copper or Washington piece. Same form factor as today's, typewritten label on top.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I was about to ask if anyone had a Type 1. Very nice and very rare!
Tim
Bought this a couple years ago - fun to have the coins AND the invoice.
That is awesome, @Lakesammman
--Severian the Lame
I've wanted to try and put together a count of how many still exist, similar to what the NGC 1.0 collectors have done. I've personally seen 3 including the one I own pictured above.
I'm not sure I've ever seen a Type 1 listed for sale. Starting an ANACS census would be a great idea. In addition to these early unslabbed varieties, the Gen 3.0 and 7.0 slabs are extremely rare.
Tim
The last one I saw for sale was on EBAY about 6 months ago. The seller had a BIN for $3500. I think he was testing the waters. It didn't sell at that price.
It is! Bought it years ago on eBay for a song (the dollar itself is a really nice toned Morgan… not a spectacular monster, but nice) and I had David Hall sign it some time later when I caught him at a show. The inscription was his idea.
A few weeks ago I sent a Franklin in a Jordan Marsh flip to @gumby1234 as an added bonus on a give-a-way.
Gumby, if you still have it, this thread would be a great place to show it off in all of its PVC encrusted goodness!
This is the oldest slab.
Here is the Franklin half that @KindaNewish sent me.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
This one is more substantial than a flip as it is a hard plastic tomb. But its not what I would actually call a "slab". Would this be a "slab" or a "protoslab"? I also note that ANICS looks like they graded on the 65 point scale.
Nah, just an ordinary 2x2 snaplock holder with foil stamped lettering.
If you read what ANACS sent your coin back in (not sure about ANICS, but it was common in the day), they used PVC flips and told you they were non-archival. You were supposed to retain the certificate and move the coin into more permanent storage.
Interestingly, I have some original ANACS Photocerts where the coin was put into a polybag (polyethylene, which is food grade and inert, albeit a little milky colored) and then tucked back into the PVC flip. Since the coin doesn't touch the flip, it's safe. No signs of PVC, 25 years later...
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")