Does your OCD hate torn holograms?

originalisbest

Mine does. I recently purchased an OGH large cent, pretty nice coin, the holder had some scuffing, nothing that couldn't be polished out. However, upon removing the price sticker, 90% of the gold foil hologram was toast (not from the current sticker, but some awful one previous.)

It looked bad enough, I figured how much worse could it get, and plucked up the 10% remaining gold foil with a piece of tape. Otherwise the holder will buff out fine, not a chip etc anywhere else. Still bugs me, but it looks much more visually acceptable now. Still, if this were any generation blue label holder with a similarly trashed hologram, I'd already have sent it for reholdering (and I do think the current crop of PCGS holders are looking as good as they ever have.)

Similarly, many times I have been tempted by an NGC no-line fatty, only to be turned off by the back hologram missing a price sticker chunk.

gumby1234

buy the coin not the hologram.

I do like the holograms intact thou if possible, but you gotta take what you can get sometimes.

Walkerfan

Yes, I’m very picky about it! I don’t mind, if it’s a small little corner, but anything significant; I will avoid it, unless the coin is Uber rare!

Walkerlover

@originalisbest said:
Mine does. I recently purchased an OGH large cent, pretty nice coin, the holder had some scuffing, nothing that couldn't be polished out. However, upon removing the price sticker, 90% of the gold foil hologram was toast (not from the current sticker, but some awful one previous.)

It looked bad enough, I figured how much worse could it get, and plucked up the 10% remaining gold foil with a piece of tape. Otherwise the holder will buff out fine, not a chip etc anywhere else. Still bugs me, but it looks much more visually acceptable now. Still, if this were any generation blue label holder with a similarly trashed hologram, I'd already have sent it for reholdering (and I do think the current crop of PCGS holders are looking as good as they ever have.)

Similarly, many times I have been tempted by an NGC no-line fatty, only to be turned off by the back hologram missing a price sticker chunk.

I am very bothered more about scratches or scuff marks on the holder, especially in the viewing area

originalisbest

@gumby1234 said:
buy the coin not the hologram.

I do like the holograms intact thou if possible, but you gotta take what you can get sometimes.

Don't disagree and that's what I did! Coin is nice but I'd be lying if I said the hologram aspect didn't bug me. Too bad it wasn't some flavor of blue label era, then I'd just reholder it in the current. Ah well!

asheland

I’m bad with it. If the holder or hologram is messed up I’ll either pass on the coin, or send for a reholder.

RobertScotLover

I can appreciate an untorn hologram since it looks better, but it would never dissuade me from buying a great coin if the hologram was torn.

originalisbest

@RobertScotLover said:
I can appreciate an untorn hologram since it looks better, but it would never dissuade me from buying a great coin if the hologram was torn.

Agreed! It's one thing to pass on a coin where you can pick and choose from dozens or hundreds that are similar, vs. one where you can always reholder, if the coin is what it needs to be.

renomedphys

My OCD hates my OCD

DelawareDoons

My core collection of NGC Fattys and PCGS OGH's insists on almost always having complete holograms unless the coin is extraordinary.

Zoins

@DelawareDoons said:
My core collection of NGC Fattys and PCGS OGH's insists on almost always having complete holograms unless the coin is extraordinary.

Great if you can do it! It's important to preserve the visual appeal of the slab.

PerryHall

The slab on a rare coin is like the frame on an old painting. A damaged hologram hurts the eye appeal of the slab. Many years ago, I bought an NGC no-line fatty slab with a great looking double eagle and when I pulled off the large dealer sticker on the back of the slab, the entire hologram came off with it.

..

So there’s collections of lowball coins….and I’m thinking of staring a ‘worst torn/horrendous hologram’ collection. Maybe I MIGHT win a PCGS award? 😂

CaptHenway

My OCD is with eBay sellers who post pictures that are not perfectly aligned up and down.
In my defense, I used to lay out Collectors Clearinghouse pages using photographs, a pair of scissors and a pot of rubber cement and they were RIGHT! gawdammit!!!

pointfivezero

Yes, I am a member of the Holograms matter club.

Take this beautiful Pan Pac Octagonal. The torn hologram detracts:

It is one of the reasons I don't like the placement of the Stacks auction sticker (the other being I can't tell if the holder is an NGC 3.0 or later version):

I think GC got wise and started avoiding covering the emblem/hologram in their auctions:

Tim

gumby1234

@pointfivezero Take a peek at my thread named peanut butter. It just might help with that Stacks sticker.

Walkerguy21D

I must be in the minority, as I never even consider the hologram at all when evaluating a slabbed coin.
I suppose I better start though…. I can see dealers using it as another reason to lowball you on an otherwise nice coin you’re trying to sell 😉

Kliao

Can't stand a torn hologram. But like others have said, if its a rare coins I guess I can live with it or can reholder it.

steveben

i had a ngc fatty i won from a heritage auction. i removed their sticker and a corner of the hologram came off. what's worse though is...i kept the coin for about 7 years and finally sold it...then it upgraded and sold again for twice as much.

mr1931S

I recall owning an NGC holdered coin with a partially obliterated hologram. It was a rather pricey piece that I considered sending to PCGS for grading. That never happened though as I accepted an offer I couldn't refuse.

Lovely coin in a human-caused, mess of a holder. I bought the COIN, not the HOLDER and it payed off handsomely for me this time.

asheland

That’s how you do it!

asheland

These are two coins with perfect holograms, and these are both very very easy to damage:

pointfivezero

@gumby1234 said:
@pointfivezero Take a peek at my thread named peanut butter. It just might help with that Stacks sticker.

Thanks @gumby1234. Neat trick. My main issue is when bidding on a Stacks auction where they have the hologram covered with their advertising. No way to tell if the hologram is intact or even the version of the holder.

Tim

gumby1234

@pointfivezero Thats a big issue for slab collectors like yourself. Dealers and auction houses should be more considerate of where they place a sticker and the size. No reason to have a sticker that large in my opinion.

GotTheBug

Torn holograms due to dealer stickers are unsightly and unnecessary, but what is also cringe-worthy is a damaged holder. I've seen dealers literally toss a slab across the top of a display case to a prospective customer, a sight that always makes me wince.

I have 4 damaged holders that bug the crap out of me, including a CAC'ed Barber quarter. I am certain that getting the CAC coin reholdered and restickered is going to be an exercise in inconvenience and expense.