Issue with PCGS slabs fracturing?

GAC

Hi all,
Recently i have noticed an increase in the PCGS slabs fracturing across the face of the coin or below near the bottom of the coin. This was never an issue and would only happen occasionally to PCGS coins, but now it seems every time I ship a coin or a few I get someone saying there are cracks on the slab and I have to get it back and reholder it. I thought maybe it was my packaging so i fixed that but it seems to be coming from inside the slab. Any thoughts or ideas of what's going on?

littlebear

Do you mail in a box or bubble/padded envelope? I have seen coins sent in bubble envelope get caught in the machine and get damaged.

BStrauss3

You need to look into the DMM (Domestic Mail Manual) and make sure (and pay the surcharge) to be non-machineable. The clerks at the PO have a tool to check this too.

ndeagles

Was at the LCS a couple months ago and someone had pocket change they read about online. Some modern quarter that sold for $12,000. This guy insisted the coin was a rare variety and was trying to get the LCS to buy it at said price. They knew it was worth 0.25. The coin shop lady said if it was certified by a grading company then they would believe him. The guy countered back, oh it was, he pointed at a pcgs holder and said one like that, he continued to explain that the holder broke open when it was crushed between 2 phone books (when's the last time you saw a phone book?). I looked at the shop owner (not who the guy was working with), he looked me and we both shared a funny smile. Ultimately they told him, OK send it in, get it certified, then bring it back and we will talk.

Anyways aside from this phone book crushing incident, the only Holders I've had break are the ones I hit on the corners with a hammer, to crack out the coins.

1madman

PCGS has had some bad batches of plastic material in the past which caused cracking in the slabs because of certain coins. They will reholder your coins at no charge, but you need to take pictures of the damaged/cracked areas. Call customer service to start the process, unless you’re going to a show they attend and you can submit in person. Best to place the call to customer service first so they have a heads up and can document the issue.

PeakRarities

For the past year or so, coins in recently returned submissions have been randomly fracturing for no apparent reason. I submitted about 20 coins this past sub and two of them have these spiderweb cracks that start in the center area of the slab already . I suspect its either a difference in the plastic used, or an operator error with the sealing machine, but id really like to see this problem cease as its cost me months of time and a couple hundred dollars in one case where I didn't have the patience to deal with CS and get them to accept responsibility. Ironically, it always seems be on the most expensive coins the are the most difficult to transport for insurance reasons.

Anyone else notice this lately?

seatedlib3991

I wonder if they had to change the formula for the plastic. There is a chemical that most of us know about because of its use to make non stick frying pans. Called PSA or some such thing. I refinish floors for a living. The costs of my floor seal skyrocketed and when i asked why I was told because they used this same chemical to make the seal and the government has been making an effort to remove it from everything. My manufacturer rep. said it is found in thousands of products. I have no chemistry background but For seals it makes them level better and more flexible. james