Help me with slab labels please

cinque1543

Newbie here, still building my understanding on many coin collecting topics. Today, slab labels. I'll admit to some confusion regarding what I will call ancillary terminology. I'm referring to terms like First Delivery, First Day of Delivery, First Day of Issue, First Strike, Advance Delivery, Advance Release, etc. I've read the definitions of these terms on the PCGS and CACG websites, and I do understand (or think I understand) the different definitions. What I don't understand is whether any of this is, or should be, important to a buyer.

To take one specific example: I looked at 2021 Morgan dollars on the APMEX site. The 6-coin set in PCGS MS-70 First Strike sells for $2,995. The same set in PCGS MS-70 Advance Release sells for $3,595. To me, this suggests that people are willing to pay more for Advance Release coins.

For the person who collects slabbed coins, or for the person who intends to, how much emphasis should be placed on these ancillary labels? Do they denote something of importance vis-a-vis the quality of the coin, or are they mostly just a marketing tool? In short, would you pay more for a coin that is slabbed with a particular ancillary label? I look forward to your thoughts on this.

BStrauss3

With all deference to our hosts, since it drives a lot of business to them, IMNSHO the labels are paper bunk.

Would you rather have the last coin struck from a die, or the first coin struck from a new die after some arbitrary cut-off?

Advanced Release is similar - bulk purchasers order and receive coins before the general release date. Sealed boxes delivered to the TPG get a special label. So what?

PerryHall

I buy coins, not gimmicks.

jmlanzaf

The market is what the market is. There is SOMETIMES a premium for certain labels. There is no global answer to the market question.

To the individual, there is wide variance and you can do what you want. There are people that only end First Strike. For them, there is no price other than bullion for a coin that isn't First Strike.

And, it should be added, there are people who hate slabs and want the coins in OGP.

WAYNEAS

I buy the grade and not the label.
IMO, these are truly marketing gimmicks(hype) to sell a coin for a higher price.
To my knowledge there are no added points when adding a coin into a registry set.
A MS / PR 70-coin, plain label earns the same value as an advanced release, first strike, fdoi, etc. coin in the same grade.
Would you buy a coin because the label states that it is a plan general strike?
I would say no.
I have recently been told by sellers, "but this is a fdoi or an advanced release coin" and they wonder why I won't pay the extra $$$ for the coin.
I will buy the coin in the no nonsense label and save some money towards a future purchase.
Wayne

Smudge

@PerryHall said:
I buy coins, not gimmicks.

Gimmicky bullion.

coinbuf

The simple answer is it depends on the collector. I don't collect modern coins like these but to some registry modern coin collectors the first this or first that label is very important. I don't get it, and I personally don't care but for those that want that label they will sometimes pay a premium to have it for their registry set. To each their own.