Why Cameron may be right about Sample Slabs...

MrEureka

I have long given Cameron a hard time - in a friendly way, of course - about sample slabs. To me, they're pure junk. That's because I collect coins, not plastic. To me, plastic only has value when it's time to sell. Since I (maybe stupidly) choose to ignore resale when I buy coins for my collection, the plastic has no value. From that perspective, all plastic is worthless, even the rarest sample slabs.

However, there are thousands of serious plastic collectors out there. They will pay prices for coins that only make sense if you realize that they are collecting coins AND plastic. To some of them, especially the Registry Set collectors, the plastic can actually be more valuable than the coin. We old-schoolers think it's nuts, but these people really are out there. They worship plastic. From their perspective, it won't be much of a leap for them to (one day) collect all kinds of plastic. To plastic collectors, sample slabs aren't disposable trash; they're the plastic equivalent of pattern coins! So, as a pattern enthusiast, I have no right to bash sample slabs.

Cameron, please accept my apologies.

sinin1

I feel the same way about Franklin Mint products exactly

MadMonk

Cameron has got a vision. We shouldnt pick on that which he holds close to his heart.
Remember, there are a lot of valuable collectables that back in their day were considered junk, a dime a dozen, etc.

ibzman350

the way I look at it (sample collecting) I'm keeping another piece of plastic out of the trash pile...the plastic in land fills will take forever to decompose.

Herb

pontiacinf

cammie takes a licking and keeps on ticking

jeffnpcb

So it is Exonumia and not Numismatic! Well I'll be damned! Looking at eBay purchases by some people, I guess a major grading company could slab excrement and put sample on it!

Shamika

Though I have no interest in sample slabs, I'm glad somebody out there does. Like it or not, slabs are an important chapter in the history of numismatics.

Besides, while some of us may think a person nuts for collect slabs, keep in mind that most of the planet think WE are nuts for paying premiums for old coins.

Sometimes, I think they are right.

DHeath

Didn't the Franklin mint produced some of the Phillipine coinage, alongside the U.S. mints.

foodude

Hey if it works for him and the others, and they are having fun While I don't collect them, I've picked up a number over the years, and would like to have one of those black NGC holders.

kieferscoins

Thanks. Pattern slabs. Very good concept and analogy and is basically true.

Cameron Kiefer

Dog97

Who says ALL Sample Slab collectors are morons?
I collect them for the COINS inside. PCGS & NGC holders by date, mm, & denomination just like a collector filling holes in a Whitman & Dansco album. And Type too. Have steel pennies, war nickels, silver dollars, modern proofs, casino tokens, even monster toned ones that I bet mr. dick (greattoning) could make a snazzy picture of and sell it on eBay for $500. (sorry yall, mine aint for sale, don't even ask)
I also do them by Slab Type in accordance with the Conder numbers.
Luckily for me I started aggressively pursuing them about 4 years ago when nobody else was and had to search eBay for "sample" in "titles & descriptions" and weed the 2 Sample Slabs out of the 500 hits returned for "circulated wheat samples' or "this auction is for a sample out of a original bag of circulated Franklin halves" or something like that.
I've always had to compete with Conder101 who wasn't scared to step up for a previously unknown type. He wouldn't sneak in there at the last second & snipe it like this new breed of Sample Slab collectors do. He'd send me an email saying "I need this, YOU back off" because he knew I hit it.
Then "barbaque" started buying them along with assrat and anchorsaway but they only bid "bid" and were easily outbid.
Then Keifer started wanting to be a dealer and him & oreville started their silly games trying to outbid each other or control the market or whatever in the L they were doing. Luckily for me I already had plenty of Morgans & Peace dollars in Sample Slabs so I didn't have to pay the artificially inflated prices.
I'm not going to mention any names but somebody thinks they are "good investments."
Now jmore is buying them like crazy but I can always outbid him when a date I need shows up but a common SS still might cost me $10-$15-$20.
Sometime I think these guys aren't playing with a full deck though because they go friggin crazy over the Presentation Slabs like who would pay a prem for a slab just because they insert says they 8 lunch with David Hall? Or worse yet David Lange's NGC just married moron slab.
You guys are sick & need help.

mgoodm3

There are niches for all kinds of collectors out there, slabs included. Where would we be without the research that Cam and Condor have done when those inevitable slab questions come up. They are documenting the history of our obsession.

kieferscoins

Wow. Even sample collectors can get heated over this.



<< <i>Then Keifer started wanting to be a dealer and him & oreville started their silly games trying to outbid each other or control the market or whatever in the L they were doing. Luckily for me I already had plenty of Morgans & Peace dollars in Sample Slabs so I didn't have to pay the artificially inflated prices >>



Sell at these artifically inflated prices before they go down.



<< <i>Sometime I think these guys aren't playing with a full deck though because they go friggin crazy over the Presentation Slabs like who would pay a prem for a slab just because they insert says they 8 lunch with David Hall? Or worse yet David Lange's NGC just married moron slab. >>



Don't knock what others collect. I don't.

Cameron Kiefer

Dog97

<<<Don't knock what others collect. I don't.>>>
Yeah I guess I got carried away there. I'm just as bad as everybody else.

ClarkOfKent

< Don't knock what others collect. I don't.

Cammi Keebler >


What a liar! If he had it his way, my bong collection would be a pile of smashed ceramics and glass.

jonesy

<< <i>What a liar! If he had it his way, my bong collection would be a pile of smashed ceramics and glass. >>


ClarkOfKent!!! DAMMIT BOY!!!

MrEureka

Or worse yet David Lange's NGC just married moron slab

David Lange married a moron?

foodude

Where would we be without the research that Cam and Condor have done when those inevitable slab questions come up

I bought Conder101's book on slabs (in both the priint and CD format), and found it very informative. I had been keeping similar notes on PCGS and NGC slabs for years. Conder101's book is far superior (he has pics to boot) and complete than my notes.

Dog97

No he's a moron for getting married. In a couple of years he'll be putting out the Just Divorced Slab. If a collector has both a marriage & divorce slab he'll have a priceless artifact of slabing history..

kieferscoins

Those slabs aren't samples and we are getting off track here.

Cameron Kiefer

mgoodm3

Collect what you want. What's so special about coins anyway? Some of them are rare: Some toilet seats are rare. Coins have inherent value: big whup. a couple bucks of silver (if they don't have significantly more worth than the bullion content you might as well have gotten bullion). Coins have a lot of history: again I'm willing to bet that some toilet seats have seen some pretty serious history. If someone values a piece of plastic that they feel is rare and valuable then so be it. I collect shiny metal disks and pay exhorbitant price for the "rare" ones.

Neptune

Each to their own, is my motto. I think everyone picks on Cameron too much. Life is short - do what makes you happy. It's better than some folks his age out doing drugs and gang banging! You go guy!

MrEureka

It's better than some folks his age out doing drugs and gang banging!

Slab collectors can't also do drugs?

MacCoin

different strokes for different folks. I collect coins

Dog97

Different coins for different folks. I collect strokes.

1jester

They're not for me, as I don't have the money to be getting involved in that playing field. However, I do believe they're a good/wise investment. Besides, what mgoodm says is true:

"They are documenting the history of our obsession."

cosmicdebris

I'll tell you I never cared for any sample slabs until I saw this one with an Irish Penny in it. Cameron sent one out free of Charge to me when he learned I wanted one. It sits next to my 9-11 quarter

clw54

Cameron gave me one of those too. They're handed out like candy, but they are cool.

kieferscoins

Handed out like candy? 150 were made and I have given less than 40 out!

Cameron Kiefer

MacCoin

dog97 how many more strokes do you need to finish what you started

Dog97

99

nucklehead

<< <i>Cameron gave me one of those too. They're handed out like candy, but they are cool. >>

I think the coolest sample slab I own so far is the one Cameron has been giving out of late with the darkside penny.Thanks again Cameron!

cladking

Great thread. ROFL.




<< <i>

However, there are thousands of serious plastic collectors out there. They will pay prices for coins that only make sense if you realize that they are collecting coins AND plastic. To some of them, especially the Registry Set collectors, the plastic can actually be more valuable than the coin. We old-schoolers think it's nuts, but these people really are out there. They worship plastic. From their perspective, it won't be much of a leap for them to (one day) collect all kinds of plastic. To plastic collectors, sample slabs aren't disposable trash; they're the plastic equivalent of pattern coins! So, as a pattern enthusiast, I have no right to bash sample slabs.

>>



...but registry set collectors are fair game?

MrEureka

...but registry set collectors are fair game?

Everyone's fair game. But what's wrong with registry collectors collecting plastic? Be careful how you answer. If something's wrong with collecting plastic, Cameron is WRONG!

ibzman350

"150 were made and I have given less than 40 out!"

Thanks again for mine cameron.....And I hope there are atleast 151 sample slab collectors around,

Herb

oreville

Sample collecting is collecting history. Someone has to do it or we will forget our history!

My bidding against kiefercoins was very limited and very specific on just a few issues. Sure, we battled against each other for a brief time. But it was always in good humor and a sense of friendship. In fact, we pm'd each other many times after the fact in wonderment. But I do not think I have ever overpaid. We have given each other advice.

I am convinced that collecting slabs, whether they are the original black NGC slabs, the PCGS Regency slabs, the WTC Firefighters slabs, or sample slabs is saving our history. The coins in them are incidental but certainly not shabby! What is important is that we should never forget our history as remembering our history will help us to avoid repeating the mistakes!!!!!

Collecting sample slabs is not about collecting coins. Likewise, collecting patterns is NOT about collecting coins! Patterns are NOT coins!!!!!!!!!!!

oreville

Dog97: Your posting is indeed part of our history! Kiefer now has to save your posting and incorporate it into his new book which I am sure will be published within the next 10 years.

I appreciate at least being remembered by you in some fashion!

MrEureka

I am convinced that collecting slabs, whether they are the original black NGC slabs, the PCGS Regency slabs, the WTC Firefighters slabs, or sample slabs is saving our history.

Every object is part of history. You've just rationalized collecting absolutely anything. Try again.

Outhaul

I'd like an original black NGC slab...

oreville

MrEureka: No rationalization at all.

Every object is indeed part of history but when there are limited quantities more care is needed to preserve them. Sample are in limited quantities just like some of the more common patterns. Both are worthwhile being saved.

As long as people collect coins using plastic slabs there is a desire to "complete" a collection of different types of plastic. Including the slabs mentioned before. Even after collectors cease to collect using slabs such slabs will continue to be desired and in fact, may be even more desired!

Same thing with common date shotgun obw rolls of coins. The coins have limited value but the collectors go wild over them. Collectors crave them because they want to hold a piece of history they can't easily buy anymore.

The old sample slabs are steadily approaching real history that cannot be as easily bought anymore.

Not long ago, the black NGC slab was not held in awe by any coin collectors.

cladking

<< <i>

Everyone's fair game. But what's wrong with registry collectors collecting plastic? Be careful how you answer. If something's wrong with collecting plastic, Cameron is WRONG! >>



Sure, everyone's fair game especially people who's name starts with Cameron. My point was just
that not all registry collectors are collecting plastic and not all plastic collectors are registry participants.
It's easy to understand the collecting of sample slabs but it has no real connection to the registry.






smiley and highlight added.

MrEureka

It's easy to understand the collecting of sample slabs but it has no real connection to the registry.

It's connected in that both groups of collectors treasure plastic. Doesn't mean they don't also like coins. Anyway, I have no problem with these people. Heck, some people collect Pez dispensers, and they're plastic...

Spinynorman

<< <i>Didn't the Franklin mint produced some of the Phillipine coinage, alongside the U.S. mints. >>



Yes they did, in 1975 and 1976. The US mint made the circulating coins and the Franklin mint made the NCLT. Some fools will actually spend a buck or two on them...


New purchase today --->

oreville

I thought it was the complete combination of the paper insert, the plastic as well as the coin that created the value of the sample slab to the collector. It is not about the plastic or coin alone.

The same applies to the pez dispensers. The pez dispensers is not as desired by many of those collectors unless it comes in the same complete package of dispenser (plastic), candy as well as the box or packaging that created the value of such item to the collector.

northcoin

When I was a kid back in the late 50's and early 60's I tried to come up with something unique to collect. I got the idea to collect paper bags with store logos on them. I came across them the other day and it was interesting to note most of the businesses were now defunct or had completely different logos. Sort of like a time capsule of the retail business in my community.