Getting coins "slabbed"? HELP!

Zulan

OK... here we go.

I am at the point in reviewing "grandpaws collection" (it is only after being on here for a month that I realize how often you all hear about "grandpaws collection") where I need to start "slabbing" some coins. These are the no-brainer coins that need to be well protected. At this point in time I am talking about Key date Walking liberty halfs in pretty good condition.

Now, I am still going through coins. I may well find some more that need to be slabbed in the future. I am pretty sure I will actually.

Um..... What next? The way I see it I have several options.

1) Go to a local dealer (whom I do my best to identify as reliable, using your input) and seek help in deciding what to slab and possibly(?) having him slab the coins for me? What do I gain with this option? Am I going to be taken dvantage of? These guys need to make a living too.

2) Slab the coins myself. I understand I will have to join the PCGS at some point to be able to do this. Slabbing coins seems expensive though. The advice I have received so far is to only slab coins that may be worth more than $100.00. I am a little unclear on when to pull the trigger for slabbing a coin. I see coins on E-bay that are selling for less than the cost of slabbing and this confuses me.

3) Ignore the submission option entirely and protect the coins the best I can myself. This option leaves me not REALLY knowing the value of the coin in question, as I doubt my abilities in grading the quality of a coin. Besides, what is the best thing to put a coin in?

I have to get the better coins in this collection well protected and in a safe deposit box ASAP. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Zulan

dorkkarl

you just want to "protect" the coins? then why not slab 'em yourself? based on what other forum members have said, there plastic cases you can buy that look just like slabs & offer considerable protection as well.

K S

coinbuf

The important question you need to ask yourself is are you going to keep these or are you looking to sell them. If your going to keep the coins then it makes little sense to slab them. Buy some airtite holders and store them that way.

If your plan is to sell then slabbing the coins that are key dates or have a value over $100 is the way to go. I suggest that you become a PCGS collector club member and submit them yourself. This will be the cheapest way to do this. Just MHO.

Chris

tmot99

I agree with coinbuf. If you don't like airtites, buy the Coin World slabs and do it yourself.

If selling, certify the key stuff by joining PCGS and/or NGC. If keeping, don't waste money until you know more about the hobby.

kranky

<< <i>I am a little unclear on when to pull the trigger for slabbing a coin. I see coins on E-bay that are selling for less than the cost of slabbing and this confuses me. >>



That's because many coins get sent in by people who thought they were going to get a higher grade. Buyers don't add the cost of slabbing into what they are willing to pay. Consequently, a lot of slabbed coins sell for less than the cost of slabbing.

Catch22

Zulan, have you not been able to hook up with someone from the boards that lives in your area? That's the best route. It's hard to offer advice without seeing what you have. If you are not selling anything any time soon, leave the coins the way you found them. After all, your grandfather had them this way for ages...a few more months while you learn what you are doing isn't going to make much difference.

merz2

catch22 has the right idea.If you aren't in any hurry to sell them, learn to grade them yourself and then decide which ones to send in for grading.There are grading books you can buy or borrow,that will help you.