POLL: Should I crack out my '14-D Lincoln? (Current decision added to thread.)
ziggy29
Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭
A recent thread about a '14-D Lincoln had someone wondering why it was raw. There are lots of reasons to have it raw, particularly if you're not planning on selling it.
I don't plan on selling my '14-D for a long, long time, if ever. It's in a PCGS AU-50 holder. Two days ago, I cracked out my slabbed Indians, including the 1877. I was hesitant to crack it out, but because the value difference between XF-40 (its slabbed grade) and VF-30/35 is fairly small, if it graded lower (which I doubt) on regrade before selling (again, if ever), it's not big. But with the '14-D, AU is double the value of XF roughly, and if I ever cracked it out and needed to sell it, it would really SUCK getting it back in an XF holder (though I can't see it ever going below 45 and I think it's properly graded at 50).
I'd love to display the Lincolns in an album set like the Indians; I'm already enjoying the Indian set more when presented all together in a compact album. But to do that, I'd need to crack out this '14-D. And because of this huge price discrepancy....I'm hesitant. (I also have a no-VDB '09-S in NGC AU-50 that I'm not particularly afraid to crack out, especially since I paid XF money for it a few years ago and again, the XF-AU price spread is small.)
Again -- keeping in mind that this is, for me, a long-time (if not forever) holding with 99% certainty....should I crack it out?
I don't mean for this to be a "to slab or not to slab" debate. But for what I'm doing and my intended "forever" (or at least decades-long) holding period...should I crack this out?
I don't plan on selling my '14-D for a long, long time, if ever. It's in a PCGS AU-50 holder. Two days ago, I cracked out my slabbed Indians, including the 1877. I was hesitant to crack it out, but because the value difference between XF-40 (its slabbed grade) and VF-30/35 is fairly small, if it graded lower (which I doubt) on regrade before selling (again, if ever), it's not big. But with the '14-D, AU is double the value of XF roughly, and if I ever cracked it out and needed to sell it, it would really SUCK getting it back in an XF holder (though I can't see it ever going below 45 and I think it's properly graded at 50).
I'd love to display the Lincolns in an album set like the Indians; I'm already enjoying the Indian set more when presented all together in a compact album. But to do that, I'd need to crack out this '14-D. And because of this huge price discrepancy....I'm hesitant. (I also have a no-VDB '09-S in NGC AU-50 that I'm not particularly afraid to crack out, especially since I paid XF money for it a few years ago and again, the XF-AU price spread is small.)
Again -- keeping in mind that this is, for me, a long-time (if not forever) holding with 99% certainty....should I crack it out?
I don't mean for this to be a "to slab or not to slab" debate. But for what I'm doing and my intended "forever" (or at least decades-long) holding period...should I crack this out?
0
Comments
<< <i>Yes -- but only if you're sure your holding it for a very long time >>
But I would add:
...and you know for certain you're not going to unexpectedly drop dead leaving your heirs to get screwed because the coin would bring far less raw if it needed to be sold right away.
Russ, NCNE
I'd keep it slabbed for preservation value. If you crack it out, there is chance of damage.
Drill a hole in it and use it for a washer if you want to.
Ray
You should. Take some pics of the coin in its holder and try to preserve the holder to some extent when you do crack it.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein
<< <i>It's your's to do with as you wish.
Drill a hole in it and use it for a washer if you want to. >>
Well, I know that, and I already have my leanings and inclinations. I'm mostly curious how in step/out of step I am with others.
Though I think I'd be doing a disservice to more than just myself by drilling a hole in it. I'm not the last owner of this piece; even if we own them for life, we are only temporary caretakers.
It is foolish to not have a coin reside in a collection in the manner that the owner of the coin desires.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein
So, as to YOUR question. Seems to me it is what makes YOU happiest now. Be sure you understand the risk of value loss if you crack it out. One thing that's available today for you that was NOT available for me in 1990 is the Eagle slab album which holds nine PCGS slabs per page very nicely. Good luck. Steve
My Complete PROOF Lincoln Cent with Major Varieties(1909-2015)Set Registry
Then you will have enough money left over to treat your family to a nice breakfast!
That would sound more fun to me also!
I cracked a ANACS 62BN 09-S lincoln to put in my dansco the other day. That was an easy choice, though. There's not a big spred in the price between grades on that one.
David
You and I collect many of the same things (especially grade-wise) and I think I understand your question well.
I loved my Choice AU/Unc Standing Lib' (and other series) collections raw ... they grew slowly over the years in their albums .... most were purchased raw, but I did occassionally find a slabbed one and promptly freed them from the plastic. The only things I didn't crack out were the higher grade Choice and Gem Unc's.
A couple of years ago I started slabbing my Choice AU/Unc stuff ... if you'd have known me in 1990/1, or even in the late 90's you'd have thought I'd have never have done that ... but I am doing it mainly becuase of what Russ pointed out;
and you know for certain you're not going to unexpectedly drop dead leaving your heirs to get screwed because the coin would bring far less raw if it needed to be sold right away.
Frankly much of my collection is worth enough to warrant slabbing, and raw it will most probably bring less if the kids had to fire-sale it; and since I dont know what will happen, I consider this all more of an insurance policy, protecting the coins from most accidental or enviromental concerns, and providing a reasonable starting point for determining valuation and arms length trade-ability.
That said I found that I really miss seeing my collection together in the album format. So this year I spent some time and money for a decent camera and have spent a fair amount of time trying to get good photographs of each coin in each series. I'm far from done, but it is starting to take shape. I hope when I am done with the individual photographs I can create "virtual" albums. Based on my prototypes, I think that will quench my desire to see them together. Not the same as having them in an album, but not as "bad" as a box full of slabs, or a half album/half slab collection. I still have a couple albums too, but they are slowly losing all the really good stuff.
I can't answer your question for you ... but I figured I'd offer my two bits anyway.
Hope you have a great Christmas and a wonderful rest of the Holiday Season!
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
I believe you are the same way, Tim.
Remember; it's your collection. You know that your coins are genuine. Enjoy them while you can.
Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
~PATRICK HENRY~
<< <i>whatever, so why is the owner even posing the question? If he knows what he wants to do with the coin, he should do what he wants and not ask for an opinion. Sheesh... >>
Mostly because I wanted to see if there was anyone who had any considerations I hadn't thought about which were worth considering. For example, I hadn't really thought about Russ' comment about making sure my heirs (my wife for now) know what to do, for example, with these "must-sell-slabbed" coins when I croak. I've got to make sure my wife knows what to do with my 1877 IHC, now that I've cracked it out. I need to make sure she doesn't try to sell it raw unless she wants to get a lowball offer.
Anyway, what I'm going to do is...nothing for now. I do plan on eventually displaying this set all raw...but I have enough work to do in upgrades (I still have quite a few G and VG coins in my early Lincoln set) that I'm not worrying about changing presentation yet. Also, I'm not sure I can get myself to crack out a full AU (and it's nearly doubled price over XF). I might, at some point, look into replacing this coin with an XF to crack out, selling the AU in the slab (and in the process generate a few hundred bucks more). For this date and its value by grade, I think I'm comfortable cracking out an XF...but not an AU. I may be busy upgrading other coins for a while, anyway.
So for now it stays in the holder, but longer term I'll reconsider. And when it's time to change the presentation, I'll either crack this one out or look for an XF to put in the raw set and possibly sell this one. Because the more I thought about it, I'm not necessarily determined to have THIS '14-D forever, but if not this one, then there will be another in its place before I unload this one.
rainbowroosie April 1, 2003