Another problem with Slabs--Have collectors forgotten how to handle a raw coin?

Longacre

I was at the Baltimore show last week. I had high hopes of buying some early copper and trying to look at the coins that the major copper dealers had. I knew that generally copper people don't like slabs. As I approached the table, honestly, I was a little intimidated with all of the raw coins in the cases. Not in the sense that I could not grade them or attribute them (I still can't with any precision), but with actually handling someone else's raw coins. I saw a lot of people looking at the dealer's coins, and then taking the coins out of their flips(?) and looking at the coins in the buff. I did not feel comfortable for some reason asking to see a coin, and then handling it raw.

Does anyone think that today's collectors have forgotten how to properly handle a raw coin? Is this the result of our slab mentality? Does anyone feel as I do in that I actually avoided asking to see something because I feared that I would mishandle the dealer's raw coin? Would I look silly if I looked at the coin through the flip, or would I be pegged as a rookie and snickered at by the other copper aficionados at the table?

100proof1957

Im pretty anal about raw coins,even 2-3 dollar ones

i wear gloves !

JJM

I know

mgoodm3

What is this "raw" thing?

fc

i would not be comfortable holding any coin that i could not afford.

i would ask the owner to set it down and then flip it for me.

Gemineye

<< <i>What is this "raw" thing? >>



Is this something we have forgotten to do ..........??????????......

Lakesammman

It would scare me - especially proof coinage.

JJM

What is this "raw" thing

I think this was something that was called coin collecting

VamGuy

<< <i>What is this "raw" thing? >>

It's how coins were collected before the invention of Kool-aid.

JRocco

I am much much more comfortable handling a coin raw with my bare hands as opposed to wearing gloves. I can't feel the coin properly with gloves and worry too much about dropping it. Handle the coin raw, with your fingers on the edge, held over a nice surface like a piece of felt just in case you lose it.

airplanenut

<< <i>What is this "raw" thing? >>

It's that lack of translucent plastic that makes photography oh so much easier

MWallace

<< <i> I am much much more comfortable handling a coin raw with my bare hands as opposed to wearing gloves. I can't feel the coin properly with gloves and worry too much about dropping it. Handle the coin raw, with your fingers on the edge, held over a nice surface like a piece of felt just in case you lose it. >>



Good advice. I have something to add. Also don't breathe on the coin or talk over it. Small bits of moisture can cause the coin to spot over time.

Steve27

My experience with raw coins is that the dealers put their fingers on the coins, usually after they've had that slice of pizza.

Gemineye

<< <i>My experience with raw coins is that the dealers put their fingers on the coins, usually after they've had that slice of pizza. >>



Don't forget the.... Pepperoni and Mushrooms......!!!!!!!!!....................