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Without slabs, numismatists would be reduced to animals...

MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,364 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
I'm watching a documentary on the NYC blackout of 1977. There was a quote from a mother explaining the resultant anarchy to her son. She said, "Without light, man is reduced to animal." Would it be the same for numismatists if the lights went out permanently for the TPGs?

Edited to say "not that such a thing is possible, of course".
Andy Lustig

Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.

Comments

  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Not really as this hobby was alive and well prior to TPG's.
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,364 ✭✭✭✭✭
    BTW, please excuse me if Longacre has already asked this question.
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • SeaEagleCoinsSeaEagleCoins Posts: 3,262 ✭
    If everyone was like Aki the world would be a friendlier place... always hungry and needing a walk... but friendlier...image
    Re: Slabbed coins - There are some coins that LIVE within clear plastic and wear their labels with pride... while there are others that HIDE behind scratched plastic and are simply dragged along by a label. Then there are those coins that simply hang out, naked and free image
  • dan383dan383 Posts: 812
    Ah yes..."The Animalistic Old Days"

    I remember my animalistic ways.............................




    Danimage
    Fishing is not a matter of life and death.......It's much more important than that........
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,799 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>BTW, please excuse me if Longacre has already asked this question. >>



    Longacre asked a similar question, but not the same exact one, in the past. He asked:

    "Without overstuffed chairs and brandy, would numismatists be reduced to animals?"
    My Box of 20: https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/box-20/ryks-gold-box-20/17132
  • dan383dan383 Posts: 812
    Well I don't know about overstuffed chairs .

    but given enough brandy , I've been known to howl at the moon............




    Danimage
    Fishing is not a matter of life and death.......It's much more important than that........
  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I thought it was "Without Tiffany & Co. would woman be reduced to Dream Kitchen Planning"?
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,364 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Longacre asked a similar question, but not the same exact one, in the past. He asked:

    "Without overstuffed chairs and brandy, would numismatists be reduced to animals?"


    That, indeed, is terrifying. If given a choice between the two scenarios, I'd certainly opt for the one of rape and pillage. But a life without slabs would be the worst of all.
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>But a life without slabs would be the worst of all. >>



    Especially in the age of Stickers! image
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • WalmannWalmann Posts: 2,806 ✭
    Collectors ate more red meat in pre-TPG days.
  • SeaEagleCoinsSeaEagleCoins Posts: 3,262 ✭
    image
    Re: Slabbed coins - There are some coins that LIVE within clear plastic and wear their labels with pride... while there are others that HIDE behind scratched plastic and are simply dragged along by a label. Then there are those coins that simply hang out, naked and free image
  • adamlaneusadamlaneus Posts: 6,969 ✭✭✭
    It is very simple.


    This is exactly what the world is like now, with slabs:
    image


    This is exactly what the world was like before slabs:
    image


    Metaphorically speaking, of course.
  • JRoccoJRocco Posts: 14,277 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I'm watching a documentary on the NYC blackout of 1977. There was a quote from a mother explaining the resultant anarchy to her son. She said, "Without light, man is reduced to animal." Would it be the same for numismatists if the lights went out permanently for the TPGs?

    Edited to say "not that such a thing is possible, of course". >>



    I lived in Brooklyn at the time Andy and our "hangout group" was probably 60 guys and gals. It was sooo hot with no electricity, I remember charging 50 cents to hang out in my car with the AC cranked up for about 20 minutes.
    But I was willing to let the fee slide if there was a skirt involved...image
    Some coins are just plain "Interesting"
  • WoodenJeffersonWoodenJefferson Posts: 6,491 ✭✭✭✭
    image
    Chat Board Lingo

    "Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,616 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Not really as this hobby was alive and well prior to TPG's. >>

    image

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 8,338 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Not really as this hobby was alive and well prior to TPG's. >>

    image >>



    ME 2
    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
  • Aegis3Aegis3 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I'm watching a documentary on the NYC blackout of 1977. There was a quote from a mother explaining the resultant anarchy to her son. She said, "Without light, man is reduced to animal." Would it be the same for numismatists if the lights went out permanently for the TPGs?

    Edited to say "not that such a thing is possible, of course". >>



    Is that before or after the weeklong celebration?
    --

    Ed. S.

    (EJS)
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,547 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The real reduction to animal status would take place if green beans were eliminated.image
    All glory is fleeting.
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,610 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Not for me. I was very serious collector 20 years before there were slabs. I could live without them again. The best thing about slabs and other certification is the establishment of authenticity.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • lusterloverlusterlover Posts: 1,266 ✭✭✭✭
    Of course that hobby was alive and well before, but the slabs have brought more people to the party. I'll state that it has enhanced the hobby.
    pcgs.com/SetRegistry/half-cents/lincoln-cents-specialty-sets/lincoln-cents-basic-set-colorless-matte-proof-1909-1916/publishedset/102180
    https://pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase/2819
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,616 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Of course that hobby was alive and well before, but the slabs have brought more people to the party. I'll state that it has enhanced the hobby. >>



    Most of the new people that slabs brought in were speculators and investors rather than serious collectors. Was this really good for the hobby? Not in my opinion.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    "Without slabs, numismaticsts would be reduced to animals"

    Are animals good for storing and protecting coins?
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,616 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>"Without slabs, numismaticsts would be reduced to animals" >>



    I can't wait for Bear's response.image

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • garsmithgarsmith Posts: 5,894 ✭✭
    << Without slabs, numismatists would be reduced to animals... >>

    image numismatics has been around for centuries, TPG's have been around for decades. Numismatists where not animals prior to the TPG's so why would they be post TPG's.

    Only about 10% of my collection is slabbed and I'm not 90% animalistic.
  • gecko109gecko109 Posts: 8,231 ✭
    If slabbed coins ceased to exist, the only thing that would change is the standard of living for dealers. As in they would be better able to rip off customers, on both the buy and sell side. Slabs are the great equalizer.
  • LeeGLeeG Posts: 12,162 ✭
    I think the joy, or pain, of buying raw would help collectors. We would all need to grade and be more particular in what we purchase.
  • rooksmithrooksmith Posts: 993 ✭✭✭✭
    I want to be slabbed in certified plastic when my time comes.
    “When you don't know what you're talking about, it's hard to know when you're finished.” - Tommy Smothers
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,799 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>If slabbed coins ceased to exist, the only thing that would change is the standard of living for dealers. As in they would be better able to rip off customers, on both the buy and sell side. Slabs are the great equalizer. >>


    I see slabs as a two-edged sword in that respect.
    My Box of 20: https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/box-20/ryks-gold-box-20/17132
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,616 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>If slabbed coins ceased to exist, the only thing that would change is the standard of living for dealers. As in they would be better able to rip off customers, on both the buy and sell side. Slabs are the great equalizer. >>



    Yup. Dealers can go back to buying at one grade (it's an AU slider) and selling at another grade (it's a choice BU).

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • CoinJunkieCoinJunkie Posts: 8,772 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>If slabbed coins ceased to exist, the only thing that would change is the standard of living for dealers. As in they would be better able to rip off customers, on both the buy and sell side. Slabs are the great equalizer. >>


    At least it would put the "crackout dealers" out of business...

    image
    My Roosevelt Dime Registry Set
  • garsmithgarsmith Posts: 5,894 ✭✭
    << Without slabs >>

    CAC wouldn't have anyplace to put their green beans image
  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,922 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You may have a point there. Ive got a lot of cats, they are animals, and they smell each others butts.

    Ive been to coin shows where Im pretty sure Ive smelled other collectors butts. image
  • lathmachlathmach Posts: 4,720 ✭


    << <i>You may have a point there. Ive got a lot of cats, they are animals, and they smell each others butts.

    Ive been to coin shows where Im pretty sure Ive smelled other collectors butts. image.....ambro51 >>




    Ah, so you're the guy that was crawling around the coin show on his hands and knees.
    Just smelling butts, eh? Well, to each his own.
    All the time I thought you'd dropped a coin on the floor and was looking for it. How dumb of me.

    Ray
  • jfoot13jfoot13 Posts: 2,671 ✭✭✭
    sales of grading books would increase
    If you can't swim you better stay in the boat.......
  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,922 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nah, just an "presence in the air" that mixes with old hair grease, hot dog smell, and the smell of tarnished silver image
  • anablepanablep Posts: 5,158 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If there were no slabs, we'd have to apply CAC stickers directly to the obverse of the coin!!!!!!

    image
    Always looking for attractive rim toned Morgan and Peace dollars in PCGS or (older) ANA/ANACS holders!

    "Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."


    ~Wayne
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,616 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i><< Without slabs >>

    CAC wouldn't have anyplace to put their green beans image >>



    More than a few forum members can suggest to them where they can put their stickers.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,653 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Andy:

    Good question... there would be a difference of opinion as to grades, standards, designations, and AT.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • GemineyeGemineye Posts: 5,374 ✭


    << <i> "Without light, man is reduced to animal." Would it be the same for numismatists if the lights went out permanently for the TPGs? >>


    Yes ....we wouldn't be able to read the label on the slab....image
    ......Larry........image
  • Aegis3Aegis3 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>If slabbed coins ceased to exist, the only thing that would change is the standard of living for dealers. As in they would be better able to rip off customers, on both the buy and sell side. Slabs are the great equalizer. >>



    Yup. Dealers can go back to buying at one grade (it's an AU slider) and selling at another grade (it's a choice BU). >>



    It's a good thing for the dealers that slabs have propped up an absurd grade/price scheme so that coins sold are high end and coins bought are low end and still get to add in that additional profit.
    --

    Ed. S.

    (EJS)
  • EdscoinEdscoin Posts: 2,028 ✭✭✭
    Without slabs, numismatists would be reduced to--- Coin Graders
    ED
    .....................................................
  • WalmannWalmann Posts: 2,806 ✭
    When did numismatics become the study of plastics?
  • PushkinPushkin Posts: 2,029 ✭✭✭

    Yet another arrogant homosapien-centric thread. Since most animals are superior to most humans the question is illogical image.

  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Not really as this hobby was alive and well prior to TPG's. >>


    It was alive, but was it really all that well? Of course back in those days (the 70's) I only collected circulated pieces so grading was much easier and the spreads were much smaller. Only once do I recall being dooped and it was a small purchase well worth the lesson.



    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • CopperWireCopperWire Posts: 492 ✭✭✭
    there was light before electricity. there was numismatics before tpg's and computers.
  • StubbyMcNumbthumbsStubbyMcNumbthumbs Posts: 1,259 ✭
    Although I never knew them personally, I'm not sure I would refer to Mr. Eliasberg, Mr. Bass, Mrs. Norweb, Mr. Reed, etc. as animals.

    With or without slabs, I would like to think that numismatists are even a step above the average human, although some of the ramblings here cause me to wonder at times. Plastic or not, even coin-collecting Bears are smarter than the "average" bear.image

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