*** Update, grades back *** Wow!! So that's what's been hiding behind the slab all this time!

BryceM

I put together a submission today for my 8 yearly "freebies". I only had 7 raw coins that were ready to go so I decided to try something new. I cracked out a coin from one of our host's older holders that I hope has upgrade potential. I've liberated a few coins from bottom-tier slabs before but never one from NGC or PCGS. I was immediately floored by how much better the coin looked in-hand than it did hidden behind the slab. The luster on this particular coin was nice enough before but absolutely brilliant once I got it cracked out safely. The coin looked a hundred times better in-hand! The slab was older and had a few scratches and dings, but nothing terrible.

That started me thinking about my own grading abilities and experiences. I've never considered how much difference there is when looking through the plastic. I gained a new respect for why graders might be more generous with raw coins than with crossovers. In my particular series almost 100% of the MS coins I've ever studied have been in slabs. This is now probably true for many series. I'm probably a kool-aide drinker of sorts when it comes to PCGS and the overall grading concept but I'm a little more aware today than I was yesterday about the downside of coins being entombed as they are.

It also might partly explain why grades sometimes come back lower than I expected. I've been comparing the luster and appearence of my raw coins to what I've been seeing in already-holdered coins. I'm sure this is no great revelation to most of you, but I found it interesting.

I briefly considered cracking out all my favorite coins just to see how nice they really are, but reason prevailed and I came back to earth pretty quickly. The benefits of having them in a slabs are just too numerous, including protecting them from me.

I bet my Peace Dollar collection would look tremendous in a Dansco though........

nwcoast

Interesting observations and very thought provoking as I prepare my first 8 to go in early next week. Pulled two out of the Dansco to be slabbed.
The 28 Peace dollar that was the subject of a lively debate and a 1935 which is likely the cleanest out of the set...
Given your thoughts here, I might be in for a disappointment.... I hope not but time will tell..

Thanks for sharing Bryce.

kaz

Interesting observations and I hope you'll post the grades when they're back.

braddick

On the opposite end, sometimes coins will come back from PCGS in their fresh plastic and look better than when I submitted them raw.

I'm finding this on pastel toned Washington quarters especially.
It's as if the plastic somehow enhances the appearance of the luster.

Anyone else?

johnny9434

<< <i>Interesting observations and I hope you'll post the grades when they're back. >>

LindeDad

I have noticed that many older holdered coins have a lot more luster if I polish the slab before imaging. Even though the slab might not be too scratched up it often seems to develop a film layer maybe nothing more than accumulated fingerprints.

BryceM

<< <i>Interesting observations and I hope you'll post the grades when they're back. >>



I will, but I wish I had taken good pre-crackout photos to compare with. Of course if it comes back graded lower, I might forget to post the results.

yellowjacket

nwcoast,

Is that the 1928 Peace with THE mark that was in a 62 holder or such? I thought WE all agreed it should stay in the old holder. Or am I mistaken.
In any case, let us know how it turns out.

Garrow

nwcoast

<< <i>nwcoast,

Is that the 1928 Peace with THE mark that was in a 62 holder or such? I thought WE all agreed it should stay in the old holder. Or am I mistaken.

In any case, let us know how it turns out.

Garrow >>



Nope, the one you're thinking of is the 34-s which is indeed staying in that OGH ms-62 holder.
The 28 is raw and there was vigorous debate as to whether it was a 58 or as many claimed- a 62+.
I'll see if I can find the thread for ya if you hadn't seen it. If it hadn't gotten so heated, I wouldn't be pulling it out of my Dansco to slab- that's for sure!

Actually, just search 1928 Peace and it's the first think to pop up.

BryceM

The coin in question was a less-common date Peace Dollar in a rattler holder. I bought it off eBay for what was basically the full PCGS Price Guide amount.

It went from 63 to 64+.

In the holder I thought it might get a plus. Out of the holder I thought it was frankly undergraded. Sometimes you win!!! Sometimes the thought of being right on a grading call is worth as much as the financial gains earned thereby - probably a hundred bucks or so after it's all said and done in this case. I'll post the photos next time I visit where they're stored. I need to grab the original eBay seller's photos before they disappear for a little before & after comparison.

They're still out there.......

JJacks

Bryce,

Nice comments about the coin outside the holder - I had never considered that so much I guess and I just don't have the extremely detailed eye sometimes to remember how a coin looked before and then after being holdered.

I guess one idea here could be to look for a coin that looks dull and/or bad in other ways, but is largely because the holder has gotten old, scratched, dusty, etc., especially a rattler holder - maybe the dealer has had the coin forever and just wants to sell it.

So, you buy it, crack it out, gain a point and maybe it even looks better since the holder is fresh and new. Just some thoughts.

JJacks