Raw v. Slabbed coins.............

SanctionII

............ that you have no plans to sell.

Which do you prefer and why?

For me, I enjoy being able to hold raw coins in my hand and look at them without looking through a plastic coffin.

Easy for me to say the above because I play in the shallow end of the hobby pool.

SeattleSlammer

I prefer the slabs for my longterm keepers for protection, and because I can share them with people without fear of the coin getting molested.
But you can't beat the feel of a raw coin either.

Flatwoods

I like raw coins better than slabbed coins. Most of my recent purchases have been raw.
I have nearly completed a type set of raw, no problem coins. They are in a cool whip bowl at the moment and anyone who wishes can dig through them.
I really don't have any coins that I don't plan to sell. I find that I tire of most things after a while, so I sell them and buy others.

DennisH

I prefer certified.

keets

I enjoy being able to hold raw coins in my hand and look at them without looking through a plastic coffin.

while I understand the thinking, I tend to see the downside of repeatedly removing coins(especially Proof and SMS issues) from whatever type of protective holder they are in while being stored. no matter how carefully they are handled the chance of even a faint hairline or dust being drawn to the coin surface is a high probability. if you choose not to submit them for cost reasons some sacrifice from a common sense perspective needs to be made, a compromise of sorts. I have made decisions on how to best protect coins while also allowing for the best viewing.

stop and think about it, Kevin, the real "coffin" will be the flips that you keep your coins in after they have a few almost unnoticeable hairlines which moves them down a grade point or two. but you'll still be able to look at them raw, right??

BustHalfBrian

I prefer buying raw and, if it makes sense, having them graded.

SanctionII

Keets.

As usual you make very good points. Raw and all that goes with it has benefits and detriments. So do slabs.

Which do you prefer, raw or slabbed?

Michael4692

I slab what i intend to sell. I also slab coins i intend to keep but dont want to damage due to my own negligence. I slab my gold so i can show that it is certified real gold.

There is no better feeling than holding raw silver and gold.

silverpop

raw

simple no opinion to disagree with people make their own opinions on the coin they see

when selling coins I let the people make the opinion on what they think the coin or coins would grade

lasvegasteddy

i have both and like it that way

TopographicOceans

Both.

I have a Jar O' Coins with circulated silver dollars, halves, quarters and dimes. They're cool to look at but also to dump out in a pile and grab a handful.
Feeling the heft of old silver coins makes you appreciate money more, and the people who worked to earn them and how they spent them in their daily lives.

For my type set, I'm still not getting it right. I have a combination of slabs (mostly PCGS, then NGC and ANACS) and the rest in Intercept Shields.

I know I'm not going to happy until I crack them all out and put them in customer holders.
I want to be able to look at them in groups by denomination, and be able to flip them over to see the reverse. And most importantly I need them in the right size to easily store them in my safe deposit box.

The custom holders would cost about $2,000 and then about $6,000 to get them put back into PCGS slabs when it's time to sell.
You can buy a car for $8,000 (or more importantly $8,000 worth of coins) so that's a lot of money for plastic, but I think I'd get $8,000 worth of enjoyment (and security) doing it.

AUandAG

I rarely, if ever, share my coins with anyone. Thus raw is just fine with me. That is until I decide to sell and then
it's off to the slab factory.

bob

sparky64

Higher grade MS and Proof, I'd rather they were slabbed.
I don't want to be the guy that messes them up.

Also prefer that coins that are commonly counterfeited be slabbed. Like Trade Dollars. Coins that I don't trust my own skill.
I would then have no problem cracking them out to place in an album, even though I've never had the occasion to do so.
I only have a couple of this type and they are lower grade.

Everything else raw is fine with me.
I prefer my CBH's raw but I do put them in air-tites.

keets

Which do you prefer, raw or slabbed?

I think I prefer raw.

there was a time when I thought it was necessary to get every coin in my collection slabbed if I thought it added value, enhanced uniform presentation or made me feel better about my collection. then I read a post by DHeath which I had probably heard/read before, but for some reason it took root and made more sense as I thought it over --- The time to have a coin encapsulated is at the point of sale to maximize its value. since around 2009 I have submitted one group of coins to PCGS for re-grade and have purchased the bulk of things during that time raw. it has forced me to pay closer attention to what I think about a coin and less of what a TPG assures me a coin grades. it has also made me search for the best storage alternatives. right now that is Air-Tites inside of an archival flip. they are very clear and make for good viewing since they are round, almost like holding a coin.

one thing about a raw coin that is undeniable is that it allows the best viewing possible. I will confess to having dropped some valuable coins, it is unexplainable!!! someone once told me that the higher the value of a coin the higher the likelihood you will drop it, probably because of an effort to be very gentle with it. I plan for the inevitable by looking at raw coins over something soft.

once they are inside of the Air-Tite or the TPG capsule I don't take them out.

keyman64

For me, I can appreciate both but prefer slabbed.

Safety is an issue.
Better idea as to value is another for insurance purposes.
Another is to better understand how they relate to the others out there.
And the last reason is because they will be sold ONE DAY.

dib

Raw, no question. My favorite coins I own are raw. A coin just doesn't have the same feeling to me after I get it slabbed... and I feel like I can assess a coin's grade so much better if it's raw vs. slabbed. Also I get an annoying urge to sell coins after I slab them, coins that I really wanted to keep in my collection when they were raw. Sounds weird, but it's true. I have a Love-hate relationship with slabs.




<< <i>stop and think about it, Kevin, the real "coffin" will be the flips that you keep your coins in after they have a few almost unnoticeable hairlines which moves them down a grade point or two. but you'll still be able to look at them raw, right?? >>


Yes, because all the high grade old coins that are presently in TPG slabs were never raw, right? They just came fresh from the mint in a new slab back in the 1800s. C'mon now...

SkyMan

I PREFER raw, but if a coin costs more than ~ $800 I'll buy it slabbed. I keep many of my raw coins in Dansco/Whitman albums, so the coins are easy to see and still protected.

DIMEMAN

Has to be slabbed and has to be PCGS. I do buy raw coins....then get them slabbed.

I see no need to hold raw coins.

keets

Yes, because all the high grade old coins that are presently in TPG slabs were never raw, right? They just came fresh from the mint in a new slab back in the 1800s. C'mon now...

for the type of coins that the OP tends to focus on, yes, 1-2 hairlines can be critical. also, while you are tending to focus on the low numbers of coins which were most probably collected by experienced, well to do individuals who could care for them properly you miss the much bigger picture. there are many coins which have been damaged due to the simple fact that our predecessors didn't have proper storage methods available to them. I am on record in other threads stating my amazement that the coins you mention are even available to us today. that they are is a testament to the collectors who saved them and the care they took to preserve them.

and to you point of "fresh from the Mint" I would just say that many of the best coins did come directly from the Mint to the collectors, even way back when.

Coinstudy

I like the 1879s morgan 2nd reverse simply because the confusion in number minted.In my observation the second reverse are far fewer and to find one in decent grade even less.

I also like the 1974,77,79,80 Panama un centesimo because these are the only documented coins and dates minet at west point for circulation.Yes minted for circulation in Panama but due to ciculation today their almost non existent in b.u. or circulated.

I pick these where I can and can afford them in the raw.Someday I may have them graded.

TwoSides2aCoin

My preference is the coin. Everything else is fluff (albeit expensive stuff ) , and I prefer that when it adds value. Over the course of the past decade, I see the inherent flaws in both.

BillJones

For U.S. coins, most everything that I have that amounts to anything is slabbed. For my British coins, the newer stuff tends to be slabbed. For my medieval British, the silver pennies and the like, I tend to buy raw coins.

As for tokens and medals I MUCH prefer raw pieces. For tokens I prefer to buy them raw, but if they are in a slab, and I can't find them any other way, a slab it is. I don't crack stuff out.

For medals I VERY MUCH prefer raw. The slabs for medals are big, bulky and hard to store if something needs to go to the safe deposit box. Three or Four of those slabs can fill a safe deposit box. I just don't like them at all.

keets

Bill, you raise a point I hadn't considered, the large size slabs for anything over 40-45mm. I remember when NGC used to do PhotoCerts for stuff like that and how cumbersome the large slabs were when they started. way too much room for storage is required by them so just stay raw in a large flip.

topstuf

Slab all the way and forever.
We don't know the future and insurance is cheap.

"ACCEPTANCE" should always be the key. Since selling MIGHT be in your future it still makes sense to eliminate chance every time.

We all have a future. None of us know what it is.

ricko

I prefer raw coins, although I have many slabs as well. I never intend to sell my coins, so not worried about that aspect of the hobby. Being a true collector (and not a seller) allows me to appreciate the coin without consideration of recompense. Cheers, RickO

telephoto1

<< <i>My preference is the coin. Everything else is fluff (albeit expensive stuff ), and I prefer that when it adds value. Over the course of the past decade, I see the inherent flaws in both. >>



Well stated! I agree wholeheartedly.
Both in the store and in my personal collection, the answer is both, and I am not afraid to handle either. A simple airtight capsule protects as well as a slab, plus the coin can be removed if desired for photography purposes, etc.

asheland

I am happy with the slabs, they look nice and protect the coin.

coinkat

depends on the coin and the state of preservation

TwoSides2aCoin

<< <i>depends on the coin and the state of preservation >>





Agreed. And often, not wise to tout one's own slabs as "investment grade". I think this lesson has been taught a few times.

coffeyce

""""Has to be slabbed and has to be PCGS. I do buy raw coins....then get them slabbed."""

+1

to risky to cause damage if accidents happen and easier to share with the daughter

crazyhounddog

I have both and very much enjoy the raw coins. They are much more fun to image, especially the proof coins. If you image coins then you know how hard it can be to pick up the colors behind the plastic of a proof.

AMRC

Why choose?

Baley

I like my old circulated coins raw in albums, or safe flips like these







have shown these old pics before, there are about twice as many quarters now and several broken out of slabs (which are great for buying and selling such coins, but not necessary for protection during owning.

coinkat

That looks to be an older PCI holder based on the style of the font- I suspect that 38-D, even though is quite available in 65, is likely one terrific coin in hand.

keets

I like my old circulated coins raw in albums, or safe flips like these

Baley, your collection in the flips would be a bit nicer if you had printed tags that gave a more uniform look to everything. buying coins with handwritten tags has a certain charm associated with it, but with the technology available to us have you ever considered printing them??

that is one of the things with slabs that bugs me --- even if I have a collection of all one TPG's coins they change styles so often that it screws up the uniform look.

Baley

Hi Keets.

Nope, I am blessed with zero compulsion to seek a "uniform look" in either the coins or the packaging they're kept in, and currently no one sees them or "judges" them but me, so can lay them out like this for example

ambro51

telephoto1

Nice Vermont piece!

Broadstruck

I prefer to buy raw and it's usually quite financially beneficial to me when the third party opinion is removed from the equation.

I buy slabs too if I like whats inside however the plastic brand makes absolutely no difference to me.

winky

Certified for me.

Nap

I prefer slabbed coins for my bust half dollars. I keep my raw half dollars in Coin World slabs for uniformity.

I keep my medieval raw coins in AirTites, which are serve a similar purpose to me as slabs. I may eventually have some of my medieval coin collection certified by NGC in the future. If you've never had the misfortune to drop a 1000 year old fragile starting-to-crack penny... well let's say it's not a good idea to keep coins "too raw"

ambro51

Let me clarify. When I collected 1909 Lincoln's and MPLA they were all PCGS. With gold dollars I had a very few raw coins but all were mixed slabs. Colonials I have all unslabbed but retain the label and paste that to the inner flap of the paper envelope.

SanctionII

I was looking at old threads and saw this one from mid 2015.

Interesting topic with a wide variety of opinions from multiple forumites.

I thought that this thread deserved to be resurrected for further discussion. So............ TTT it goes.

Your thoughts and opinions on Raw v. Slabbed.

logger7

There has just been too much fraud in the hobby with all the money at stake and another reason for the viability of grading services. Certified gives the collector confidence in the age of various forms of chicanery. An alternative I suppose is getting the coins certified with photo proof and then having them in a safe raw folder.

Davideo

Besides value, a large aspect is also the type of coin. Is this an DCAM proof or a VG seated quarter? Clearly the DCAM proof is much more susceptible to damage from improper storage.

BillJones

For U.S. coins I favor certified pieces for the most part. The coins are graded, and when the time comes to sell, a very large percentage of them are ready to go, excluding a very small number of potential crack-outs.

For tokens and British coins, I prefer raw. I am not buying the finest known in most instances, and for my 19th century presidential campaign pieces, I like to store them in my Eagle Holders albums which are organized by candidate. When I buy a certified token, I don't crack it out however. If it's an expensive piece that is no use having to send it back to get it graded and risk getting a lower grade.

It is good to put medals in holders for preservation reasons. Those pieces are very prone to edge bumps, but holders are expensive and bulky. I had a few custom made Capital Plastics holders made for them before you could get them certified, but those holders are expensive. Unfortunately the certification holders for medals are often really big compared to the size of the medal, which is a bit of a turn-off for me.

So far as Proof coins go, holders are the only way to go so far as I'm concerned. I hate to handle Proof coins. Put them in a slab or a plastic holder and leave them alone.

Jimnight

Well, as a collector I have coins raw... graded the way I graded them 50 years ago, I have them slabbed and graded the mint state style and I have them in rolls, I dig them all.
Jim

Peace_dollar88

With the modern day internet there is a lot of online sales. It is nice to have a TPG opinion on what they think about a particular coin when they have examined it in hand. for sight unseen buys it so much nicer. also when reselling coins graded coins bring more than raw coins do.

oih82w8

I prefer PCGS holders to protect my coins from people drooling on them!

Doh! Another old thread...oh well...my mind has not changed.

tommy44

raw v. slabbed..... Yes

Slabbed for almost all my "keepers" and better stuff. others raw in 2X2s & flips or loose and some in rolls.