Does anyone only collect slab coins?

Sharkman987

I'm starting to think this may be a fun way to go, it will assure high-quality and, hopefully the coins will increase or hold their value.

asheland

It can't hurt. But eventually nice raw coins may come your way that aren't necessarily worth slabbing, but you will still want.
At one time I only bought slabbed coins, but now I have slabbed and raw both.

Walkerfan

Many people collect them, exclusively, these days.

ShadyDave

@Sharkman987 said:
it will assure high-quality

lol

david3142

I've asked this before, but what is your budget? What series interest you? As my namesake intimated above, slabs in no way assure high quality, although there is obviously less room for error and they DO guarantee authenticity, which is important. However, you should know that there are counterfeit slabs out there so don't go crazy buying too-good-to-be-true deals on eBay just yet.

BillJones

For almost all U.S. coins, I collect certified pieces. Almost all of the raw coins that I collect are direct from the U.S. MInt, and I have kept all of them raw because I like the mint packaging.

The last "old" raw coin I purchased was an 1875-S Twenty Cent Piece in EF-40. I bought it because I was mounting an exhibit of Twenty Cent Pieces, and I wanted to place a raw 20 cent coin and Seated quarter side by side to show the similarities.

KellenCoin

You can if you want, but I would say that if you come across a really nice raw coin then buy it.

BryceM

Buy coins in slabs for expensive stuff, sure. Everyone should own at least a few examples of raw early copper, silver dollars, and an old gold piece.

It's a darn shame that some slab collectors aren't even aware that many classic coins were minted with edge lettering. They've never seen it!

Sonorandesertrat

I have a mix of raw and certified pieces. Truthfully, I have removed more coins to 'free' them from their slabs than I have slabbed coins.

A couple of posters have noted that certification does not guarantee high quality for the grade----quite true, and important if you are planning to spend meaningful amounts of money on coins. CAC beans help a bit more regarding quality, but the truth is that there is NO rock-solid means to guarantee that what you consider buying if nice for the grade unless you have a platoon of experienced advisors looking at everything.

CommemKing

I have way more raw coins than slabbed (especially since I sold my commem type set. Most of my coins sit raw in my Dansco 7070 type set.

oldgoldlover

Yepa Given the price differential between an Au 53 and a AU 55 I want to know what PCGS graded the coin. They don't always get it right every time and the regard game is a method of taking advantage of this as you have up side but no down side.

jonruns

All my coins are in certified holders...

mt_msla

Almost exclusively.

Coinsponge

I buy on the wild side. Both graded and raw.

Lakesammman

Sure - and some of us collect slabs w/o coins!

Kyle

I buy more raw coins than graded.

Coinsponge

I like this topic. I have to admit I buy mostly from the raw side. I like the challenge of picking a winner and seeing if the graders agree. Sometimes the pros agree. SOMETIMES.

Kyle

@Coinsponge said:
I like this topic. I have to admit I buy mostly from the raw side. I like the challenge of picking a winner and seeing if the graders agree. Sometimes the pros agree. SOMETIMES.

The thrill of the hunt is what I enjoy most about this hobby.

Hydrant

Somebody might. But who ever that somebody might be, I don't think they're having any fun.

Zoins

Some investors do, including retirees.

I personally wish PCGS would slab more things

ricko

I collect both.... depending on what it is and why I am buying it. Certainly for key or special coins, I will look for slabs - unless - and it does happen - a raw one turns up somewhere unexpected (antique shop, yard sale etc.) and it is the right price (That means a real bargain), then I will risk it based on my skills and knowledge. Actually bought a counterfeit Morgan - knowingly - to have as a teaching tool. Slabbed coins are the wise move.. especially for new collectors. Cheers, RickO

oih82w8

90%+ of my collection is housed by our host. I have some stray raw coins, but not much.

slider23

I buy 95% of my coins from photo off the internet in a NGC or PCGS holder.

BillJones

It's a darn shame that some slab collectors aren't even aware that many classic coins were minted with edge lettering. They've never seen it!

Yes that is one of the sad things about slabs. You miss the edge lettering on coins that have lettered edges. It's gotten better since the "edge view" slabs have come on line.

Another thing you miss is the differences in some old coins. I wonder how collectors realize that the Flying Eagle and Indian Cents of 1857 through the 1864 copper-nickel cents are made on planchets that are at least twice the thickness of the modern cent?

JJM

All slabs except for a Silver Eagle Dansco Set
Been stacking silver bars lately......

ConfusedOne

I usually collect slabbed coins.
I would only ever purchase a raw coin in person.

Ablinky

For my sets I'm slabbbed only, but I'd still but a raw coin if it rubbed me the right way.

LindeDad

Bullion raw but all slabed for collector coins now.

erwindoc

I collect both raw and slabbed coins. Depending on your budget for new coins, you could consider the same.

coinkat

Never.

golden

Yes.

Sandman70gt

I've been a dansco album collector for the most part. Several years ago I started slabbing my keys.

Then I read about the history of pcgs slabs and made a generational slab set with walking liberty halves.

And now most recently I'm working on a complete variety mercury dime set, so they're all slabbed.

Elmhurst

I buy raw if I can tell it's a good deal and/or has good chance of upgrading in a slab, I then send it for grading myself. But if I'm putting out big money for something I'm keeping long term for my collection, PCGS CAC only please.

WDP

Among other items, I collect tokens, counterstamped coins, and medals of which the majority are not in Third Party Graded (TPG) holders. I store these tokens in old-fashioned 2X2 envelopes. I can write information about the token on both sides of the envelopes, which I've enjoyed doing for a long time.

I have a complete collection of Detroit Civil War Store Card tokens, all are in TPG holders and all are graded. I've collected these for over 25 years - most were collected "raw" for the first 20 years or so.

Most of the early U.S. coins I buy as a collector and as a Professional Numismatist are graded and in holders. I have a few coins in my collection that are still not graded. Here is one of the "raw" coins, an Almost Uncirculated 1832 O-120a Capped Bust Half. This is a rare plate coin in the early editions of the Overton Half Dollar book.

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Photo courtesy of W. David Perkins.

I also collect the "Dollars of 1798." I started collecting these in 1983 by die marriage and die state. I still have about a dozen really nice 1798 Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle Dollars that are not in TPG holders. These Dollars will most likely grade from XF to AU when eventually submitted. Some of these I cracked out in the late 1980s and early 1990s; others I purchased raw and they are still wrapped in tissue paper and inserted into 2X2 paper envelopes, all stored at my bank in a small, single row box.

And believe it or not, I do have a number of customers who buy pre-1900 slabbed U.S. Coins, crack them out, and put them in albums such as Dansco!

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Sonorandesertrat

"And believe it or not, I do have a number of customers who buy pre-1900 slabbed U.S. Coins, crack them out, and put them in albums such as Dansco!"

Yep. I have done this, and taped the inserts to the insides of the front and rear covers. Ones that I did not purchase in slabs are circulating counterfeits.

WDP

@Sonorandesertrat, good for you! I like that you saved the inserts.

I've even had customers tell me they are going to crack out the coin they just purchased from me in a third party holder, and apologize for it in advance!