When is the last time you saw an INS "photo slab," and a key date too!

DMWJR

Ok, so low grade, etc., but I found this rummaging through my old boxes and thought some may not have seen one before.

Stooge

Well that certainly is a unique holder/slab!
Thanks for sharing...

DMWJR

I'm sure @Insider2 can come along and shed some light on these.

Kccoin

INS in washington d.c? I remember something like this was around the time of the forming of ANACS. Hopefully someone can shed some light.

Nice key date BTW

BlindedByEgo

Last time I saw one was at the shop in around 2002. Nice find in a junk box

lordmarcovan

Cool. Been a long time (ca. 2004-ish) since I saw one of those. I too had a key date coin in one, though it was an Irish key date (a 1943 halfcrown, of which about 500 were struck).

(Come to think of it, My 1943 halfcrown might've been an old PCI photocertificate slab, though- I forget. Anyway, it's been a long time indeed since I saw an INS.)

Timbuk3

Sweet, haven't seen one in years !!!

astrorat

It was a few years ago when I picked up a pair of 1931-S cents that I last saw these photo certificates.

Regarding "and a key date too" ... you are more likely to find "key dates" certified with these INS certificates. These photo certificates were produced from the mid 1970s through the late 1980s. The 1970s was a time when counterfeit 1916-D dimes and 1909-SVDB cents were plaguing collectors (and one of the primary reasons ANACS was created in 1972) and sending these coins to INS was one form of protection.

At the time, certifying coins was expensive and time-consuming. Thus only coins worthy of the extra effort were sent for an expert opinion and documentation of authenticity (and sometimes grading).

amwldcoin

I bought this one many years ago in a no return ebay auction. I keep it as a reminder of how a coin can be made to look much better than it is by manipulating pictures.

ricko

That is a new one for me.... I recall reading about INS, however, have never encountered one of their 'slabs' at coin shows or shops. Cheers, RickO

WoodenJefferson

So, @DMWJR where is the dime?

DMWJR

I bought this in the late 90's I believe. Sold the dime many years ago . For perspective, the photo is about the size of a post card, or slightly larger than a polaroid, which it very much resembles. I don't know there is any way to date this holder in the progression of their slabs, but it makes an interesting point.

Henry Ford was known for the model T, but his genius was the assembly line.
David Hall / PCGS is known for certification and authentication, but it is not their genius.

EagleEye

I just got a Morgan Dollar 1884-S MS64DMPL. I wonder if it will cross?

BuffaloIronTail

This is a new one on me. Can't say I ever saw one before.

Pete

Insider2

@DMWJR said:
I'm sure @Insider2 can come along and shed some light on these.

Yep, When ANACS left DC for CO, The ANACS Director and staff declined to go. Hoskins, Lucien Birkler and some prominent International dealers established INS and set up an Authentication Bureau. For several years INS had a yearly convention.

INSAB was the first TPGS beating the ANA by several months. We graded coins for free when requested. The grade was given on a separate buff colored card. You have something we never did - put a grade on the envelope.

@amwldcoin said:
I bought this one many years ago in a no return ebay auction. I keep it as a reminder of how a coin can be made to look much better than it is by manipulating pictures.

I've got two of these compliments of Phil Darby as souvenirs of my past connections. When the dollar in this slab was graded MS-65 indicated "Choice fields, and full original luster." Strike was not considered and both INS and ANACS (after they started grading) grading standards had no relation to the "real" commercial market. That left room for NCI (James Halperin) and finally PCGS to do things "right," more in line with the marketplace. Dealers grading coins seemed much better than non-dealers using an "Ivory Tower" more precise and technical standard that had no relation to a coin's retail value or rarity.

astrorat

@DMWJR said:
I bought this in the late 90's I believe. Sold the dime many years ago . For perspective, the photo is about the size of a post card, or slightly larger than a polaroid, which it very much resembles. I don't know there is any way to date this holder in the progression of their slabs, but it makes an interesting point.

These photo certificates are nearly impossible to date unless the supplemental/grading card is included. While the card is not dated, it is signed. Based on the signature a date range may be possible.

I have only seen one style of photo certificate (two 'Polaroid' images stuck back-to-back in a sealed, soft vinyl pouch).

Insider2

INS switched over to a photo certificate half that size that was signed and dated. Then the went to plastic slabs. We were very late to that party. Hoskins asked me what I thought about encasing coins in the rectangular plastic holder years before 1986. I told him it was a crazy idea as collectors like to hold their coins. Oops!

DMWJR

Thanks Insider2! That was a good history lesson, and some information I had never heard. I don't know who/when a grade was written on the envelope. I would be glad to send it to you if you would like it. (coin not included )

Wabbit2313

@EagleEye said:
I just got a Morgan Dollar 1884-S MS64DMPL. I wonder if it will cross?

Rick, is it at least uncirculated. Sure looks like altered surfaces in the image.

Wabbit2313

I have sent these to Skip @Insider2 at ICG in the past. Sometimes they cross at grade. Other times, not so much!

astrorat

@Insider2 said:
INS switched over to a photo certificate half that size that was signed and dated.

Interesting ... I would love to see one.

astrorat

@Wabbit2313 said:
I have sent these to Skip @Insider2 at ICG in the past. Sometimes they cross at grade. Other times, not so much!

Both INS 1931-S coins I had 'upgraded' at PCGS. One went from EF-40 to AU-55 and the other went from AU-55 to MS-63.

BStrauss3

They show up on fleaBay and at coin shows every so often. The polaroid version MUCH MUCH rarer than the photoslab. Also key dates and truly higher grades are rare (most of those have been cracked out).

DMWJR

I'm curious about the "1413F" sticker in the first picture and whether that is like a cert number.

REALGATOR

@BStrauss3 said:
They show up on fleaBay and at coin shows every so often. The polaroid version MUCH MUCH rarer than the photoslab. Also key dates and truly higher grades are rare (most of those have been cracked out).

Yep. The 16-D in the OP is AG at best. The reverse is closer to Fair. Cant see any trace of a mintmark in the photo.

astrorat

@DMWJR said:
I'm curious about the "1413F" sticker in the first picture and whether that is like a cert number.

Yes, that is the certification number.

BStrauss3

@Insider2 - Mine is like 1070L - any idea what the letter meant?

Insider2

If I remember our numbers went up the alphabet so 1000A would come before 1000B. Some TPGS generate random #'s so folks cannot tell how many coin they receive. Back then, we didn't care. Nevertheless, we didn't start with 1A...LOL.