Having coins encapsulated.

keets · February 9, 2014 9:54AM

Are you obsessed with having coins encapsulated?? What is your rationale for slabbing, slabbing, slabbing, etc?? Certainly there is the incentive to sell, but if not for that why slab everything in sight??

Al H.

JCMhouston · February 9, 2014 10:23AM

I like the protection provided by a slab. In addition to the sales side when my heirs need to clear everything out.

LanceNewmanOCC · February 9, 2014 10:25AM

<< I like the protection provided by a slab. >>

+1
imo. right behind cleaning is friction that contributes to harming historic coins.
.

jmski52 · February 9, 2014 10:27AM

I just cracked out 3 Large Cents last night. Much better, in my opinion! Of course, I'll slab them later, maybe.

keets · February 9, 2014 10:38AM

don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-slab. it just seems as though all we see/hear is "Look at this nice coin I got, I'm sending it in" followed in short order with the obligatory GTG thread and on to the next one. I suppose that sort of describes me 5-10 years ago but it just strikes me as an awful lot of coin money being flushed down the slabbing pipeline.

and for those who think otherwise, there are many more cost effective ways to protect a coin long-term besides a TPG encapsulation.

CoinRaritiesOnline · February 9, 2014 10:40AM

<< and for those who think otherwise, there are many more cost effective ways to protect a coin long-term besides a TPG encapsulation. >>

I agree there are cheaper ways to store coins, but they don't come with a grade guarantee or increased liquidity.

keets · February 9, 2014 10:44AM

Certainly there is the incentive to sell, but if not for that why slab everything in sight??

bronco2078 · February 9, 2014 10:48AM

I have never had a coin slabbed , I have one coin I may send in because its a certain variety I'd want to have attributed. It might take be a few years to get around to it though

jmski52 · February 9, 2014 12:27PM

There are different reasons for wanting a coin in a slab, and also for wanting a coin out of a slab. I just submitted some coins because of the Registry, and that's part of the hobby in this particular area for me. And like Bronco, I've submitted coins in order to get them officially designated as a particular variety/error. I've also submitted coins in order to better market them.

On the other hand, sometimes the slab is all scuffed-up & cloudy, and you can't appreciate the coin. In another case, the coin needed to be maintained, because what's inside the slab isn't always inert or completely devoid of debris. And sometimes, I just wanna get my grubby little mitts on the coin.

In the end, even if you crack a coin out, it's the professional opinion that you've paid for. Whether you keep it in plastic or not is secondary, in my opinion.

chumley · February 9, 2014 12:45PM

I slab coins that I like to protect them from me as I am a bit of a slob

RYK · February 9, 2014 1:01PM

1. Physical protection
2. Financial protection
3. Aesthetics
4. Registry
5. Storage
6. Liquidity
7. Second opinion
8. Third opinion
9. Fourth opinion
10. ...

Zoins · February 9, 2014 1:04PM

<< 1. Physical protection
2. Financial protection
3. Aesthetics
4. Registry
5. Storage
6. Liquidity
7. Second opinion
8. Third opinion
9. Fourth opinion
10. ... >>

10. TrueView
11. CoinFacts
12. ...

BLUEJAYWAY · February 9, 2014 2:53PM

When I do eventually get around to slabbing some coins it will be primarily to verify their authenicity by a TPG. And then it will be most likely only my error coins.

3keepSECRETif2rDEAD · February 9, 2014 2:55PM

...every time I buy an old NGC fatty, I think to myself "damn, this thing is beat to hell with scratches and such....but the coin inside is preserved just as it was when entombed." I could only imagine what the said coins would look like if they didn't have that coin-condom providing the protection they have had for the last 20+ years

...when I submit to PCGS these days it's mostly for TrueView outside of what was said in the above.

Erik

nwcoast · February 9, 2014 3:55PM

I think you need to hear from some of the "slab happy" folks that get everything slabbed.
I am not in that category of collector. I have several Dansco albums going and lots of odds and ends.
I do have quite a few slabbed coins as well. My main reason for submission has been "tuition" to help and confirm my grading skills.
More so however, is for resale down the road, either for myself or my survivors.
I am so sick of hearing....
"These are sliders"
"These have been wiped" etc.....
And the endless downtalking done by many (not all ) dealers when i'm selling coins...
Bitter???
You bet I am!!!
And PCGS slabbed coins are my best defense when it's time to part with my collection.
And, my recollections as to which dealers are so quick to insult my coins and which were honest

DUIGUY · February 9, 2014 4:01PM

<< 

<< and for those who think otherwise, there are many more cost effective ways to protect a coin long-term besides a TPG encapsulation. >>

I agree there are cheaper ways to store coins, but they don't come with a or increased liquidity. >>

[grade guarantee ]

Bin there, done that, many hoops to jump through. But it is there. Point taken,I reckon.

TwoSides2aCoin · February 9, 2014 4:19PM

The more i upgrade albums, the greater my desire for encapsulation. So the key to happiness is finding the best raw coins that will pass the test of graders, if that time comes. In the meantime, it always seems the keys "need" encapsulation to "prove" to the world that a guy knows what he's got and what he's doing. For most coins, encapsulation is not necessary, except for completion of those sets "worthy" of encapsulation. And that process is anyone's guess and choice.

pcunix · February 9, 2014 6:44PM

<< 
I am so sick of hearing....
"These are sliders"
"These have been wiped" etc.....
>>

Ayup. Though not so much for me, but for whoever I pass them down to. If they decide to sell, having solid PCGS will make it easier for them.

That's one of the things that drove me away years ago. Buy a "Choice UNC" from dealer X and a month or so later bring it back in a different holder to hear "Oh, that's an AU at best!". I learned that lesson over 50 years ago with the first 1928 Peace Dollar I bought.

Cougar1978 · February 9, 2014 8:53PM

I am resistant to slabbing anything which does not justify the cost like mods / USM products. As far as mods making 70, try and get all the money. I never have been able to. The ones that don't make 70 your buried in them especially if you paid the USM price.

Any submission is easily a $100 proposition or more and that is money which would buy a nice coin. I see a lot of people here addicted to slabbing almost anything crossing this and that, even circulated material. I wonder how much money a year they spend on just slab cost. I don't care about a matched set of anything (same TPG) as an excel sheet is just fine for me in listing a collection whether slabbed or raw. I do like the PCGS inventory manager which is good for value updates on my PCGS material.

ambro51 · February 9, 2014 9:21PM

Hmmmmm. When I collected MS Red copper that was paramount. When I collected gold dollars they were essential. With colonials.... I could care less.

CoinRaritiesOnline · February 9, 2014 9:46PM

<< Hmmmmm. When I collected MS Red copper that was paramount. When I collected gold dollars they were essential. With colonials.... I could care less. >>

What if you collected MS Red colonials?

I think the benefit (or lack thereof) of slabbing is more based on the condition of the colonials, and not the fact that they are colonials.

ricko · February 9, 2014 9:49PM

I question the almost fanatic drive to slab coins. I also understand the basics - resale, authentication, protection. However, I do not carry my collection around in my pocket or a briefcase, they are protected very well in my storage system. I have both slabbed and raw coins...and for the raw coins, I do not need a third or fourth party to tell me what I have - I can authenticate and grade. Finally, I do not sell coins. So, in my case, I buy the coin I like/want - either slabbed or raw. I enjoy my coins and the hobby just fine. Cheers, RickO

astrorat · February 9, 2014 9:57PM

<< I question the almost fanatic drive to slab coins. I also understand the basics - resale, authentication, protection. However, I do not carry my collection around in my pocket or a briefcase, they are protected very well in my storage system. I have both slabbed and raw coins...and for the raw coins, I do not need a third or fourth party to tell me what I have - I can authenticate and grade. Finally, I do not sell coins. So, in my case, I buy the coin I like/want - either slabbed or raw. I enjoy my coins and the hobby just fine. Cheers, RickO >>

A healthy approach. Too bad more people don't educate themselves how to grade and authenticate even if they kneel at the TPG alter.

EVillageProwler · February 9, 2014 10:49PM

It's nice to handle dark side material, where raw is common.

A significant portion of my collection is raw, and likely will stay raw because I won't worry about the liquidity issue for reasons not relevant to the OP topic. For those that are slabbed, they've remained slabbed because I haven't made a decision to free them their entombment.

But for those I decide to slab, the reasons are many of the previously offered as well as I'd like to see how well I did (admitting that the TPG's have more experience in general while keeping in mind that for some series they are plain clueless!).

For valuation purposes, not just for selling or the future possibility thereof, this is important.

Most of all, it's nice to score a nice grade, post on here, and have the slab followers gush over the insert result. That is my raison d'être.

(I recently posted a nice Teutonic taler, deliberately not telling the slabbed grade and asking folks not turn my thread into a GTG thread. Here, I got polite requests to reveal the grade -- which I did because of some pleasant context. ATS, one respondent rudely insisted that he GTG. Oh, well.)

EVP

ebaybuyer · February 9, 2014 11:18PM

there is a large percentile of collectors that have been brain washed into believing that if its raw, there must be something wrong with it. those people usually fall into the category of relying (heavily) on third and fourth party opinions. unfortunately, if you want to sell something, it will have to be slabbed, doesn't have to be graded properly, just has to be slabbed. which is a shame but that is reality

SmallTownCoins · February 9, 2014 11:48PM

Everyone likes KoolAid :-)

No disrespect intended...

BAJJERFAN · February 9, 2014 11:51PM

Before the appearance of the TPGs, how many of your average collectors could properly grade their coins? The same % as now? More? Less?

RYK · February 10, 2014 12:52AM

<< Everyone likes KoolAid :-)

No disrespect intended... >>

A coin professional denigrating folks for having their coins slabbed on the message board of the company that encapsulates coins.

With that approach, it is unlikely that Mr. SmallTownCoins will make it to the BigTime.

SmallTownCoins · February 10, 2014 1:54AM

<< 

<< Everyone likes KoolAid :-)

No disrespect intended... >>

A coin professional denigrating folks for having their coins slabbed on the message board of the company that encapsulates coins.

With that approach, it is unlikely that Mr. SmallTownCoins will make it to the BigTime.

>>

Lighten up Francis, it's an internet chat board,
If ya can't grin once in a while, ya might as well go home...

metalmeister · February 10, 2014 2:25AM

To each his own but my thoughts are
high end coins = TPG
I get a kick of holding lower grade coins

jayPem · February 10, 2014 2:51AM

Good Question....as all the replies testify !
I've been collecting 8 reales and darkside stuff raw, but usually look for nice NGC pieces for the more expensive coins I'm after and crack them out, (recently a nice AU Central American Rep. 8r....these are tougher coins to authenticate for me, not alot of reference material available)
If I was collecting these in high grades, they would most likely stay slabbed..

With bust halves, my collection is 90% pcgs graded, and as I accumulate new raw picks, I eventually put together a submission and slab these....partly to add value since these are the coins I will eventually sell, partly to see how my grading skill match up with pcgs and how I'm doing spotting problems, and partly because my own collection of these type of coins are in slabs...

My favorite coins to keep raw are the big ones it seems... dollars, pillars, crowns...and theres nothing quite like a circulated $20 gold piece for holding in your hand

ambro51 · February 10, 2014 2:54AM

There is are two ways this question can be interpreted. Does it mean YOU taking raw coins and submitting them to TPG to add to your collection, OR does it relate to purchasing existing slabbed specimens.

RYK · February 10, 2014 3:17AM

<< 

<< 

<< Everyone likes KoolAid :-)

No disrespect intended... >>

A coin professional denigrating folks for having their coins slabbed on the message board of the company that encapsulates coins.

With that approach, it is unlikely that Mr. SmallTownCoins will make it to the BigTime.

>>

Lighten up Francis, it's an internet chat board,
If ya can't grin once in a while, ya might as well go home... >>

Got it. Only the coin dealers can make jokes.

Baley · February 10, 2014 3:30AM

I'm sort of obsessed with de-encapsulating coins. I've cracked 'em all, sure to include third-tier slabbers like NNC, PCI, SEGS, NTC, ICG, several others, but also old and new ANACS, NGC and PCGS, I've broken rattlers, OGH, blue labels, yes doilies too, soapbars and fatties, you name it, I've cracked it.

And all the coins are still raw and in my collection.

bosco5041 · February 10, 2014 5:20AM

I overheard a expert dealer say to a customer when he showed him a coin that it had been tooled and said "I missed that one" , the dealer was a specialist in the area. A couple of years or so ago I remember a large auction company pulling a very valuable ancient coin from their auction at the last minute because it was found to be counterfeit. If coins like that can get by the top experts I will take all the help I can get. I like the protection of the coin and for myself with the slab.

Crackout · February 10, 2014 6:35AM

I like to have a nice smooth flat surface to accommodate all the stickers!

WaterSport · February 10, 2014 8:58AM

I have both my slab set and my raw set of Lincoln's...so no OC here. ..well except form maybe collecting Lincoln's.

WS

Type2 · February 10, 2014 9:05AM

Some day your collection will be sold do you trust every one to grade your coins raw when your fam go's to sell? But that is just me crazey Type2.

GeorgeKellogg · February 10, 2014 9:24AM

One Word:

coinkat · February 10, 2014 9:28AM

Sometimes its about verification of a key variety... I would be concerned that a variety may be missed-if not graded.

Elcontador · February 10, 2014 9:28AM

If you plan on keeping the coin for a long time and don't mind dealing with a limited base to which to sell it, I'd tell you to keep your Large and Half Cents raw. A copper expert who is also an EAC guy explained by putting something like Coin Care on it every six months or so, you protect the coin and it has an attractive glistening eye appeal on a BN copper (which I have seen many times). He explained that in a holder, it is not air tight, and that without something like Coin Care on the surfaces to protect it, well, you can connect the dots.

I had an expensive copper turn on me in holder eight years after I bought it. I don't think this would have happened if I used the Coin Care product or something like it. You can't do this if the coin is encapsulated.

19Lyds · February 10, 2014 9:35AM

<< 

<< and for those who think otherwise, there are many more cost effective ways to protect a coin long-term besides a TPG encapsulation. >>

I agree there are cheaper ways to store coins, but they don't come with a grade guarantee or increased liquidity. >>

While this is very true I'm not so sure that I'd want to protect the "liquidity" of say.....................a 2004 Kennedy Half Dollar in say..............MS63. MS68, possibly but then that liquidity only has value until the first MS69 is slabbed.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate slabbed coins BUT that appreciation is directly related to population factors and historical factors.

For example, the MS68 Kennedy above would be a good example as its price "may" be directly related to how many "documented" examples that exist. If there are over a couple of hundred, then MS68 might not be that big of a deal but if there are only 2 with "hundreds" in the next grade lower, then that might be a big deal.

As a side note, I DON'T appreciate slabbed Silver Eagles.

TwoSides2aCoin · February 10, 2014 9:40AM

If there are buyers for coins without the plastic or sticker, it only means they are not worth the cost of encapsulating them, in my humblest opinion.

MsMorrisine · February 10, 2014 9:40AM

<< As a side note, I DON'T appreciate slabbed Silver Eagles. >>

even early dates?

not even for proofs?

OKbustchaser · February 10, 2014 12:23PM

<< ...every time I buy an old NGC fatty, I think to myself "damn, this thing is beat to hell with scratches and such....but the coin inside is preserved just as it was when entombed." I could only imagine what the said coins would look like if they didn't have that coin-condom providing the protection they have had for the last 20+ years

...when I submit to PCGS these days it's mostly for TrueView outside of what was said in the above.

Erik >>

How did the coin survive the first 150 to 200 years before it was slabbed?

Type2 · February 10, 2014 5:08PM

So this YN does not get to them.

3keepSECRETif2rDEAD · February 10, 2014 5:22PM

<< How did the coin survive the first 150 to 200 years before it was slabbed? >>

...because prior generations held steadier hands

but seriously today a coin can change hands rapidly via Internet where many years ago...if you wanted it, you actually had to find it. I have bought nice raw BU Morgans from the Bay that came shipped taped to the inside of a stamped envelope. You can't fix stupid, yet the stupid continue to survive.

Erik

Bankerbob56 · February 10, 2014 8:39PM

<< I think you need to hear from some of the "slab happy" folks that get everything slabbed.
I am not in that category of collector. I have several Dansco albums going and lots of odds and ends.
I do have quite a few slabbed coins as well. My main reason for submission has been "tuition" to help and confirm my grading skills.
More so however, is for resale down the road, either for myself or my survivors.
I am so sick of hearing....
"These are sliders"
"These have been wiped" etc.....
And the endless downtalking done by many (not all ) dealers when i'm selling coins...
Bitter???
You bet I am!!!
And PCGS slabbed coins are my best defense when it's time to part with my collection.
And, my recollections as to which dealers are so quick to insult my coins and which were honest

>>

+100!

Nap · February 10, 2014 9:55PM

I have never sent a coin for encapsulation, and probably would not do so until I am ready to sell.

I put most of my raw coins in air-tite holders, this provides protection mostly from my klutzy self. I feel like its a safer way to transport to the bank SDB. Also it gives me a better chance to find a coin (especially darkside bronze/coppers) that I drop and the cat chases into one of her many cat lairs: a 3cm holder with white insert is much easier to find than a dark 12mm coin.

JRocco · February 11, 2014 9:26AM

<< I like the protection provided by a slab. In addition to the sales side when my heirs need to clear everything out. >>

I do too, but cost has to be a consideration.
You could also leave a note to your heirs that all these coins in these 3 dollar plastic coin containers would sell for a lot more if you first sent them into PCGS to have them slabbed before selling. This in the event you passed unexpectedly before being able to tell your heirs yourself, or do it yourself before talking to St Peter if you have the time.

When heirs to an estate read a note from the deceased that something would be worth a lot more if they did X Y and Z, you can bet your last dollar that they will do X Y and Z....probably twice.

keets · February 12, 2014 11:16AM

hadn't noticed that this thread actually had legs, I thought it died a painless death on page one!!

my thoughts on the topic are summed up nicely on page two by the four replies starting with RickO and ending at eBaybuyer. all that said I completely understand the liquidity aspect.

Having coins encapsulated.

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