Post your favorite...slab?
Weiss
Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
Yes, it is sometimes about the slab. Slabbing, with its early prototypes, its promises, its failures, and its successes, is arguably the most important development in numismatics in the last 50 years.
Buy the coin, not the slab!
No. It's my hobby and I'll buy what I like for whatever reason I like. And sometimes, that means looking back on 30+ years of this aspect of hour hobby and appreciating those whose shoulders we stand on. And just imagine what slabbing will have evolved into in 2046!
So, from your current collection, what is your favorite slab, and why?
This is probably my most interesting. Interesting coin, interesting 1-year, first-year type, interesting early and only briefly-used slab. Plus gold CAC, and from one of my favorite dealers:
1913 Type I Buffalo Nickel
NGC MS65, Generation 2 (1987)
Gold CAC
Ex-CRO
Buy the coin, not the slab!
No. It's my hobby and I'll buy what I like for whatever reason I like. And sometimes, that means looking back on 30+ years of this aspect of hour hobby and appreciating those whose shoulders we stand on. And just imagine what slabbing will have evolved into in 2046!
So, from your current collection, what is your favorite slab, and why?
This is probably my most interesting. Interesting coin, interesting 1-year, first-year type, interesting early and only briefly-used slab. Plus gold CAC, and from one of my favorite dealers:
1913 Type I Buffalo Nickel
NGC MS65, Generation 2 (1987)
Gold CAC
Ex-CRO
We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
--Severian the Lame
--Severian the Lame
0
Comments
CC
It would be nice if CAC would give these pre barcode slabs a break...
5$ bills are WOW with the numbers - wanted:
02121809
04151865
Wanted - Flipper notes with the numbers 6-9 or 0-6-9 ON 1$ 2$ 5$ 10$ 20$
Wanted - 10$ Sereis 2013 - fancy Serial Numbers
Latin American Collection
I never collected slabs.... I know many people do..and that is fine... some people collect belly button lint (look it up)....For me, slabs are just an incidental part of the hobby. Cheers, RickO
It's not required to collect something yet still have a favorite.
For example, my wife is my favorite, yet I don't collect wives.
peacockcoins
CC
Say what you will, like any slabber, ACG went through different slabs over time. Lakesammman and Conder101 have posted them in sequential order for the majors and Conder's book covers what was known around 2002.
There are even transitional and mules known - parts from two generations.
But then there is this... FrankenSlab... parts from about six different generations, plus some items never seen before.
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
--Severian the Lame
I'm really fond of my one and only Doily, plus the Franklin is nice for what it is.
My YouTube Channel
Coin Club Benefit auctions ..... View the Lots
I also like this holder because I'm a sucker for low grade Seated and/or Bust coins with old album toning.
- Jim
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
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"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
If we were all the same, the world would be an incredibly boring place.
Tommy
While this one (as described in a separate thread as quoted below it) is mine:
" ..... in the Appendix of Michael Moran and Jeff Garrett's just published in 2016 book, "1849 - The Philadelphia Mint State Gold" (Whitman Publishing Company, 2016) at page 290 the following is noted:
"There is reportedly a proof example of the date [1850 Double Eagle] that has been seen in Paris, France. ..... This coin would be an incredible addition to the population of great Double Eagles . Perhaps the coin will someday reach the shores of the United States."
Also of note it appears that a new category of "Proof 1850 Double Eagles" has now been added to the currently updated CoinFacts site now that it has been affiliated with PCGS. Therein reference is made to a "Cleaned" PR-61 1850 Double Eagle that had been seen in a Paris museum.
While I had previously learned that my 1850 Double Eagle was once part of Longacre's personal collection. (See below), the above "finding" of an apparently similar 1850 Double Eagle in Paris, albeit described as of a lower grade (a cleaned Proof 61) is certainly exciting.
Here is the above referenced attribution provided by firstmint with regard to my 1850 Double Eagle:
"That is certainly a distinctive coin. However, in 1949, when Max Mehl catalogued it, he disagreed with the Proof designation.
Mehl had numerous real twenty dollar proofs (from 1871 to 1907) in the same sale to compare this item with, including a 1904, that Green purchased as a Proof, that Mehl correctly catalogued as "brilliant uncirculated with proof surface".
To have this in a TPG holder now, and labeled as a Proof (according to Breen) is a real misnomer. There is no evidence there were any ever presented as special pieces.
IMO, the coin is a first strike from the regular production dies, that happened to get saved and ended up in numismatic channels.
That would be the real story behind this nice coin.
Edited to add the rest of the story -
After doing some quick research and looking for an answer to the reason for such a coin being saved, I uncovered the original appearance for this particular coin.
It came from the James B. Longacre estate (the coin's designer), and was sold in the January 21, 1870 auction sale conducted by
M(oses) Thomas & Sons in Philadelphia. It was lot #178.
The lot description was: "1850, Double Eagle, proof. This piece was from the first dies used for the double eagle, and might be termed a trial piece."
There were also three 1848 CAL Quarter Eagles listed as being proof. However, most everything in the past that was prooflike has been catalogued and sold as a proof, even though that is not the case.
I believe the J B Longacre pedigree (as a first strike) is much more significant than the C W Green listing as a proof w/ enhanced surfaces."
In response to firstmint's attribution, numisma of O.C. Rare Coin & Bullion added:
"I believe the J B Longacre pedigree (as a first strike) is much more significant than the C W Green listing as a proof w/ enhanced surfaces.
I agree. That is an important fact that you provided northcoin and can only add to the allure and historical significance of the piece (as well as the value). Nice work firstmint! This is proof that it pays to have an extensive library.
In today's fast pace numismatic world coins are traded quickly and often. As such, provenance and other historical facts associated with the coins tend to get lost in the transactions, which is regretful. "
The following may also be if interest to anyone who has read this far with regard to my 1850 Double Eagle:
As noted on the holder, it once belonged to C.W. Green. Interestingly in reading Breen's book cataloging gold proofs I came across a reference by Breen to the very coin. He noted that there were possibly several Presentation Pieces a/k/a proofs made of the first $20 gold piece available for circulation in 1850. He went on to note that Green was reported to have one, but that he had never seen it himself. In addition, the coin is featured on CoinFacts.com as its first described "Significant example" of the 1850 Double Eagle, and CoinFacts further notes under Mintage, "Proofs: Unique?"
An added personal footnote to the story. When David Bowers was compiling his book on Double Eagles I afforded him an opportunity to view the coin and to my surprise he kindly added my name to the credits for sharing the coin. ) At the time David Bowers was compiling his book on Double Eagles the coin's earlier auction history and connection to Longacre's personal collection, as above described, had not yet been learned.
In addition, here is the above referenced "Coin Facts" description of the coin and it more recent auction history:
Significant examples:
SEGS Proof-62, "Presentation/PL, enhanced surfaces". Ex - Superior Galleries' "Pre-Long Beach Sale" May 27-29, 2001, Lot 4170A, where it was described as follows: "1850 SEGS graded Proof 62 marked "Presentation/PL" and " Enhanced Surfaces". The coin is also pedigreed to Dr. C. W. Green and so noted on the holder. This is the first collectible issue of the United States Double Eagle series. This coin has a beautiful bold strike with full stars and all other details sharp and clear. The fields are Prooflike and you can see clearly with magnification that the dies and planchet were enhanced prior to striking..."
Just realized the irony and significance of "5" with regard to the photo I took of the initial slab in my prior post.
Apart from having appeared on the TV show "Hawaii Five-0" it happens to be a 5 cent piece, and only 5 of them were made. (Now if it could just get upgraded from PF 64 to PF 65!
This coin walked in to one of our member's shops raw, accompanied by the old PhotoCert. .....
Thanks. Most interesting all the way back to 1981.
My favorite type and with a coin that has been through the ringer!
Whatever you are, be a good one. ---- Abraham Lincoln
My favorite type and with a coin that has been through the ringer!
.... and not holed!