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Do slabs float?
Insider2
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I just made a joke in a PM that when the "Big One" hits CA and Newport Beach drops into the ocean that a lot of coins will become rarer. I implied to the other member that many light coins (3c silver) will probably float in their slab and be found on beaches all across the Pacific. That got me thinking about dollars and $20 gold in holders. I promised to do an experiment at work on Monday. Why wait. Please fill your sink (if you dare) and post your findings for us today! 
While we are at it, let's see which TPGS slab floats the longest by coin type too!
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I don't know, but I'd lay better odds on a slabbed trime, vs a double eagle.
And also a slab carefully laid flat on the surface, vs dropped from a height
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I have several slabs with Silver Three Cent Pieces in them, but I'm not going to give it a try. Water in a slab is death for the coin. Half dimes and Nickel Three Cent Pieces might float if they are air tight.
I remember when our host came out with a new, more secure slab.
David Hall had an aquarium on his desk full of slabbed coins and tropical fish.
He said they were water proof.
Remember that?
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No, were the coins ruined? Please reply or I'll need to wait until Monday to see for myself..
NGC slabbed cent sunk like a rock.
The price has as well.
The aquarium demo was within the past 12 months or so, I'm sure someone who remembers that will be along.
Don and his pet fish "Morgan"
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I'm from MO or the Middle east - take your pick. I'm not going to fully believe anything until I do the experiment myself on the slabs of four grading services and multiple coin types 3c -to $20.
This test was done by folks here about 15 years ago. The slabs did not float and most of them leaked.
The new slabs are air tight. The ones in the PCGS video sank.
Are slabs buoyant? No. Not with their current geometry, and no matter if a coin is in them or not. They lack the right shape, and upward force exerted by the fluid. If the slab was three times thicker (estimate), and had much more air and/or foam inside, then maybe.
Is this statement correct? I thought the slabs were sonically sealed and NOT airtight.
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I believe it came from David Hall's mouth. That or it was Don Willis.
Didn't we have a board member who was having fun with his coins while bathing in a tub and dropped a couple slabs? I sorta remember that he was not a happy camper.
I love how there is a Washington quarter and common date Morgan in the fish bowl, but he won't put the MS66 gold eagle in it. I wonder if they believe it is merely water resistant rather than truly, fully waterproof.
Only if they are witches. Or ducks.
Water PROOF can be determined by submersion in a pressurized container..... based on the experiments referred to in the video, I would expect that their testing (beyond the fish bowl) confirmed it did not leak. However, I do not know to what level (atmospheres) that it was tested.... Perhaps that information is available from Don. Cheers, RickO
Hey FellintoOblivion, Ya missed one!
OK, First test:
Silver dollar in ICG holder. SANK LIKE A STONE! I'm leaving it in to see if it leaks. Note: it is only in three inches of water so no "pressure" is involved. Therefore I don't know what would happen off the CA coast. Perhaps a shark would see a flash on the way down and eat it. I need to get to the bank to try some other TPGS slabs.
Second Tests:
ICG half dime floats while dime sank but very slowly about 3 inches per second'
So a coin weighing approx. 1.3 gram or less floats in ICG holder.
NGC $1 gold sank as expected. My thought is a $1 gold with a lighter Intercept shield insert may float but that is a rare bird!
There should be a light, porous, inert material that could keep anything under perhaps 1.6 from sinking.
I'm not going to prove or disprove the question with any of my slabs
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Silly, I'm doing it for you.
BTW, I know for certain that dropping ANY of your slabs from any TPGS into a bowl of water until it sinks and then drying it off will not hurt it. I've dunked NGC and PCGS slabs in water today with no effect.
I still need to test an NGC and PCGS 3c silver. It should float because of weight.
So, If you collect 3c silver coins, you'll only need to follow them down the river in a flood.
The current PCGS slabs are also lighter than the previous generation. A 3cS that floats with the new one might not with an older one.
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That's going to be a hard one for me to find. Hopefully, another member who is curious and not afraid will test a 3c silver in a old and new PCGS slab just for fun. As I posted, it looks like any coin under 1.3 g should float in a slab.
That dollar slab is still under water with no effect.
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3c silver floats, 3c nickel floats but mostly awash. Still need PCGS & NGC 3c coins.
Interesting. I would have bet that any slab would sink. Learn something new everyday.
I agree, it all started when Newport Beach might disappear in an earthquake/tidal wave event.
Need ANACS, NGC, PCGS 3c. All fractional gold slabs possibly float unless the inserts with small holes are much heavier.
"B " coins float near the surface, "A" coins often jump out, and "C" coins... well they can be seen making their way down
@Kccoin.... Hmmm... A, B, C,....Dolphins, Jellyfish and bottom feeders...
By Jove we have developed the first marine grading system...... 
Cheers, RickO