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Slab condition as indicator of value
messydesk
Posts: 19,712 ✭✭✭✭✭
When you're contemplating a purchase, are you at all influenced by the condition of the slab? I don't mean just the $12 it'll cost to get a trashed slab reholdered, but do you see all the scuff marks and hear the words of an esteemed former member, "endlessly whored around the bourse," thus indicating the coin is dreck that is desperately looking for an end user?
John
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
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As long as it doesn't interfere with me seeing all the coin clearly, I don't have a problem with it.
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Generally doesn’t bother me. Don’t care if it’s been passed around every other day as long as it’s a good coin and a good value.
TurtleCat Gold Dollars
Some of the older holders like the rattlers just got "ratty" easily.
I have many rattlers that I purchased back in the 80's that look like cr@p and I know they
didn't get passed around too much before I got them and they are still pretty scuffed up.
So I don't really see that as a negative other than making viewing the coin a little tougher.
If it's a really rare coin; I'm not real concerned about the condition of the slab. But for a cheaper coin; I won't buy one with chips, cracks or ripped hologram. And 'no' a heavily worn slab does not automatically indicate to me that the coin is dreck and that's why it's been handled a lot.
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Every coin I buy is already old (and many have lived a life of being passed around). Slab condition is way down the list of things I’m looking for or thinking of.
For me, it’s really only a concern if it’s a widget.
If it’s a rare/difficult coin, no concern at all, as I’ll just reholder it.
Dave
I'll buy cracked slabs and keep them if I like the coin in them.
Blackberry pie out!
The thought crosses my mind...that it has been tossed across the bourse table often and carelessly. But I've seen enough badly scratched slabs with coins I liked that I tend to blame negligent owners first.
I can usually rescue the slab with a little TLC.
Lance.
As long as the slab isn't cracled, no problem. The slab did it's job and protected the coin from being damaged.
I’ve had coins consigned to me where the slab was garbage and I know my consignor sent it in. Some people just test their stuff like garbage, so I wouldn’t assume a bad slab is by default not fresh. If I really can’t see the coin I might have an issue, but that’s also in part because I’m not buying a coin I can’t see—I can’t enjoy it as much and I don’t know what I’m missing when I buy it, which could be an unwelcome surprise.
I don't like damaged slabs and will pass because of that.
Depends more on the coin inside the holder. This is why I am on this journey. Peace Roy
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The coin first then the slab. Jmo
If I can see the coin to properly evaluate it, the slab would not be a consideration (can always reslab). If not, I would likely just pass...Cheers, RickO
This is really what I'm thinking. Part of the first impression of a coin is the holder it's in. If the slab is trashed, I have to get past it and the reason for it to see the coin, which is often just fine, but the issue wouldn't be on my mind at all if the slab had been taken care of or repolished.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
I care more about the quality of the CAC sticker! That's where the real value is.
As long as I can see the coin well enough, I don't care. I will factor in the cost of reholdering it in my offer price though.
A beat up slab may mean the coin has gotten a lot of attention. Nice coins tend to get a lot of attention.
I like to look for early slabs in pristine condition. Maybe beat up slabs were struggling for a home or a careless owner or two. The early pristine slab sat in a collection prized by few careful owners most likely one owner, I like finding those.
Or it may mean that despite all the attention it got, nobody ever cared enough about the coin to make the slab presentable.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
One show dealer is fanatical about keeping his coins protected by plastic sleeves. It shouldn't be that hard to handle coin slabs right. However the perfect may be the enemy of the good, I don't generally judge a book by its cover.
Can’t understand a scuffed slab in the first place. Companies sell baggies to put slabs in. Slide them out to look and slide it back in to store. $.2 to protect a $1000 coin isn’t asking much.
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Slabs can be polished.
I will never turn down what is, in my judgement, a great coin in a beat to crap slab.
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I hate stickers on slabs and I hate scratches on slabs. Like said above, small zip lock bags work wonders. If I really like the coin I will give it a shot at regrade and then it automatically gets a new holder. From NGC at least not sure on PCGS
If the coin is clearly seen, then the slab condition isn’t a big concern.
I do protect mine in small clear baggies. Good for me, but also good if I sell a coin. All would prefer to have a clear view.
I use and like those, but in a pinch a sandwich baggie is better than nothing.
I bought a coin from someone that had a clear static, protective covering over both slab windows.
It had the name of the dealer around the edge.
I thought that was pretty darn cool.
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I consider them problem material.
It is a no go for me. It is expense to get coins reholdered (fees plus shipx & ins) with narrow spreads forced due to current market. Certainly I would deduct on offer for take it all or pass group of coins / estate.
Damaged, chipped, scratched, scuffed slab = problem selling = reholder expense = pass for me. I have too many other choices when buying take in somebody’s problem. What I expect: Take care of them and get bad slabs reholdered.