Original Surfaces on Old Slabs
messydesk
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Serious question to slab collectors. When someone gives me a trashed slab for the purpose of shooting a picture of the coin, I often polish it so that you can actually see the coin. Since the coin is largely irrelevant in the most collectible slabs, are original surfaces important, scuffed as they may be, or would a polished slab be preferable?
John
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
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Do you ask the person for permission before you polish it?
I really can't see a trashed, scuffed or scratched slab being preferable but what do I know.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Usually, I just tell people I might have to polish their slabs, and they're grateful for it. After all, they want good pictures of their coins. I've never had the issue come up with a 108-series rattler, black insert NGC holder, or the like. I would ask first in this case and I always see what I can improve with a smear of oil first, anyway. I just don't know what's preferred, or if slab collectors have even thought about it.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I would be grateful.
What do you use and how do you work it?
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Well, I for one would appreciate you making my slabs cleaner or better looking. I have seen a lot of crappy, beat up slabs out there over the years. Can't understand why some people don't care how their slabs look. Maybe it's personal preference. I guess you'll have to wait for others to chime in.
How or what is your process of polishing a slab?
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
PlastX, soft rag, elbow grease.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Honestly, I would have no problem with the polishing of a slab as long as the sensitive part of the holder isn't touched/damaged. I'm referring to the exposed embossed gold logo (NGC) then later hologram logo on the back of both NGC and PCGS holders. But it's really up to the owner of the slab.
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You have any before and after pics? That could tell the tail.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Not handy. You often can't tell, but sometimes you can. Lens is shinier than normal, crappy textured NGC plastic looks smoother, there are softened remnants of scratches that have been polished, maybe I didn't get some PlastX out of a corner somewhere.
In general, restoring or refinishing collectibles, be they coins, furniture, toys, beyond a superficial cleaning is frowned upon (cars are more complicated). I'm just curious as to what the die-hard, high-end slab collectors think about this.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I leave my slabs as is, no polishing whatsoever. If a slab is really scratched, I’ll reholder it.
I have seen buffed slabs and it looks off to me, so I don’t care for it at all.
I can only tolerate so much, but some of them have some scratches, but I just live with it. To me, I want the holder to be as original as possible.
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I do polish my slabs if they're scratched up when I buy them. I can't imagine anyone wanting a scratched holder because its "original".
Has anyone tried restoring them with the same products used for restoring the surfaces of car headlights? Would that be considered slab doctoring??
To old slab collectors, very generally, cracks and chips are considered the bug-a-boo, not surface scratches.
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If “improperly cleaned” coins are supposed to be noted on grading labels, I think that “improperly cleaned” holders which are of greater value than the coins, should also be noted. 😉
More seriously, though, I think the best policy, by far, is to ask the customer in advance whether he’d like his holder cleaned.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Thanks gumby - I generally don't polish slabs as it would become a full time job but I will religiously remove any labels, label residue or other unsightly gunk off the holder.
Tim
I really like good coins in OGHs. I would absolutely appreciate a photographer polishing out scratches.
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Is anyone grading collectible slabs yet?
Not yet but you know it's coming considering the value of some of the vintage slabs. It's just a matter of someone coming up with the necessary widely accepted grading standards. Does anyone know what the first-generation black NGC slabs are bringing these days?
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And apparently a slab “restoration” service will need to be in the offing….
Yes, PlastX has been mentioned here and in other threads. I don’t know if other brands are used. It seems to work on PCGS slabs for me. I haven’t had luck on NGC slabs.
And I suppose some slabs that have been restored will be market acceptable, while others will get Details….😏
PCGS, CACG, and several of the older companies are made of an acrylic-type plastic (plexiglas is a trade name). NGC slabs are something else, which is softer and thus more easily scratched up.
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