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Is this holder worth any premium (is this the oldest known slab) ?
dcarr
Posts: 10,178 ✭✭✭✭✭
I bought this at the recent Colorado Money Show.
I realize that later ACG grades are highly suspect.
Earlier ACG holders seem to be graded more accurately.
This is an early ACG holder because it includes the photo of the coin.
Is there any value premium for this holder ?
The coin itself is pretty nice. I grade it AU58, but it is one of those AU58-MS61 toss-up coins.




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It is to me, I love the old and different grading services and slabs. I like it alot!
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I dont recall seeing that one before. Thats interesting 🤔
The holder is worth a premium but that has no particular influence on the accuracy of any assigned grade it may indicate.
The pics suggest a coin that has been cleaned (as the holder indicates) but I would venture a commercial net grade falls well below "63" as the ANA grading system is defined.
Official PCGS account of:
www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com
I think this slab is later than the Accugrade slabs with an Encino, CA address from the 1980s. Is there a premium for this? There could be as this slab may have been short lived.
Edited to add:
There were other California addresses used on the smaller Accugrade slab in the mid to late 1980s. . I thought Accugrade was in CA before CT and I could be wrong about that. Accugrade did have a larger picture slab prior to their smaller slab that might date to 1984 and possibly earlier.
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That holder tends to have a premium. The more expensive the coin gets, the less the premium (or it even goes away).
Wasn’t this the Alan Hager company that was so controversial
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Chris
From your pics, it doesn't look cleaned and I would guess that PCGS or NGC would give it a straight grade of AU58.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
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Yes, that is what I think as well.
It seems these early ACG holders always have a grade designation of "3 c" if the coin has had any kind of circulation contact.
I like it!
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
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No - that holder defunct decades ago. Not accepted by ebay. Why would there be a premium for it lol?
The TPG accepted by EBay are Anacs, iCG, NGC, PCGS, CACG
Wrong as usual. As @U1chicago correctly stated, that slab does tend to carry a premium with slab collectors, however, the premium diminishes with the value of the coin.
Philippians 4:4-7
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In my opinion, the coin has not been "cleaned".
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When I first started coin collecting I bought several ACG coins. Sent to PCGS and they downgraded tremendously. I like this one though.
Ouch…but I’d rather get a downgraded coin returned rather than one that got ‘body bagged’. 🤔😉
Your not reading the Accu Guide guide there. Wonder what the white areas are on the coin.
Lol it looks cleaned. A3-61C. Does the 61 mean MS61? And the C Cleaned?
Fascinating holder
Empty Nest Collection
Too bad cac doesn't sticker these, no grade so when you go to sell I hope you don't have to crack it. Tops MS62.
Yes, unequivocally. It's old, it's gold, the holder looks to be in good condition, and Accugrade is actively sought-after by a healthy collecting base. The harder question is, "how much of a premium?"
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Tommy
No premium on the holder, coin certainly wizzed, I would pass on it unless offered at melt. THKS!
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That TPG out of business decades ago. Hey offer it around the bourse then.
Recall them set up at a show decades ago - ACG.
Of course they have been out of business for decades. That is part of what makes it desirable to slab collectors. Just because it might not be in your wheelhouse, don't make uninformed, incorrect statements when you don't know what you are talking about (you have the option to say nothing), or do because that seems to be your MO. Now give us some analogy about getting stuffed in the backfield or how your super hot assistant knows karate... 😉
Philippians 4:4-7
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You are so bad at this (and not getting any better).
Here are better pictures of the coin itself.
Based on what I have researched, it is probable that this coin was "slabbed" before any other companies slabbed any coins (including PCGS, ANACS, and NGC).
If the ACG serial numbering can be figured out, I wonder if this is one of their first (it has a low number).
Could this be the oldest known slab that is still intact ?
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True that! I've got several "body bags" also
Mine, got this out of a flea market back in the 19990s. Glad I kept it
Every two bit re-seller wants that coin. "I'll pay cash for it today as a problem AU coin. Deal?"
I’m not sure about holder premium, but it looks like a wholesome 58 to me.
@dcarr per your edited thread title "is this the oldest known slab" the answer is no. Per the research of and from Conder101's book you have a generation 2 holder. His book does not list dates for when this slab generation was used and I do not remember myself. But as a generation 2 it is most certainly not the oldest known slab. As a side note there are two versions of the gen 2 holder listed in his book gen 2 and gen 2.5; you have the gen 2.
However, in your post you ask the question "Could this be the oldest known slab that is still intact" which is slightly different than that asked in your thread title. While I cannot say for sure I am betting that there are examples of generation 1 holders still intact in collectors' hands. How many of either the gen 1 or gen 2 are still intact is an unknown.
I believe ACG started using these brick slabs in 1984, so you are correct that this gen 2 likely supersedes slabs from PCGS or NGC.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
I think you meant 1984.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Whoops, thanks for catching my error, corrected.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Possibly things you have already found, but might be interesting to others.
Yours is among the earliest. May need to find someone with Conder101's slab book showing Accugrade generations to know how to tell.
This site touches on the history of Accugrade and notes "There are dozens of generations of holders, both the photo type slab and the small slab. I've not found a complete list of generations anywhere or have done much research".
https://oldslabholders.com/defunct-tpg-certs-and-slabs
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This comment by Conder101 in this 2002 thread seems to indicate yours is at least no later than a second generation Accugrade from 1985 or earlier. I don't know what defines a first generation or if more info discovered later,
Cool ACG holder (photos are gone from thread)
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/1144396/#Comment_1144396
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Then there is this interesting comment by Conder101 in this thread:
when were coins first slabbed?
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/4140890/#Comment_4140890
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This January 19, 2026 article on CoinWeek mentions "...Slab collectors value these early examples at about $30 over the value of the enclosed coin..." regarding Accugrade photoslabs. Are some photoslab varieties worth more than others?
Buy the Holder, Not the Coin – 10 Certification Slabs to Look For
https://coinweek.com/buy-the-holder-not-the-coin-10-slabs-to-look-for/
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Did not think about Accugrade slabs being collected much. Recall all kinds of them being cracked out and trashed when run across years ago. Most just did not want to be seen having them. History's trash becomes the future's treasure, or at least interesting relics.
If you decide to follow the wisdom of some "illustrious" posters here, I'll give you melt plus 1 percent for your "wizzed" gold dollar.
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I had some ACG coins decades ago (liked them). But sold them out on the show circuit decades ago b4 they cratered. I recall having a ACG graded $2.50 Indian at that time MS63 or 64. It sold (retail) early in the ACG lifespan.
How high would the holder collectors bid it up now?
Looks kind of like the old PCI holder.
Good call.
I'd imagine as the value of your coin is high the likelihood of it being cracked and graded by PCGS would be high.
The fact is survived from having been done is kind of amazing.
Thanks for all the info here.
Now I wonder what a 1st-generation ACG slab looks like ?
There is not much difference, in fact the first four generations that Conder101 lists in his book are all this brick style slab with minor differences in the font types and labeling. In reality I think these four could all have been considered subtypes of one generation, but that is not how he chose to break down the differences.
But to your question the ACG Generation 1 did not start with letters for the cert as yours does on the obv side. And where your slab says ACCUGRADE @ with CONNECTICUT below that; a Generation 1 has the full address "GREENWICH, CT 06830" in place of CONNECTICUT.
I have a version that is not even listed in Conder101's book, it appears to be a version of the generation 2 but I've not seen another like it. Notice on the rev it only has ACCUGRADE@ no state or address.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.