POLL: Separating the men from the boys...

MrEureka · August 21, 2006 9:10AM

Not that there's anything wrong with boys, you understand.

ziggy29 · August 21, 2006 9:24AM

I said 26-50%. One of my projects is a certified AU-58 type set, and any of the coins I bought in that collection for AU-58 money I would have been willing to pay the same money for raw (assuming I was putting a raw type set together).

goose3 · August 21, 2006 9:26AM

<< <i>Not that there's anything wrong with boys, you understand. >>

that's what the catholic priest said.....

I voted a little over 1/2

Russ · August 21, 2006 9:27AM

100%.

Russ, NCNE

LincolnCentMan · August 21, 2006 9:30AM

I grabbed a random box from the box pile. I came up with eleven out of thirteen for that particular box.

David

Leiana · August 21, 2006 9:31AM

I voted for the "I don't buy slabs" option.

-Amanda

Aegis3 · August 21, 2006 9:34AM

So far, it's been 100%.

Now, eventually, I will probably want to complete that Lincoln cent collection which I started as a kid. As I do not yet have an S-VDB or a 14-D, I would of course buy them in an authenticated state. And these days, that basically means slabbed. Of course, if it happenes that the one I want has an old ANAAB or ANACS certificate (and the photo matches), that too would be just as fine to me. Of course, in any case, I will check the basic authentication points of such coins myself. I will not let the only reason I think a coin is authentic is "PCGS/NGC/whoever says so".

I'm not sure exactly how that would effect my answer though.

lkenefic · August 21, 2006 9:36AM

I actually voted 0%. The only coins I currently have in slabs are key dates and I keep them there for authenticity purposes. The only other coins I've ever had in slabs I cracked out...these were medium-range MS Morgans (MS-63/64) and were common date stuff. I will pretty much only buy key date material in slabs...PCGS, NGC or ANACS. Along with my opinion as to whether or not it's a counterfeit, I get the satisfaction of a professional grading service making the determination as well. I'll probably keep them slabbed, because I don't want some nimrod telling my heirs that I collected counterfeited coins after I'm long dead and gone.

I did purchase a GSA 1884-CC...not a key date but I'm hoping others will crack them out of the GSA holders giving mine a premium...harhar...

LeeG · August 21, 2006 9:50AM

I voted 26-50 at this stage. Getting better as I continue learning and gaining confidence.

roadrunner · August 21, 2006 9:56AM

Back before slabs the answer was 100%. By 1990 maybe 80%. Today I'd say it's still in the 60-80% range.

roadrunner

BlindedByEgo · August 21, 2006 9:59AM

None. Gotta subtract the price of the plastic

1921obsession · August 21, 2006 10:00AM

All of them. As an error collector, it's only happenstance that the coin I want is in a holder.

JRocco · August 21, 2006 10:09AM

I said 76-99% because there are no absolutes, but I do not buy plastic--- never have, never will- I buy coins.
In general Andy, the ubber goober graded Moderns are worth only a small % of their price without the plastic, yet you could crack out a Morgan from a properly graded holder and it is still worth the same to a collector.

coinkat · August 21, 2006 10:13AM

I buy coins not slabs...

TONEDDOLLARS · August 21, 2006 10:23AM

100% I buy toners

Julio · August 21, 2006 10:31AM

I copped out and just went with show me the answer. Like another board member has been known to say, paraphrased, just tell me the price. jws

JRocco · August 21, 2006 10:39AM

I gotta admit Andy- I am ROFLMAO

This reminds me of when you ask a roomful of Democrats who would call themselves a Liberal and all you hear is silence.

There are soo many plastic lovers on these boards--- most of whom we know readily, yet ...HELLO----any of you Kool Aid drinkers home ???

Thanks for tonight's laugh ....

coinkat · August 21, 2006 10:47AM

Okay... the last two coins I bought that were already slabbed were Swedish and my cost was not even the grading fee.

clw54 · August 21, 2006 11:00AM

I buy raw coins now and then, but I'm particular about the dealers who I will buy them from. Having said that, if a dealer creates a poll making fun of people who are hesitant to buy raw coins, I'll be damned if I'll ever buy a raw coin from the guy. Probably won't buy anything slabbed either.

messydesk · August 21, 2006 11:01AM

Over half for me. Interesting distribution of the results. Not what I expected.

GaCoinGuy · August 21, 2006 11:03AM

I have 3 slabs to my name. 2 are third tier ones from a member here. Real nice coins, but way over-graded. Got them in a swap once. And the other is a Philippines coin in a PCGS slab I won from a member here in a giveaway.

Julio · August 21, 2006 11:12AM

I buy raw coins now and then....

Laura; Most of my coins are raw and not worth the money to grade. I believe your coin budget far exceeds mine. The question is and I have done it; when you do buy raw do you then have them graded and slabbled? tia. jws

Newmismatist · August 21, 2006 11:13AM

<< <i>100% I buy toners >>

AMEN!

IGWT · August 21, 2006 11:19AM

<< <i>I buy raw coins now and then, but I'm particular about the dealers who I will buy them from. Having said that, if a dealer creates a poll making fun of people who are hesitant to buy raw coins, I'll be damned if I'll ever buy a raw coin from the guy. Probably won't buy anything slabbed either. >>

I didn't read the question that way. I see it more as a question testing our confidence that coins were bought right regardless of what's written on the TPG insert. The question implicitly criticizes the accuracy and consistency of TPGs. As for separating the men from the boys, I'll save the jokes for the open forum . . . .

librtyhead · August 21, 2006 11:28AM

79-99%..............if I like it I buy it.I just have to be the first one there!............cool poll.

Fairlaneman · August 21, 2006 11:38AM

Plastic adds money to the price so the answer is 0%. If the coins were not in plastic I would pay the going rate for about 60% of the coins I have in slabs. Some are very iffy grade wise in my opinion. Then again some are undergraded also.

I buy toned coins also. When a decent toned raw coin is seen I pay up. Not MOON money though.

Ken

Coinosaurus · August 21, 2006 11:43AM

This poll may say more about honesty than confidence in slabs

michael · August 21, 2006 11:53AM

Back before slabs the answer was 100%. By 1990 maybe 80%. Today I'd say it's still in the 60-80% range.

roadrunner

the above is an honest truthful man

stman · August 21, 2006 12:09PM

<< <i>I buy raw coins now and then, but I'm particular about the dealers who I will buy them from. Having said that, if a dealer creates a poll making fun of people who are hesitant to buy raw coins, I'll be damned if I'll ever buy a raw coin from the guy. Probably won't buy anything slabbed either. >>

elwood · August 21, 2006 12:12PM

100%

originalisbest · August 21, 2006 12:15PM

Is there a "who cares" option?

TwoSides2aCoin · August 21, 2006 12:27PM

anatomy 101

gyocomgd · August 21, 2006 12:57PM

For tougher, more expensive dates:
100% in circ grades, 50% MS60-62, 35% MS63-64, 10% 65 & higher.

Elcontador · August 21, 2006 1:42PM

I remember the (pre-slab) "bad old days." Lots of whizzed, crudely cleaned, counterfeit and doctored coins. Now it's different.

The coins I acquire have a lot more zeros in their price tags, and TPGs are around, as an insurance policy of sorts. Instead of whizzed, crudely cleaned and counterfeit coins, we have many "colorfully toned late date Capped Bust Halves, attractive artificially toned Morgan and Peace Dollars, and lasered gold, many of these coins reside in first world TPG holders.

And you don't want an insurance policy? You must be nuts! I'll take the heat. With the possible exception of an EAC type, IMO, anyone who buys an expensive raw coin has more money than common sense. It's not a matter of separating the men from the boys; it's a matter of who has some common sense, and who is a pendejo.

Tonedbuff · August 21, 2006 2:09PM

about 60%. My buffs would have been bought raw or slabbed same price for the most part. I feel comfortable with selecting those. However, I have a number of proof coins that I really would have been nervous about buying raw... too tough to grade some of those well. I hate grading proofs... Also commems... I like those in a holder for purchase, as there are so many that have been lightly cleaned, and it can be really hard to tell for me.

Lambeau · August 21, 2006 2:15PM

I said 100% because I DON'T HAVE ANY SLABS.

rec78 · August 21, 2006 3:48PM

I voted all of them--i have to take them out of the slabs to put them in my album anyways..Put me on the slab haters list.

seateddime · August 21, 2006 9:48PM

some coins are must buys in a slab, more so to be sure the coin is real

OKbustchaser · August 21, 2006 10:16PM

Many of the coins in my collection were slabbed when I bought them. None of them are now. I have never paid more for a slabbed coin than I would have for the same coin raw--and never will. This attitude has in the past caused me to miss out on some nice coins (and some not so nice

which I would have gladly bought if priced according to the grade I gave it rather than the TPG, and it probably will again in the future. So what...my money, my collection.

By the same token, I have no problem paying up to the grade I give a coin if I feel the slabbed grade is too low. It all evens out.

UncleJoe · August 21, 2006 10:56PM

And you don't want an insurance policy? You must be nuts! I'll take the heat. With the possible exception of an EAC type, IMO, anyone who buys an expensive raw coin has more money than common sense. It's not a matter of separating the men from the boys; it's a matter of who has some common sense, and who is a pendejo.

Agreed.

There are those that can "really" grade and will do OK. Then there are those who think they can grade accurately and will get burned. For me, I know my limitations and do not make any apologies for them. I can't always tell the difference between an MS-6 anything and a grade or two higher or lower. In addition, I can't always tell when a coin has been messed with or even if it is genuine. Some will say learn. Well, either I really don't have the eye for it, or as my hobby, I really don't want to make it a full time job.

So where does that leave me? Some will say if you don't know what you are buying, then you shouldn't buy. (Now for the Kool-Aid) But that's exactly what a PCGS slab does for me. It allows me to buy without being an expert in the various series or areas of grading and authentification. I have never, ever been burned buying a PCGS slab but I have been buying raw. Aahhh, cherry, tastes good.

Joe.

tradedollarnut · August 21, 2006 11:11PM

Buy them raw for the price I paid to acquire them? Most of my coins .... but not all. Specifically, my 1877 trade dollar I would not have. I bought the coin in an old NGC MS64 fatty and tried it almost ten times for upgrade. I finally gave up and sold the darn thing .... and then bought it back in the PCGS MS65 holder.

I would like to note, however, that many times I acquire a coin with the intention to downgrade it. The price I'm willing to pay is the price I'd pay for a PQ coin in the lower holder.

SmallTownCoins · August 21, 2006 11:16PM

Very interesting....
I only buy slab's for the "Authenticity Value"...
And only key date coin's....
I don't care about assigned grade's.. the grading game is not my bag....

POLL: Separating the men from the boys...

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