?? 1909sVDB to slab or not to slab ???

katkonk · December 16, 2006 4:35PM

Question for the experts, especially those that sell on Ebay, or have watched this type of coin...

My father's estate has a 1909sVDB. It was placed in a hard plastic coin holder that seems to have stored
the coin exceptionally well, long before "slabbing" was invented. I have followed discussions over time,
even one within the past couple of days re: the risks of mailing valuable coins, etc.

(Of course I realize "valuable" is relative-we are not talking thousands of dollars here).

I want to sell it on Ebay, but I don't really want to worry about the mailing to ANACS, with the
associated risks (yes, I know registered mail with insurance is the only way to go), and also
I don't know if I want to deal with trying to get it out of the hard plastic case it is in. (It has 4 very
small screws-one at each corner, and it has been in there a very long time). I am a bit nervous
about handling it and removing it. I would rather leave this to someone more qualified than I.

QUESTION: Do you think it will make a significant difference in sales price if I do not get it graded
before I sell it? Or, if I want the maximum sales price, should I go ahead and undertake the process
of sending to get the grade, slab, etc.? I don't really want to pay a dealer to handle the sale for me.

Any info is appreciated. Thanks so much,
Katkonk

granddad · December 16, 2006 5:06PM

What are the chances of an estate having a vdbs and no other notable coins?

Have a Great Day!
Louis

P.S. If you are serious, then you do need to have the coin graded. And ANAC is not your best option.

fullerfun4 · December 16, 2006 5:10PM

To get what the coin is worth would require you to have it graded. A raw coin on Ebay probably will not get the kind of bids you want. If it isn't going to be net graded by ANACS, I would send it to PCGS. If it slabs at PCGS, you should be able to maximize your value. IMHO
Regards
Gary

mackdriver · December 16, 2006 5:14PM

Got any pics of the coin in question you could show us?

mackdriver · December 16, 2006 5:25PM

Question for you.If you are selling the estate coins,then why are you also buying coins if i may ask.

PerryHall · December 16, 2006 5:58PM

Like the 16-D dime, the 09 SVDB is heavily faked, usually with an added mint mark. Hence, to get the highest bids, it needs to be slabbed by a top tier grading service.

lordmarcovan · December 17, 2006 1:38AM

That is one that definitely requires a slab in today's marketplace. I hope it's real.

fcloud · December 17, 2006 1:41AM

To get the best price a slab would be better. It is well worth the cost.

bhartman35 · December 17, 2006 1:53AM

Like others have said, you need to slab this coin. It's doubtful people will bid serious money without a grading company to assert that coin is genuine.

In order to do this, you'll need to take the coin out of its case and put it in a plastic 2.5 flip. From what you've said, I'm guessing a jeweler's screwdriver would do the best job opening the case. (You can also use a screwdriver from an eyeglass repair kit.)

If you can, post a picture of the coin on here. PCGS rejects coins that have been cleaned, retoned, or that have been badly damaged (e.g., corrosion or deep scratches). If your coin gets rejected (body-bagged, in the slang terminology) you'll get the coin back in a plastic flip, and it won't be graded. The fees are non-refundable, so if it's body-bagged, you're out the fees. Posting the pictures on here can help you avoid a costly submission if the coin is not likely to be graded.

lkenefic · December 17, 2006 1:58AM

I agree...this coin is heavily faked and I for one wouldn't bid on a raw '09-S VDB off of eBay. To get the max bids, the coin needs to be TPG'd.

L

123cents · December 17, 2006 2:00AM

<< <i>Like the 16-D dime, the 09 SVDB is heavily faked, usually with an added mint mark. Hence, to get the highest bids, it needs to be slabbed by a top tier grading service.

and welcome to the forum.

flaminio · December 17, 2006 2:02AM

For an S-VDB to get any sort of reasonable value on eBay, it must be slabbed by one of the Big Four. There's just no other way around it. If you try to sell it raw, you'll take it in the shorts.

ldhair · December 17, 2006 2:09AM

Yes, an 1909 S VDB needs to be in a good slab to bring top dollar on Ebay.
You might get lucky selling it raw but I feel it's worth the cost.
It's also great for you and the buyer not to wonder if it's real from now on.

katkonk · December 17, 2006 4:49AM

Thank you very much for sharing your wisdom. And it does seem like you are visualizing the type of
plastic holder it is in correctly. I think I will try the eyeglass screwdriver.

And thanks to all who chimed in and answered. It is obvious that I need to get it graded. I have seen
raw coins sell on Ebay, and they seemed to do fairly well, but the consensus is slabbed, and so be it.

As for fake, retoning, etc. it is HIGHLY unlikely. My father was a professional banker and even
worked for the Feds. He was quite good at catching counterfeit bills that came through his various
banks, and I feel he would have been unlikely to fall for any type of falsification on a coin.
( I do understand that even professionals get fooled.) Besides, he would have only purchased it
through a reliable dealer. Since he purchased it in approximately 1966 (ish) in it's current state,
I think that was before retoning, etc. even existed, and probably before there were many ways of faking such a marking on the coin. ( I could be wrong). It isn't red either, it is ordinary, Lincoln-cent brown.

As for the first comment that was made to my posting by Grandad...."What is the probability that a collection would have a 1909sVDB and no other notable coins?".....well, that was simply RUDE. I came to this forum for some information and help. The chances are 100%. My father was a small-time
collector and sold most of his silver coinage before he died. But the 1909sVDB was his PRIZE coin, and
by far the most valuable. Your assertion that a small estate could not have such a coin is simply
absurd. I am sure there are many out there in smaller collections such as my dad had.

Re: photos... The current holder makes photographing impossible. It is curved and reflects light too much. I will be taking photos when I am able to get it out, and before I send it to the grading service, since that is the optimal time to photograph it (obviously). I will be back to the forum and post photos at the same time or slightly before I place it on Ebay. Thank you all for your replies.
Kat

eddyemack · December 17, 2006 4:58AM

let's have a look at this well preserved vbd'r hidden away in a hellman's mayo jar.

RichieURich · December 17, 2006 6:42AM

First, Katkonk,

to the Forums!

Second, I agree with the others here who have recommended that you get your 1909-S VDB cent slabbed. Many collectors and dealers know that with so many counterfeit 1909-S VDB cents out there, they won't consider buying one that is not slabbed.

Third, you need to assess whether your coin has any problems or not, such as cleaning, recoloring, etc. that would keep your coin out of a PCGS holder, because PCGS will not slab such coins. If you take your coin out of its holder and post the photos here, the folks here should be able to give opinions as to whether PCGS will slab your coin. If not, then ANACS is a good choice. Either way, the additional money you'll receive for your coin will more than offset your slabbing fee. Hope this helps.

katkonk · December 17, 2006 9:34AM

Thank you everyone. First, I'll go acquire some eyeglass repair tools to open that little
coin holder up.

I'll have to put off the grading project until after the holidays, but I'll photograph it
and place it on this forum before I send it off to any place.

Thanks so much for all the help !!!!
Kat

DRUNNER · December 17, 2006 9:46AM

Katkonk . . .

I echo the sentiments of the certifying. Do it. It may seem a bit of a chore, but in any selling case, you'll be better off by far.

Oh . .and I agree on the relatively curt comment you received . . . I do pro-bono assessments of various collections in our area via my involvement with the ANA (and my teaching career). Viewed a small collection that our HS girl's B-Ball coach had sitting around given to him by his dad decades earlier. Whitman folders . . . mostly circ. stuff. Lincolns had been jumbled around and a few were lying loose. There in the center fold of the blue Whitman folder was a perfect high grade circ S-VDB. Sent it in for him too . . . ANACS old-holder . . .XF-45.

They ARE out there.

Drunner

nwcs · December 17, 2006 10:15AM

If it ain't certified by a legitimate company you won't realize a full price. As others have mentioned, odds are high it's a fake.

?? 1909sVDB to slab or not to slab ???

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