Question about slabbing high grade World coins...

Bjorn · January 1, 2008 5:33AM

Hello again all!

I had another question, this time regarding my own world coins. Most are in EF or lower grade but I do have several nineteenth century thalers (both German and Swiss shooters) and gold coins that are probably at least 63 or so... I was considering slabbing these, if nothing else to ease possible (though unlikely!) resale as well as protect the coins themselves. Does anyone have any advice about this, as I am still on the fence about going through the whole process - I would like to keep them raw but have nightmares about them toning further (not that I dislike attractive toning, but would like to avoid unattractive or mottled toning), etc. Thanks for any advice you can give!

Bjorn

cacheman · January 1, 2008 6:06AM

Do not sell your soul...or your coins souls.

These products work great...Air-tites at JP's

I suggest sticking with the white rings as opposed to the black...although I haven't personally had a problem with the black ones I hear that they can deteriorate and stick to the coin. JP's is quick and friendly! Good luck! S

MrEureka · January 1, 2008 9:35AM

One approach is to slab only those coins that will be more valuable when slabbed. If you decide to do that, get some help figuring out which coins should be slabbed.

satootoko · January 1, 2008 9:52AM

<< <i>One approach is to slab only those coins that will be more valuable when slabbed. >>

I don't believe any coin becomes more valuable by being entombed; but unfortunately it's true that some coins will bring higher prices on the market in slabs than they will raw.

lordmarcovan · January 1, 2008 12:04PM

If all you're interested in is protection, Airtites or something similar probably is the way to go. Plus you can get nice displays for those. The Airtites are round rather than rectangular, so it's more like having a "raw" coin in your hand when you pick it up- not as obtrusive as a slab.

Scavenger · January 2, 2008 4:43AM

Getting a coin graded and slabbed doesnt prevent it from toning. I have several that have toned in the PCGS/NGC holders over the years.

bosox · January 2, 2008 5:23AM

I have some of my more expensive world (non-greyside) coins slabbed in PCGS holders. I did it for protection of the coins and so my wife has a fighting chance of getting fair market value if I suddenly croak.

1794half1839 · March 30, 2008 7:02AM

There are some coins that are worth much more in slabs as opposed to unslabbed. Some high grade coins are worth little (and may be found in junk boxes), but if in slabs become more valuable. Look in the Krause books, then in World Coin News ads

MrEureka · March 30, 2008 7:12AM

Some high grade coins are worth little (and may be found in junk boxes), but if in slabs become more valuable. Look in the Krause books, then in World Coin News ads

Greg - It sounds like you're assuming that nobody but the TPGs knows how to grade.

Doogy · March 30, 2008 7:14AM

world coins collectors, especially overseas collectors (outside the US) have somewhat resisted the urge to slab everything unlike most serious US coin collectors. However, if you're coins are scarce and especially in higher grades (or perhaps, not scarce but still highly collectable), then it makes financial sense to have them slabbed.

I think few to any of us can make the case that the upcoming 'Millenia' auction of the world's greatest rarities would bring anywhere near as much were not not shrouded in NGC plastic. Most of them were raw upon purchase by Goldberg for their client, some were NGC, and some were PCGS that were then crossed over to NGC. From an authentication and grading guarantee standpoint, they will most certainly realize higher prices versus raw.

As far as what you have, the shooters are quite collectable. For example, I had one that I bought raw from a prominent US coin dealer. I had it slabbed by NGC and sold it a few months later for over 3 times what i paid for it. I would not have gotten that money for it were it raw (or the 35 bids it garnered on ebay), i'm certain of that.

lastly, the slabs will protect the coins and it will help keep your relatives from getting shafted should something happen to you prematurely.

OnlyBuffalos · March 30, 2008 7:51AM

In my opinion, third party certification by PCGS or NGC of scarce high grade coins tends to justify the associated cost when buying and selling. That is almost always the case when the coins are acquired by collectors in the USA. It has also been the case recently for "hot" countries like Russia, China, Poland, etc., especially for buyers in those countries. Many of the raw coins being sold are not as described and a few collectors are buying them because the country is hot.

I think ten years ago, collectors of world coins were not as concerned that a coin was cleaned, or otherwise enhanced. Today that is not as much the case. Collectors have also become more concerned about countefeits and a TPG is often looked on as a justified insurance product.

Buying coins through any venue, without having first seen the coin, is often disappointing and NGC and PCGS do lessen that possibility. A quick look at many of the raw world coins on eBay, does show that many purchasers are still acquiring expensive world coins that are overgraded and not problem free. I find that disturbing.

Bjorn · March 30, 2008 9:23AM

Heh, just an update as I was the original poster. I had stored my collection in a wooden chest of drawers with a red felt lining (!) at my parent's house (I currently attend grad school in Scotland but lived in the States beforehand). The last time I was home I moved the entire collection into a safety deposit box, mostly for my parent's safety - and found that two of the coins, laying in mylar flips directly on the felt had gotten a nasty red toning! A QV crown, 1844, low British VF or so with pretty natural battleship gray toning and a Bavaria 5 mks, 1874, in good un-messed with VF+; the Bavaria got a little bit on the reverse (eagle) side but the poor crown got a nasty toning along Victoria's nose and forehead. So, I think I will go with air-tites at the very least the next time I can get to my collection!

I have a before pic of the bavarian - when I can, I will add a before/after pic... probably not for a few months though.

p.s. they were purchased from seperate dealers, so it wasn't a issue with prior storage.

johnsim03 · March 30, 2008 9:35AM

<< <i>In my opinion, third party certification by PCGS or NGC of scarce high grade coins tends to justify the associated cost when buying and selling. That is almost always the case when the coins are acquired by collectors in the USA. It has also been the case recently for "hot" countries like Russia, China, Poland, etc., especially for buyers in those countries. Many of the raw coins being sold are not as described and a few collectors are buying them because the country is hot.

I think ten years ago, collectors of world coins were not as concerned that a coin was cleaned, or otherwise enhanced. Today that is not as much the case. Collectors have also become more concerned about countefeits and a TPG is often looked on as a justified insurance product.

Buying coins through any venue, without having first seen the coin, is often disappointing and NGC and PCGS do lessen that possibility. A quick look at many of the raw world coins on eBay, does show that many purchasers are still acquiring expensive world coins that are overgraded and not problem free. I find that disturbing. >>

Your posting is spot-on, on so many levels, IMHO - thanks for sharing it.

It is frustrating in some collecting areas - Ancients are a prime example. It is THE area with so many problem coins (fakes, tooled, etc.) and yet, there
seems to be some kind of invisible wall, as far as authentication and certification goes. Most of the established ancient community are dead set against
it. The poor newcomer can get some kind of satisfaction (usually via ICG) in the certification and authentication sense, but there is almost no value
added to the slabs within the establishment. If anything, it leans in the opposite direction - they are scorned.

How to protect the average consumer? We have decent authentication and certification (ICG - though they are very weak in the attribution sense), and perhaps Sear Certificates, but not much more. Yet, the masses continue to shell out moon money for terrible items on eBay on a daily basis...

I will be glad when someone steps up to the plate regarding slabbing for Ancients. Not for my own sake (as I would like to think that I can pretty much
protect myself by now) but for the average consumer...

John

1794half1839 · April 1, 2008 10:46PM

That's not what I'm assuming, but I have seen coins worth very little in UNC in Krause and have them in NGC slabs and sell for many multiples of Krause values.

Question about slabbing high grade World coins...

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