US Type Set - To crack out or not

Opus · September 17, 2008 6:54AM

Well, after a looooooong absence, I'm back. My wife just got a new job, paying big $$$ and I got a pretty could raise too.

I started a US Type Set back a few years ago and now I ready to start buying again. I won't ever be able to spend serious $$$ for any one coin, but if I were to get a PCGS 1860 Seated Liberty Half Dime VF30, for example, would you crack it out and put it in the book or leave it in the holder?

Is there a grade limit where you would never crack a coin out?

I realize there is probably no right or wrong answer, I'm curious what people think.

Thanks

Barndog · September 17, 2008 7:07AM

for some people, it is not a question of a "grade limit" but rather a dollar limit. For example, maybe one collector decides that anything worth more than $500 he/she doesn't crack. Another collector, either more conservative or less wealthy or something else, decides that $100 is his/her limit. The bottom line is it is your set to do with as you wish.

Cladiator · September 17, 2008 7:11AM

Smack It, Whack It, Crack It On Out!

LanLord · September 17, 2008 7:22AM

I'm pro coin-liberation

SamByrd · September 17, 2008 7:28AM

crack it out.

Bochiman · September 17, 2008 8:25AM

If money doesn't matter, for your personal enjoyment, crack it out.
If you don't like to take many risks, don't.

I have some examples for our 7070 that are still slabbed. I have put other coins in the spots, that still look nice but may have been lightly cleaned (much lower value and no chance to get slabbed by NGC/PCGS) in the spot instead.
That way, as the completist, I still have them all, but as the non-risk taker, I have the good ones still in slabs in case something happens to me or I want to quickly sell them at a later date. This is the seated dollar (no motto....still don't have "w/ motto" yet), 1853 w/ arrows/rays, etc.

Bayard1908 · September 17, 2008 8:29AM

I wouldn't crack out a mint state coin and put it in an album, for fear that it would become an AU slider. I'd have no problem cracking out any circulated coin, unless I thought the assigned grade was so optimistically high that it could never be duplicated on a resubmission.

MillerJW · September 17, 2008 8:32AM

Just crack out the coin and save the label. I know its not a guarentee that it will regrade at the same grade, but it never hurt to try. Plus if your showing people your coins, it get old to try and look through 30 slabs, versus being able to compare them in the album.

Opus · September 17, 2008 9:52AM

MilllerJW - That's what I've been doing is saving the label knowing it may never grade again.

I probably would never crack a MS coin unless it was, how do you people say, modern crap.opus1kk

jimmymac · September 17, 2008 11:49AM

Im a cracker - just cracked out a MS64 1892 Barber - not an expensive coin at this level and probably never will be - it looks great in the 7070 - plus gives me a standard to grade other coins in the album - Ive also been known to crack out a few MS Gold pieces also for the 7070 - always keep the grade and service insert for reference purposes.

illini420 · September 17, 2008 11:53AM

I was facing the same dilemma in my recent thread here: Cracker's Remorse

I cracked dozens of MS coins and I sort of regret it now. About 20 of them will be dropped off at Long Beach Friday for a trip back to the slab factory. After all that, I wouldn't hesitate cracking lower grade coins as I would be less likely to mess them up.

BRdude · September 17, 2008 12:48PM

enjoyment and possible long term investment...I mean LONG term...crack it
If however you are "investing" in these,....no crackey

That said, I only lack 5 or 6 coins to complete my 7070 and probably running 60/40 crackouts to just raw purchases, (mostly from other board members which is a big plus

) I would have to put a limit on what I crack. Personally, nothing over probably $300 - $400 probably, but that is just my personal level, anybody elses could be way different. Whatever your confy with is the key...Good luck, and enjoy the 7070, they're a blast to put together in whatever grade you can afford

US Type Set - To crack out or not

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