Are you surprised by how badly slabs are maintained?

lkeigwin · September 22, 2008 2:33PM

You see it all the time. "Scratches are on holder, not coin." Isn't it a real bummer?

Sure, plastic polish can improve minor scratches. And it's comforting to know the coin is unaffected. But who likes to look through all that crap?

Do you get fed up and submit coins for reholdering?
What do you do, if anything, to keep the slabs looking good or prevent damage?
Does a scratched slab influence the price you'd pay? (Of course it's the coin, not the slab. But do you care?)

I treat slabs as I do coins...carefully. But I sometimes wonder about the real world.

WTCG · September 22, 2008 2:42PM

Personally I always try my best to keep slabs as undamaged as possible. Unfortunately the damage on slabs is unavoidable when they're being transported or handled. The newest NGC holders tend to scratch very easily even when they're being stacked while the stacking "teeth" on the PCGS holders are usually the first parts to be chipped or broken.

Typically before a show where there is on-site grading I will pick out some of the more severely damaged holders and submit those for reholdering. So far this year I believe I have spent about $500 on reholdering fees.

Coins housed in "clean" holders tend to sell better to retail buyers. Buyers should also use extra time in examining coins that are housed in scratched, damaged or defaced holders because sellers have been known to intentionally damage holders in an effort to conceal imperfections on the coins' surfaces.

Meltdown · September 22, 2008 3:06PM

I keep mine in baseball card plastic sleeves. It helps, but is not perfect.

Dawg144 · September 22, 2008 3:44PM

I keep mine in either boxes or the plushy slab sleeves that I bought at a coin show for a buck each.

mozin · September 22, 2008 3:52PM

I routinely reholder most all the encapsulated coins I buy. Once in awhile, it is not necessary.

GrumpyEd · September 22, 2008 3:53PM

<< <i>I keep mine in baseball card plastic sleeves. It helps, but is not perfect. >>

I use the same "sports card bags".

They don't help when stacking but they sure save them from scratches.

Are you surprised by how badly slabs are maintained?

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