when to slab

Billyray · April 24, 2010 3:07PM

At what point is a coin worth slabbing? I have no idea on what it costs to slab currently and can't join PCGS for a bit. It costs alot to get the books and supplies lol,

Any ballpark figures?

Bochiman · April 24, 2010 3:32PM

Some toss out $100.
I look at it as:
* Plan to sell soon and the coin will sell better in plastic (ie....for $30+ more)
* Key coin, or higher grade, that will benefit from the plastic if you go to sell (see above point on value anyway)

So, if the money is better use elsewhere and you are fine with your collection raw, then keep it raw if you are keeping the collection....for as long as you want to keep it raw.

I've slabbed a few cheap coins (mistakes....learning to grade like they do), and a few worth a little more. I don't slab much since it has to meet my 2 points above....or just be an experiment for me to check my grading/knowledge.

Billyray · April 24, 2010 3:34PM

Thanks. I have no candidates yet, but plan on checking out the flea markets in my area. Just wanted the kind of info you provided, in case i get lucky

WaterSport · April 24, 2010 5:31PM

One more thing to consider. Regardless of its value, is it worth it to you to slab it for protecting its state of preservation.
WS

Bochiman · April 24, 2010 5:41PM

<< One more thing to consider. Regardless of its value, is it worth it to you to slab it for protecting its state of preservation.
WS >>

Agreed...though, due to costs, this is where I start getting the self-slabs. The cost for them is ~$1 each. If it isn't worth sending to the TPGS, but is worth protecting with a slab, I put it into one of these.

Works for me, but may not work for everyone else.

fcloud · April 24, 2010 11:48PM

It depends on each collector. I have sent some in with little value to have graded just because. Some of the tough mid-1920 dimes were next to impossible to find. I send in some lower grades to complete my set knowing I would later replace them. The cost was irrelevant to me back then, as I just wanted my set to be complete. They have all been replaced many years ago, and I have no regrets for doing it. Even today I am glad I did it.

Steve27 · April 25, 2010 12:06AM

<< At what point is a coin worth slabbing? I have no idea on what it costs to slab currently and can't join PCGS for a bit. It costs alot to get the books and supplies lol,

Any ballpark figures? >>

People used to site $100, but with the increase in fees, it now seems $200 is what most currently say.

Steve27 · April 25, 2010 12:07AM

<< One more thing to consider. Regardless of its value, is it worth it to you to slab it for protecting its state of preservation.
WS >>

True, but a $1 Airtite may be better than a PCGS slab.

derryb · April 25, 2010 1:09AM

When your professional opinion determines that the added value of the coin will easily cover the grading/shipping costs. In some cases a coin that you really like is worth grading even if there is little or no added value.

lcoopie · April 25, 2010 1:12AM

Factor in shipping and insurance both ways, grading costs, and your time.

rays · April 25, 2010 1:18AM

I personally wouldn't slab a coin worth less than $400. Even if you submit the coin in person at a show, it will cost at least $55 to slab including postage and handling for regular service.

RYK · April 25, 2010 1:33AM

Personally, I use $500 (or so) as the break point. For gold coins, perhaps a little lower.

Mercury10c · April 25, 2010 1:56AM

Key coins and expensive coins, gold, stuff for your registry set. I'm with RYK on this. $500 seem
a bit more reasonable that submitting a $100 coin. If you add in the grading fees, shipping, insurance,
etc, your $100 coin now needs to be sold at $140 or so to make a profit. Plastic will not add 40% more
value to a $100 coin.

ambro51 · April 25, 2010 1:57AM

I slabbed a few lincolns out of my 'kid' whitmans...all were MS64RD and probably not worth the fees.

BUT, the sentimental reasons prevailed.

JRocco · April 25, 2010 2:57AM

<< I slabbed a few lincolns out of my 'kid' whitmans...all were MS64RD and probably not worth the fees.

BUT, the sentimental reasons prevailed. >>

Not to pick on your post ambro, but how did the sentimental value change with the coin now in a plastic slab?
I ask this as a real question as I personally don't see it, in fact I might see the opposite.
I would really like to try to understand why some collectors feel this way.

tahoe98 · April 25, 2010 3:08AM

<< 

<< I slabbed a few lincolns out of my 'kid' whitmans...all were MS64RD and probably not worth the fees.

BUT, the sentimental reasons prevailed. >>

Not to pick on your post ambro, but how did the sentimental value change with the coin now in a plastic slab?
I ask this as a real question as I personally don't see it, in fact I might see the opposite.
I would really like to try to understand why some collectors feel this way. >>

...i don't know if he felt this way or not, but MAYBE he thinks, like a lot of collectors. that as time goes on

many more collectors will feel that having the coin slabbed somehow attracts a buyer quicker than a raw coin

would and therefore would be less of a risk for their survivors if and when they may sell them in the future. jmo.

JRocco · April 25, 2010 3:12AM

<< 

<< 

<< I slabbed a few lincolns out of my 'kid' whitmans...all were MS64RD and probably not worth the fees.

BUT, the sentimental reasons prevailed. >>

Not to pick on your post ambro, but how did the sentimental value change with the coin now in a plastic slab?
I ask this as a real question as I personally don't see it, in fact I might see the opposite.
I would really like to try to understand why some collectors feel this way. >>

...i don't know if he felt this way or not, but MAYBE he thinks, like a lot of collectors. that as time goes on

many more collectors will feel that having the coin slabbed somehow attracts a buyer quicker than a raw coin

would and therefore would be less of a risk for their survivors if and when they may sell them in the future. jmo.

>>

Very very valid reasons tahoe.
But that doesn't touch the words sentimental value.
I believe you just made the argument that it would detract from sentimental value.
Something of sentimental value is usually not looked at with a future sale in mind

Frozenink · April 25, 2010 3:22AM

This is a good question. I have approached it a little different though. My wife and son have absolutley no interest in the field of coins. The only coins I really buy raw are all bust coins. If it is good enough to be in my collection I get it graded.

I feel this way if anything should happen to me there is less grey area when they go to unload them. If they are raw yes I have the purchase price in a log, but it will be hard for them to negotiate. I can make sure they have the info from price guides, so they can decide if they are getting a good price or not. The grades will not be in question.

Gary

tahoe98 · April 25, 2010 3:22AM

"Very very valid reasons tahoe.
But that doesn't touch the words sentimental value.
I believe you just made the argument that it would detract from sentimental value.
Something of sentimental value is usually not looked at with a future sale in mind"

>>

...JRocco, you're right. of course i'm just guessing anyway.

rld14 · April 25, 2010 3:31AM

I'm working on a set of lowball walkers, excepting the 21 P/D/S, a couple other early dates and the 38-D, the slabbing fees will outweigh the value of every other coin in the set.

In fact, come to think of it.... there's only, what, 10 coins in FR/AG/G that are worth over melt?

ambro51 · April 25, 2010 3:42AM

Why I did it........a 1964-D, 1966 and 1967....is that I remember putting them into the whitman (sort of

) and it was nice to see that forty years or so of keeping those coins in the folder, had paid off in having the certified by PCGS and graded 64RD. The grade, not so much on the luster and color...probably limited by a few small nicks and contact marks that my 10 year old eyes did not catch.

...sentimental stuff, ya know?

I never even thought about market value. Not important.

when to slab

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