sure makes a lot of sense to me. how 'bout you? we're talkin' gold.

tahoe98 · August 20, 2010 1:34AM

...linky

curly · August 20, 2010 1:39AM

I agree whole heartedly. None of my bullion gold is slabbed and if I were offered any, I would only pay bullion price. Of course, that being said, I also have numismatic gold that I have paid well over bullion for.

Same thing applies to silver bullion.

291fifth · August 20, 2010 2:33AM

But isn't plastic what gives gold its value?

scottgardener · August 20, 2010 3:17AM

Regarding modern bullion coins, I tend to agree, except with low-population items like some of the more obscure First Spouse coins, or the recent proof platinum eagles, where the mint only got around to a few thousand. PCGS and NGC have staying power. But, I might have said the same about ANACS a meager fifteen years ago. Their graders are high-end professionals, but they're still treated as second-rate compared to PCGS and NGC in the industry. 15 years ago, at the dawn of the slab revolution, it was a different story--PCGS was an upstart and NGC a spin-off by John "Green Beans and Intercept Ham" Albanese. Still, an ANACS MS70 coin probably wouldn't cross all the way down to MS67 in PCGS.

Given how we've become pickier today about improper handling than 50 years ago, a lot of once valuable coins are getting left behind. I worry that future generations might be even more picky. PCGS is already testing out high-tech chemical detection--and, while putty and glue is unambiguously damaging to a coin, "dipping" is still merely open for debate and even done by professional conservation services like NCS. I worry that thirty years from now, coin dealers are going to pop out tricorders and tell me that, because of everything from living near the coast for a few years to Don Willis having a cold that particular day at the grading service, all my coins that cost a fortune over the 2010s are now considered dreck.

OPA · August 20, 2010 3:30AM

<< <i>15 years ago, at the dawn of the slab revolution, it was a different story--PCGS was an upstart and NGC a spin-off by John "Green Beans and Intercept Ham" Albanese. >>

Your off by almost 10 years with your comment.

I know, time flies, doesn't it?

roadrunner · August 20, 2010 6:30AM

I could be wrong, but I think the day PCGS opened their doors in 1986, they may have been an upstart, but they probably instantly leapt over ANACS. Ditto, when NGC opened up a year later...leap frog #2. I don't think ANACS really had any market acceptance of note during the 1970's and most of the 1980's. It wasn't like you could ever trade those coins sight unseen or anything. It was a plus to have a paper cert stating GEM 65 AAA but a knowledgeable buyer would still want to look at the coin. ANACS paper certs were still relatively rare in those days, esp. on higher dollar coins.

roadrunner

ricko · August 20, 2010 6:50AM

Makes perfect sense. Glad some others think as I do..... way too much money spent on frivolities. Cheers, RickO

tahoe98 · August 20, 2010 8:37AM

<< <i>Makes perfect sense. Glad some others think as I do..... way too much money spent on frivolities. Cheers, RickO >>

...ditto.

EagleEye · August 20, 2010 9:05AM

Dave Harper is usually right on with common sense.

I would put American eagles in the bullion catagory, but not the first spouse or URH's. Just because it is gold and new, doesn't make it a bullion coin.

sure makes a lot of sense to me. how 'bout you? we're talkin' gold.

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