Home U.S. Coin Forum
Options

Raw vs Slabs

My daughter has determined that she prefers raw coins over slabbed coins. She enjoys looking at the coins, holding them, touching them, sorting them, placing them in albums, etc. Her slabs... she doesn't give them any time... she just pushes them aside; stores them and ignores them.

My son on the other hand prefers slabs over raw coins. The only raw coins he prefers are ones with substantial value... that can be sold immediately. He loves bullion and coins in slabs. He always looks to see if the coins have value. He's more concerned with current value and future value.

My daughter thinks she's a collector... someone that enjoys the history of the coin, the ability to hold that history in her hand... skin on coin contact.

My son thinks he's an investor... someone that sees coins as an investment... an income source.

Are my children correct? Raw coins are for collectors and slabbed coins are for investors?
WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards

Comments

  • derrybderryb Posts: 37,619 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Slabs from a top notch TPG guarantee authenticity. With China flooding our market this is important.

    No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left

  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>Slabs from a top notch TPG guarantee authenticity. With China flooding our market this is important. >>



    That would protect investment... correct?
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
  • bronzematbronzemat Posts: 2,663 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>My daughter has determined that she prefers raw coins over slabbed coins. She enjoys looking at the coins, holding them, touching them, sorting them, placing them in albums, etc. Her slabs... she doesn't give them any time... she just pushes them aside; stores them and ignores them.

    My son on the other hand prefers slabs over raw coins. The only raw coins he prefers are ones with substantial value... that can be sold immediately. He loves bullion and coins in slabs. He always looks to see if the coins have value. He's more concerned with current value and future value.

    My daughter thinks she's a collector... someone that enjoys the history of the coin, the ability to hold that history in her hand... skin on coin contact.

    My son thinks he's an investor... someone that sees coins as an investment... an income source.

    Are my children correct? Raw coins are for collectors and slabbed coins are for investors? >>




    If your daughter likes touching "history" so much, buy her a couple of cheap roman coins. With ancients the rules U.S. collectors apply to their coins are not as strict. Ancient collectors tend to dislike slabs and love to touch something 2000 years old. Plus most have been cleaned anyways from being buried in dirt.
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>My daughter has determined that she prefers raw coins over slabbed coins. She enjoys looking at the coins, holding them, touching them, sorting them, placing them in albums, etc. Her slabs... she doesn't give them any time... she just pushes them aside; stores them and ignores them.

    My son on the other hand prefers slabs over raw coins. The only raw coins he prefers are ones with substantial value... that can be sold immediately. He loves bullion and coins in slabs. He always looks to see if the coins have value. He's more concerned with current value and future value.

    My daughter thinks she's a collector... someone that enjoys the history of the coin, the ability to hold that history in her hand... skin on coin contact.

    My son thinks he's an investor... someone that sees coins as an investment... an income source.

    Are my children correct? Raw coins are for collectors and slabbed coins are for investors? >>




    If your daughter likes touching "history" so much, buy her a couple of cheap roman coins. With ancients the rules U.S. collectors apply to their coins are not as strict. Ancient collectors tend to dislike slabs and love to touch something 2000 years old. Plus most have been cleaned anyways from being buried in dirt. >>



    Her name is Larissa... she collects Larissa coins. image
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,806 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Whem your daughter grows up, she will understand the value of top tier slabs.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>Whem your daughter grows up, she will understand the value of top tier slabs. >>



    She understands the value of the slabs, but she gets more enjoyment from holding raw coins.

    She's still too young to allow greed to affect her decisions. image
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
  • WaterSportWaterSport Posts: 6,913 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You can always compromise...Put your raw coins in one big slab...best of both worlds...
    WS
    image
    Proud recipient of the coveted PCGS Forum "You Suck" Award Thursday July 19, 2007 11:33 PM and December 30th, 2011 at 8:50 PM.
  • DennisHDennisH Posts: 14,010 ✭✭✭✭✭
    "collector" and "investor" are terms that have a tremendous amount of overlap.
    When in doubt, don't.
  • Type2Type2 Posts: 13,985 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It's ok to touch them but try to put them in some kind of holder like a kointain or a coin capsule. I think she will thank you later.


    Hoard the keys.
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>It's ok to touch them but try to put them in some kind of holder like a kointain or a coin capsule. I think she will thank you later. >>



    She uses Dansco albums.
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,380 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I buy the coins I like. The coins might be in slabs or the coins may be raw. For some of the older, circulated examples, I enjoy being able to hold history. For the higher grade pieces, I like the protection slabs offer. But when all is said, I like coins. I rarely submit (unless I'm ready to sell, and even then it's rare) and I have coins in my collection from many TPGs...
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Boy, as a collector, I totally disagree with your daughter and want my coins in slabs.

    And on investing again I want them in slabs.
  • OKbustchaserOKbustchaser Posts: 5,546 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Boy, as a collector, I totally disagree with your daughter and want my coins in slabs.

    And on investing again I want them in slabs. >>



    Boy, as a collector, I totally disagree you you, Dimeman, and want my coins raw just like the OP's daughter.

    If I were in it for the profit then yes, I probably would want them in slabs, though.
    Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭

    OKBC - Just curious, why do you prefer your coins raw??
  • OKbustchaserOKbustchaser Posts: 5,546 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Pretty much the same reason Larissa does. I prefer to be able to touch them, to be able to examine the edges, but mostly because I like to see the coin not a reflection of the plastic.

    There is also the fact that I totally disagree with the grade inflation that has taken place over the past 30 years and don't like overstated labels. It confuses people when they look at the coin label and can't find said grade in my inventory sheet because I listed it at the "real" grade rather than the TPG "market" grade.
    Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,806 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Whem your daughter grows up, she will understand the value of top tier slabs. >>



    She understands the value of the slabs, but she gets more enjoyment from holding raw coins.

    She's still too young to allow greed to affect her decisions. image >>



    Is she buying these coins with her money or your money? It makes a difference as to perception of the value of the grade/authenticity guarantee.


    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • relicsncoinsrelicsncoins Posts: 8,103 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Sounds like a future EAC collector. I think those copper purists prefer their coins raw as well. Soon she will be taking her coins out and giving them a brush with an animal hair brush.
    Need a Barber Half with ANACS photo certificate. If you have one for sale please PM me. Current Ebay auctions
  • I prefer the raw coins , i've had both in the past.Slabbed coins for me cease to be coins anymore , just big bits of plastic tricky to store. There's a lot to be said for the Dansco and Whitman albums , the look of them is pleasing , the smell is pleasing , they fit nicely on a bookshelf and go unnoticed.Yep , there is definately something nice about flipping a dansco page to be greeted by 20 US Silver halfs gleaming on each page.
  • tahoe98tahoe98 Posts: 11,388 ✭✭✭

    ...hey larry. let your kids handle the raw coins. just make sure they're wearing gloves! image
    "government is not reason, it is not eloquence-it is a force! like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master; never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." George Washington
  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Well, I have to have slabs for the following reasons.

    1 - It's the safe way to store coins...you can look at them without fear of finger prints or dropping them.

    2 - I can put them in the Registry.

    3 - If something happens to me it will be easier for my family to deal with them.


    Number 3 is probably the most important......but I do love to play the Registry.
  • howardshowards Posts: 1,241 ✭✭✭
    I don't see anything wrong with a collector who prefers raw coins to slabs.

    But I think you could educate your daughter on the generally accepted "proper" ways to handle raw coins (by the edges, don't talk over them, etc.)
  • 19Lyds19Lyds Posts: 26,492 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Whem your daughter grows up, she will understand the value of top tier slabs. >>



    She understands the value of the slabs, but she gets more enjoyment from holding raw coins.

    She's still too young to allow greed to affect her decisions. image >>

    Right up to the point where that 32-D Washington slips out of her hands and lands on the patio giving it a sizeable ding on the rim.

    While herposition is understandable, its pronbably based upon what she's collecting probably doesn't warrant slabs and doesn't really have anything to do with "greed" as much as protecting the coin from accidental mishaps. Provided, of course, its a coin that has value which needs to be protected such as that MS69RD 1999-D in the Mint Set.
    I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.



    The name is LEE!
  • 19Lyds19Lyds Posts: 26,492 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Number 3 is probably the most important...... >>

    Not to mention the fact that it adds a level of protection to keep the inheriting relatives from taking a brillo pad to them! image
    I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.



    The name is LEE!


  • << <i>You can always compromise...Put your raw coins in one big slab...best of both worlds...
    WS
    image >>

    : Applause; Now that is cool!
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭
    Their PCGS mint sets are provided by me. Their cents and nickels are provided when I purchase junk silver, they get anything that isn't silver. They REALLY enjoy collecting coins. I'm afraid to take them to a coin show! image
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,411 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If you think you're a collector, you're a collector.

    If you think you're an investor, you're an investor.

    Whether you're a collector or an investor, slabs are more likely to help than hurt.

    But if you're a collector and you don't like slabs, it's certainly OK to stick with raw coins. In fact, that's what I do.
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • Aegis3Aegis3 Posts: 2,912 ✭✭✭
    Your daughter is wise beyond her years and is right to resist the raw coin paranoia we see all to often on these boards.
    --

    Ed. S.

    (EJS)
  • RedTigerRedTiger Posts: 5,608
    Let the kids collect what they like and enjoy the hobby. Don't buy expensive coins for them. Let them buy with their own money, picking their own coins that they can afford.

    Investor? That is difficult road to be on. You might have your son think about what monetarily successful folks do. Flipping hot U. S. mint products is A#1 for a novice. Yes, many do turn out to be flops, but one or two big winners can pay for four or five flops, and there have been a number of big winners. Otherwise, learning to grade, developing contacts, and market knowledge will likely determine success or failure for the would be coin investor. One caveat is that more than a few dealers might get real mad, if they find out that the young kid they gave a sweetheart deal to, flipped the coins a month later for a profit, and was mostly interested in the profit. So if he does that, make sure he flies low and doesn't brag, and doesn't write about his profits online, because the well may run dry if dealers think they are being played by a young hungry shark.

    As others have said, as long as you teach proper coin handling to the girl, she will do okay. Unfortunately, fake slabs are almost as big a danger as fake coins, so slabs only buy a very little protection these days. The fakes are migrating into almost all venues, so I don't think venue alone is protection any more.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,569 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Raw is to fluid what slab is to liquid and vice versa.
  • JRoccoJRocco Posts: 14,277 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Boy, as a collector, I totally disagree with your daughter and want my coins in slabs.

    And on investing again I want them in slabs. >>



    Boy, as a collector, I totally disagree you you, Dimeman, and want my coins raw just like the OP's daughter.

    If I were in it for the profit then yes, I probably would want them in slabs, though. >>



    I agree with my friend the bustchaser
    Some coins are just plain "Interesting"
  • ecichlidecichlid Posts: 1,212 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Well, I have to have slabs for the following reasons.

    1 - It's the safe way to store coins...you can look at them without fear of finger prints or dropping them.

    2 - I can put them in the Registry.

    3 - If something happens to me it will be easier for my family to deal with them.


    Number 3 is probably the most important......but I do love to play the Registry. >>



    Be honest, if you did not participate in point #2, than you wouldn't even collect anymore. Am I right?
    There is no "AT" or "NT". We only have "market acceptable" or "not market acceptable.
  • ElcontadorElcontador Posts: 7,679 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The slab makes a coin more marketable. If you are strictly a collector and know how to grade, raw or slabbed should not make a difference.

    As a practical matter, my cheapest coin cost me $217. My most expensive one cost five figures. At these sums, I need an insurance policy of sorts. The TPG slab does this to some degree.

    Now if all my coins to me were not expensive, I wouldn't bother with slabs.
    "Vou invadir o Nordeste,
    "Seu cabra da peste,
    "Sou Mangueira......."
  • GaCoinGuyGaCoinGuy Posts: 2,770 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>If you think you're a collector, you're a collector.

    If you think you're an investor, you're an investor.

    Whether you're a collector or an investor, slabs are more likely to help than hurt.

    But if you're a collector and you don't like slabs, it's certainly OK to stick with raw coins. In fact, that's what I do. >>



    Well said!

    I understand the slab theory, but I prefer them raw.
    imageimage

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file