Opinions?

I really don't think so but who am I to say. I have a tremendous amount of love for some of our older notes but have found they do not have the demand that coins have and are not readily available in this area. They are also a tad bit harder to sell as folks here (Indiana) seem to prefer something more tangible and silver and gold fill that function very well. I would also point out there are a tremendous amount of collectors who feel the grading companies are nothing more than a business that has created a false market by putting coins in plastic coffins! Personally I detest slabs but find a sense of security when purchasing key dates or very hard to find items and even then some of the grading companies HAVE authenticated and graded counterfeits coins! (WHOOPS)
I buy a tremendous amount of high grade raw coins and have found, over the years, that this offered me a tremendous learning experience! Just buying a slab and taking someone else's word on a grade really doesn't appeal to me and I can't understand the MAJOR jump in value between any coin due to its slabbed or unslabbed condition. I can see the $15 to $20 grading fee but that would be the extent of it. For example one can buy 2005 silver eagles in MS 67, MS68 or MS69 all day long for $9.00 give or take a few cents. Why would I want to pay $20, $40, $70 or more for the same coin. Proof sets is another area where I just can't understand WHY in the world would anyone pay $99 for a slabbed Statehood Quarter? Is the NEED to feel better than someone else really that important. Is the "my coin is better than your coin attitude" worth that much difference in your hard earned money? Sorry, I just don't understand this way of thinking so not being a full time currency collector I would have to say No to your question and add that I feel the grading companies, when they make this kind of jump, is nothing more than greed driven.

What are the possibilities that currency collection doesn't seem as popular because a)knowledge of it is not as readily available and b)authentication and grading are not as standardized?

Although coin grading has its problems, there are overall guidelines that most agree on. Currency seems to have been kept kind of "in the dark". With the big two companies stepping in, this could create a standard (or as close as you can get with something so subjective). As a result, the demand may increase because now there would be commonly recognized grades from well-established companies. There is also the authentication issue. That could boost the market considerably.

With the two big grading companies getting involved, I'm sure that we'll see much more information become more readily available also which in turn makes this a more visible collectable item.

I think we could see some pretty significant changes in currency collection.

I think it will help the market as alot of paople who don't know much about currency will do the same as people who don't know about coins, they will take the word of the dealer and the word of the grading company and use that to make their decision to buy or not. I'll tell you one thing, I hate when I go to a show and see row after row of slabs, alot of the people involved in slab trading are just in it for the money and don't know much at all about the coins they are selling. I do buy slabbed coins, only for my Walker short set that I am doing in MS64, I am no expert grader so I lean on the slabs to know that at least the grade is very close to what it says it is. Also if I ever go to sell there is no arguing about grade involved.

So I think we'll see the slabbed notes get off to a good start, after that who knows.

Regards Tony

It would seem to me that, once the grading companies are involved, it should make the circulated notes cheaper to come by. So if you like the circulated notes for the history, this could be a nice change for you

Yes, I beleive it will impact prices National Dealer..........
once these two big companies get involved........if they can do two things..........keep their standards high..and be able to set up a registry of the best known notes........I see no difference between what has already taken place in the coin market and any collectible for that matter.........once a particular group of collectors are specified...and one can be assured of not having to worry about if the note has been cleaned or pressed and that it is indeed genuine and not a counterfiet.........then I can see new collectors headed that way........lets face it......alot of what we call mystery associated with collecting is knowledge......plain and simple.....but alot of people shy away from coins and or any collectible because they are afraid they will get burned.........I see the TPG's sort of like insurance.......and as anyone knows......insurance costs!!

A stock broker from the 80's referring to bad stock: "Just put some lipstick on that pig, dress it up and SELL it."

It pretty much is what Coin Vault does, but with loud pitches, lights, and more sizzle than a grilled steak.

Boy...! do I agree with you on that one one...! However a lot of collectors are being ripped off by altered and "Fixed" notes that may be curbed by the service.

catman