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 Replies: 21 / Views: 2,798 |
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New Member
United States
49 Posts |
Strange title, right? Well, there are some collectors who do buy the slab rather than the coin. On Sunday, August 10, 2025, a 1881-S Morgan dollar graded MS 63 by PCGS with a CAC "Green Bean" sold via Great Collections for $105,833 ($119,062.12 with the buyers premium). The coin is currently valued at $85 in the 2026 Red Book. The holder is a first generation rattler. I'd say that the holder does indeed matter. What are your thoughts on collecting coins in the older slabs, and, do you have any in your collections? |
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Moderator
 United States
34393 Posts |
@long, I recall skimming this article. Isn't this specific slab likely the oldest slab known to still exist?
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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New Member
 United States
49 Posts |
Possibly. There is a chance of others being out there, but, I'm not sure. I'm trying to find a Coin World article on this subject titled by the slab not the coin. It's from 2019. So far, I can't find it online. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6987 Posts |
Quote:
Isn't this specific slab likely the oldest slab known to still exist Auction site states that it was the 17th coin graded by PCGS....... Could you imagine how the people feel who cracked open earlier coins for re-submission....  |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
That is certainly interesting.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
Some do collect specific labels, will pay a premium for them, early generation labels, same current labels to continue a modern coin/bullion set, signed labels etc. I don't.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6448 Posts |
Buying the plastic for $100,000 seems completely bonkers. Publicly traded companies go belly up all the time. If PCGS bit the dust, nobody will even remember that name in 30 years.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3467 Posts |
Quote:
If PCGS bit the dust, nobody will even remember that name in 30 years. Really? PCGS has graded 45+ million coins over the years. Those coins will continue to be bought and sold for years to come. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6448 Posts |
It was a touch of hyperbole, but given the absurd price for the slab, it seemed warranted. Think of all the truly innovative companies that produced world-changing inventions and later went defunct. They fade quickly from memory. You might run across artifacts from them, but I don't think that will provoke anything beyond faint recognition from people.
For example, would someone pay $100,000 for the first Blackberry? That company was huge, and hugely innovative. It hasn't even been gone 20 years, and I doubt that people would remember it. And that product helped to kick off the cellular revolution. It was way more potent in the global zeitgeist than enclosing vintage coins in plastic holders with a quality and authenticity certification.
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
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For example, would someone pay $100,000 for the first Blackberry? Never underestimate the stupidity of spendthrift billionaires.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19108 Posts |
There's something alluring about (really) early PCGS holders...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19108 Posts |
For fun, check the going prices for AMC Gremlins in excellent condition...
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Valued Member
Latvia
97 Posts |
IMHO, the vast majority of people who collect coins in slabs are actually collecting the grade numbers, not the coins themselves. For example, one person "collected" consecutive grade numbers of the same coin. Personally, I call this "near-numismatic masturbation.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4587 Posts |
Called a grading set and done right it's a great way to learn the subtle differences a specific grading company is looking for.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Valued Member
Latvia
97 Posts |
I disagree.
This person wasn't interested in studying anything; he was just collecting "numbers."
Grading is a subjective process. Today I might be in a good mood and give a higher grade, but yesterday I argued with my wife and gave a lower one. There are thousands of stories and discussions online about "unfair grading." Almost everyone has probably encountered this. I witnessed a coin gain two points simply by being washed with soap. Two points, not one, a two! With a uniform approach to each coin, this is impossible. I emphasize: grading as a whole isn't numismatics; it's a business with subjective assessments.
All materials with photos or descriptions are available on the grading companies' websites. If I'm not mistaken, PCGS even has YouTube videos showing grading examples. To study the "subtle differences" (which even graders change from case to case), it's not necessary to collect every "number" of the same coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4587 Posts |
You're wrong, but you do you.
I said done right. That means you need to look at each candidate coin and make sure it's appropriate for the grade, not just the number on the slab.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Replies: 21 / Views: 2,798 |
Posted 08/12/2025 12:09 pm
