Type Coins Dilemma, Raw Or Slabs?

Most definitely crack those bad boys open. I enjoy coins in an album 100x more them slabs. I like to look at my collection often, and pulling out hundreds of slabs is not what i'd like to do. I do like Bryan's idea of keeping the tags on hand, just to remember what they were graded at one time.

I think I've got the 7070 sickness now after looking at bryan's for the 300th time lol.....oh man, my wife is going to kill me now :) :)

I'm a complete newbie, but here's my take. I'd keep it in the slab if it was of any particular value. For me, that would not only protect it, but would make it readily graded in case I needed to quickly sell it for a cash emergency. Look at this way, it costs money to grade it, right? To me, that's part of the investment.

I've been thinking similar thoughts Small Change, only instead of a Type Set I'm working on a BU Liberty Head Set. Each coin in the set is going to cost me about $200 in he shape I want it--the 1885 and 1886 are priced around two grand in the shape I want. If and when I purchase them, I'm thinking I'm going to have to go with the slabs. I personally despise slabs (I don't feel the same connection to a slabbed coin as I do a raw one) but I'm not exactly about to drop a couple hundred, let alone thousand, on a coin that could be fake. I'm pretty confident in my grading skills in this series but still...a lot of money is at stake. I think if I ever do get them, I'll buy them slabbed and pop them out and put them in 2x2s to add to my binder.

Before you "un-slab" a coin be sure you plan on keeping the coin for a while--you can always reslab, but it would be a waste of money to open it and pay to get it done again a few months later.

--gary

I caught the 7070 fever awhile back myself, and have been able to fill all holes except for the Seated Liberty dollars. However, as far as value goes, my album can't hold a candle to Bryan's (kudos to you brother) but it's mine, and I'm happy with it. The coins will grade anywhere from G-4 thru BU, and that's cool with me. I've never really viewed my little collection as a major investment. To me, it's a very satisfying hobby...period.
Back to the type album - if you're collecting for the sake of collecting, then, by all means, get raw coins, but, if you're collecting with an eye to the future, then I'd suggest buying slabbed coins, and put them away for the time when they reach a value that you'd be willing to sell them for.
As has been pointed out, this hobby is your's - you can collect in whatever way you're comfortable with. My best advice is to keep it enjoyable and stress free, and it will bring you pleasure for years to come.

Ralph

I'm not a slab collector so the few times I purchase a slabbed coin I break it out for an Album. I do keep the little sticker from the slab though. On most of my Albums I have added a page, sheet of paper actually, and tape the little explanations from a slab onto that sheet. I use the type of medical tape that comes off easily so that if I move that coin from one album to another, it's easier to also move that little tab from the slab.
As already mentioned though. If your not planning on selling your collection or some of it real soon or maybe never, what difference does it make what those coins are. From a slab or not. Who cares? Those are your coins, so enjoy what you have.

Wow, thanks to all those that have answered this topic, it seems like there are a lot of others with the same predicament. I guess for now the higher priced coins will stay in the slabs. I will continue to look for nice raw coins to add to my albumn but they will probably be the coins in the under 200 dollar category, again thanks to all who took the time to answer my questions. This truly is a great forum.

Small Change

What Brian said. Cracked em out - put them in the 7070, and taped the TPG number and grade to the inside cover. Personally I prefer my coins raw, like the majority I purchased for my album,, but you need to be knowledgeable and careful.