To De(Slab) Or Not To De(Slab); That Is The Question.

Sounds like you answered your own question. "I" prefer to keep my coins (7070) in slabs. I find the authentication, grading and environmental control (if you can call it that) of a slab.

I have a wooden case that I place my slabs in for storage, and the slabs can passed around so easily for others to view, and I don't have to worry about their security (finger prints, somebody salivating on them , etc...) within the slab. Some prefer albums, but, to each their own.

Bottom line...buy the coin not the slab. You will hear this on numerous occasions, and it still holds true.

Hopefully you don't want to "feel" the coin TOO MUCH ! (at least not without cotton gloves !) ....

But seriously, I only have two slabbed coins in my collection.
2009 MS-69 ASE
1914-D Lincoln Cent (for authentication purposes based on suspicious mintmark)

I don't "buy" slabs.... generally speaking.... based on exactly what you said.
It's not how I want to "collect" or have my collection "arranged", so to speak.
Namely, I want most of my coins to go into albums....and although I appreciate all the work and the very studious diligence of those who DO bust slabs & keep the labels of their slabs inside their albums.......it just seems kind of a "messy affair" to me.
I have NO problem busting/cracking Mint, Proof, and/or Silver Proof Sets to get the coins for my albums....But I've NO INTEREST IN MAKING A HABIT OF SMASHING AND HAMMERING THROUGH SLABS TO GET THE COINS.
I just buy the best coin I can afford at the time.......(raw) ....it then goes into the album or the collection somewhere.....and that's THAT ! .....
It's "my" eye appeal, and "my" grade that matters most because it's "my" collection. A grade (or an inflated price) based on a slabbed coin for no other reason than "more money" doesn't interest me. "Authentication" ... yes...... "Value" .....no.
Indisputable "proof" of a coins grade or authenticity can be EVERYTHING I understand, so it's a fine line to traverse actually, depending on the coin.
But since I don't feel the need to "prove" any/or 99% of my coins, I'm okay with NOT using "slabbed coins" in my collection, I just won't "seek them out".
And for the most part, they're not for sale either.

Now.....if you're talking about something to "flip" that would get more money in the marketplace.....and that you're NOT going to have in your collection...... then SLAB AWAY, I say !
(25th Anniversary ASE Set comes to mind)




If I "came into" some slabbed coins though........first off....it would depend on the actual coin.....and then if I was comfortable with it.......I'd hammer away to get them into Dansco's ASAP ! .......
But the variances in that decision definitely depend on what exactly we're dealing with contained in that actual slab. It's hard for me to have a "general" opinion one way or the other, especially since I'm a notorious "anti-slabber" to begin with.

For high-grade slabbed coins, I just don't really trust myself to handle the coins directly, with the possibility of slipping while de-slabbing, or dropping them, or marring the surface given the amount of force sometimes required to get the coins in the album slots, or the potential contact with the slides... I have picked up a few slabbed AU58 coins really cheap and cracked those. It's a perfect grade for albums because it looks great alongside raw BU coins and it's not a disaster if there is some contact with the slides or something.

Personally I don't like slabs. And I hate having holes in albums. I've broken every slab I've ever bought for coins that are going into my "best" sets. Also... as I understand it... once a coin has been slabbed it won't tone. I love the way silver coins tone in the old Library of Coins folders. And of love the way copper tones in the old Whitman albums.

I haven't seen much toning going on inside my Dansco albums.

If you bought it to fill a hole in your album, then fill the hole if your album! This is how I see it.

However, it really depends on your goals. If resale may be a reality (it is not for me), then you might be better off keeping it in the slab.

I buy both and love working on my Dansco albums. However, (especially for my 7070 album) I have cracked out a few coins that I just didn't feel comfortable buying raw. I am just not good enough at spotting some of these really good fakes. I had a Philippino gentleman at work the other day show me 2 1840 O Seated dollars that he bought in the Philippines and let me tell you - they are good fakes. Scared the living daylights out of me that they looked so real. I'm sure some folks could tell quick, but I studied and studied and realized I just can't trust my judgement yet on these high dollar purchases I make or are going to make.