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 Replies: 21 / Views: 9,561 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1804 Posts |
Hello, What is a "Basement Slab" or A Basement Slabber"?  Thanks |
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Pillar of the Community
Korea, Republic Of
1881 Posts |
A "basement slabber" is a conman who makes "basement slabs." A basement slabber slabs his own coins in Coin World slabs or some other type of crude holder, sticks on a sketchy label printed out of a low-quality printer, printed with an amazingly high grade for the coin it describes, and sells on ebay for ridiculously high prices for unaware beginning numismatists. Often times, the only two grades they know are MS-70 and PF/PR-70. Well, at least they seem to know only those two---nearly every slab they make are given the lofty "Perfect" grade.  Edited by Matteproof
10/04/2014 1:00 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Often the basement slabber is more subtle. In some cases, a coin "certified" as MS65 instead of MS62, or MS62 instead of AU58, can be worth multiples of its value at that lower, actual grade. It then becomes simply a matter of picking a set of impressive sounding initials for your own personal "grading" service, and printing up a decent label that mimics in style that of a legitimate service to effect the fleecing of inexperienced collectors.
Colligo ergo sum
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1132 Posts |
I've always considered a basement slabber to be ANYTHING other than PCGS, NGC or ANACS.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2368 Posts |
ICG is a legit service as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
Quote:
What is a "Basement Slab" or A Basement Slabber"? They are also known as SSS (Shameless Self Slabber). |
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Moderator
 United States
16677 Posts |
PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG, SEGS are legit.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
10743 Posts |
Along with, ICCS ans CCCS.. |
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Moderator
United States
16677 Posts |
Sorry Mary. Yes, indeed :-)
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4589 Posts |
I basically classify the basement as not sealed and insert a tier of "at least they spent 10K on a sonic sealing setup" below the 'good guys'. There are several in that middle group. For example, PCI - is back under new owners (again for the ?fourth or fifth go around). Lots of nice sounding promises, but the proof is in the grading (and the horrible rep of several of the incarnations would have me changing the name). Top 2 (mostly legends in their own minds, but the market likes them): PCGS and NGC The other 3 that are acceptable to ebay *meaning you have a way to verify the slab #* * Some people like SEGS, others hate them. * Ditto for ICG (but they are the only ones who will slab - for protection - a contemporary counterfeit) * Ditto for ANACS (also a problem of various owners and quality levels) Outside of the US? ICCS and CCCS - very well regarded for Canadian coins. ICCS doesn't have a web presence. CGS-UK - the premier UK slabber There are other international companies, some with good reps in the area, others with terrible reps (there is a long thread in the Aus section about APCGS). There are also a couple of outliers that prove the rules are wrong, oh, let's name VSS - Variety Slabbing Service - uses the Coin World (easy open) shells, but is very well regarded for their attribution of varieties in several series. -----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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Pillar of the Community
Sweden
729 Posts |
I found this lovely lady yesterday... I find it funny how she takes two pictures of the coin unslabbed, then slabs it and take more pictures after that... she's not very good at grading :P http://www.ebay.com/usr/julia_patman |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Wow. She is the perfect definition of a Basement Slabber.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Thanks,another "service" to add to the list.
Bought her PF-64 1966 quarter to add to the reference collection.
Edited by Conder101
10/06/2014 9:58 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4589 Posts |
I will have to post this when I get the photos moved to another machine, but I found an "NGS" slab last weekend with a human hair inside. Including the follicle. So the question is do I crack it out to run DNA on the slabber?
-----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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Pillar of the Community
United States
4691 Posts |
Perhaps the grade applies to the hair and the coin is in there by mistake.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4691 Posts |
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Replies: 21 / Views: 9,561 |
Posted 10/04/2014 1:41 pm
