1909-S VDB What Do You Guys Think ?

I've been collecting for 44 years, and personally, I am not a fan of slabs. I would rather collect coins in albums. I've been fortunate to have been going to the same very reputable local coin dealer for 40 of those years. I have bought most of my collection there, including my EF/AU 1909-S VDB, and 1955 Doubled Die Obverse Lincolns. As someone who has studied coins most of his life, I know the diagnostics for these two, and other dates. And my dealer friends there have an even deeper knowledge than I.

I guess you can just call me "old school." I've always been one to "buy the book before the coin." It's good that we have forums like this one so that the less knowledgeable can get help and be steered clear of trouble.

To me, slabs have always been more for the investor than the collector. That said, I do like slabs when it comes to Uncirculated rare date coins as they can help protect the coin from environmental damage.

In his description is say's "Please review 'Larger Pictures' I provided for you".
I don't see those or a link to view them.
It would be nice to get a close up of the mint mark to see the die chip, that would give me a lot of confidence if I was bidding. Also a close up of the 'vdb" would be nice since a lot can be revealed there.
It does look good by the pics but....let just say it's ebay.
I'm no fan of slabbed coins as others have mentioned and have bought some that coins which priced higher than this will through ebay but always after a email conversation with the seller as well as a good reputation (which this seller looks to have).

CK - Thanks, was not looking closely enough. I think it would clean up. I have certainly seen worse sell for more than this.

B/c there are still some of us old timers out here who prefer not to waste the money on something we can evaluate for ourselves. And I think the numbers are larger than what is suspected b/c the people of like mindset are also likely not those with a huge online presence in forums etc. In fact most collectors I personally know are not even on forums (yet!).


If I were an internet coin dealer, the reality of people buying the plastic and then the coin would likely force me to contribute to the TPG business to maximize my own profits.

I just think it is a shame the mindset overall is that a middleman is needed, especially when we have entered the CAC era where people have finally come to realize the TPGs are not as rock solid as they were once promoted to e. Where is all that money people "wasted" on TPG-faith for non-CAC'ible slabs?

I see (opinion) slabs as a side-issue distracting focus from coins themselves. I see (opinion) the TPGs' main purpose is/was to profit through assigning artificial status to a coin submitted by people too willing to part with their money. This is why we continually hear, "buy the coin, not the slab," and why a green sticker means even more money can be expected from Joe Slabbuyer (not me!).

The only time I contributed to the TPGs was to have a few coins slabbed so if anything happens to me, my family will know the coins are not to be dumped at the bank for face value.