Purchase Offer - Raw Versus Slabbed?

If you plan on getting it graded, you should. Also, on some of my lower cost coins I consider any shipping or buyer premium in the price.

Two reasons for paying a premium for TPG coins:

1). A TRGraded coin should attract a premium equal to the cost of the grading fees.

2a). Most collectors like the idea of a trusted independent third party grading opinion.
2b). Most collectors would pay a little more than the cost of the premium, in the knowledge of the fact that the coin now has an implied de facto authentication.

Reason 2 becomes important when an ebay buyer is denied an in hand inspection of a coin, before making a decision to buy

Combined, a premium a bit higher than the grading fees alone, could be justified.



The justification to TPGrade a coin in the first place, perhaps could be based on the potential value of it; a suggested rule of thumb maybe around $100 minimum value.

Despite the reasons mentioned above, I am not keen on TPGraded coins, which are far more popular in America only.

Personally I've just started submitting coins to TPG's for slabbing. My collection was inherited and is all raw up until now. In my opinion a coin that gets graded raises its value beyond the cost of grading itself and certainly makes the coin more saleable. I'd be happy to eat the grading costs in that circumstance. That being said there has to be a certain initial value to the coin before even submitting it to be worth while. Low value coins should just be sold raw in my opinion.

@just carl I can almost agree with you about not slabbing coins except for one thing ..... inherited coins. If the people who ultimately end up with your collection after you pass have no interest in collecting then they could be exposed to other collectors or dealers taking advantage of them if they try to sell your collection. In my own case I plan on slabbing any coin of significant value. One example would be if I have the whole Lincoln Cents collection I could slab the 1909S VDB, the 14D, and the 21 plain plus any other higher value coins. That sets the bar at a level where my heirs have a fighting chance when selling.