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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,147 |
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Valued Member
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
68 Posts |
Having a certified-grade slabbed coin is about as good as it gets, but y'know what I hate about them? You can no longer hold them in raw condition in your hand. For me, I've always loved the holding a coin in my hand, feeling it between my fingers, the heft of it, turning it over and over, looking at it close -- feeling the history and the living connection to that history. I always ate that,up since I was a kid when I got turned on to collecting. But now I'm way older and go out of my way to add slabbed coins to my collection, and send off raw coins to get graded and slabbed because that's the smart thing to do with the very valuable ones. But still, at the end of the day, holding a slab isn't the same because now you're just holding a hunk of plastic, mainly. It's just not the same.. **Sigh** That's why I like keeping around some nice examples of some good, heavy coins not really worth slabbing for some reason or another. Because there's nothing like the feel of a raw Morgan in your hand, running it ofer your fingers, etcetc. And because it's nothing remarkabke collector-wise, it's no big deal if your kid drops it. For me, that's the *best* joy of collecting. The other day, I picked up these 3 1850s Japnese examples that were the final series blessed by the local Shogun before the Japanese went to round coins to fit in with needs and wants of the West. I'll eventually get one or two of them graded and slabbed, but I'll hold one back just tomfeel the raw history in my hand, or to be able to let my kids or someone else feel the ghosts of those whose hands this same coin once passed. Likewise, the other coins from the lot that will be sitting in a slab won't know that same joy, either. Because the spirit of everything and everybody live on. I'm pretty sure the Japanese ghosts in these coins might agree.   Edited by STTScott
01/08/2021 03:57 am
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
8938 Posts |
Well, for me I like slabs due to the physical protection. It's nice to make sure that when I drop a lot of money on a coin I know it won't get damaged in the future. Plus many slabs are fire retardant.
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
I too like having coins in TPG slabs for the protection factor but do have a group of coins that go into my left pants pocket whenever I stray out of my driveway. I love the sound and feel of silver in my pocket.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
The only real gripe I have personally with slabs is that
they are unsuitable for my chosen methods for identification, storage and display.
So,
I have long since learned to grade reasonably accurately for myself.
To corroborate my grading,
I have provided the most valuable coins in my collection with an independently provable provenance, mostly by auction record and invoice. That info is stored separately, complete with a photographic record for the coin in question.
I have perhaps 200 or so coins that may be valued at over $100, (and perhaps a dozen or so over $1000), where the potential value would justify the grading and return shipping fees.
The added bonus of not having slabs is that the extra fees don't have to be paid.
For the Japanese rectangular coins pictured, they
can be put inside a piece of clear acetate sheet recovered from food storage containers for extra protection, then
put inside a cardboard flip, where identification and purchase record can be written on the flip.
Can't do that with slabs.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18663 Posts |
i agree about holding the coin. if you collect to fill those holes there is nothing better than opening those books and seeing all of them side by side with all the holes filled. total satisfaction indeed.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1959 Posts |
I'm in this hobby to enjoy the coins. I bust the coins free if they need to fill a hole in a Dansco book.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18663 Posts |
Quote:
I bust the coins free if they need to fill a hole in a Dansco book. yep, done that. especially if its under graded imo |
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Pillar of the Community
2145 Posts |
Get some clear plastic or ringed "Air-tite" capsules - it's the best of both worlds. Protection and it's almost like handling the raw coin. Of course it isn't gonna help you with them rectangles you show!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
612 Posts |
Quote:
For me, I've always loved the holding a coin in my hand, feeling it between my fingers, the heft of it, turning it over and over, looking at it close -- feeling the history and the living connection to that history. You nailed it ...... that's exactly how I feel. Everyone has different reasons for collecting coins, different goals. Well mine is that I just love Morgan and Peace dollars, and I've made it affordable the way and what I collect. I have one, yes I said one slabbed PCGS Morgan, and about 270, just like you see in the photos that I've self graded (through the knowledgeable opinions of folks here at CCF), and self encapsulated in these snaps. And anytime I want to take one out, I can. Are they worth as much as if they were all professionally graded by one of the big services? Of course not, and I'm sure there are some that might think I'm nuts, but it works for me and it makes me happy.   |
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Moderator
 United States
188342 Posts |
Quote:
I've always loved the holding a coin in my hand, feeling it between my fingers, the heft of it, turning it over and over, looking at it close -- feeling the history and the living connection to that history. I always ate that,up since I was a kid when I got turned on to collecting. While I have almost everything in a Dansco, a slab, or a 2x2, I do have a pair of raw Ikes I can handle when I want to feel that "heft and history" you describe.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Snap lock acrylic plastic round capsules for smaller coins can fit in 2x2 album pages.
Capsules for crown sized coins can fit in 2.5 X 2.5 inch 12 pocket album pages.
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Valued Member
 Virgin Islands (U.S.)
68 Posts |
Holy jeez, @KauaiHawaiiGuy -- that's one heckuva spread. I'm partial to Morgans, so hubba-hubba, dude.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,147 |
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Posted 01/08/2021 03:29 am
