Old Green Holders

I am not sure on the exact date(probably late 1990's). If you really have to know the exact date you should consider contacting PCGS. -PP

Or you can ask me.

From the rattlers to the first of the blue label holders you are talking about Feb 1986 to November 1998 and there are eight different holder varieties. Nine if you counter the counterfeit rattler.

The eight varieties break down into five groups, the Rattler, the "slab within a slab", the "old green holder", the "new green label" holder, and the Regency slab.

The Rattler was the first generation holder and it was used from Feb 86 til November 1989 after the discovery of counterfeit slabs caused PCGS to make changes to the holder.


The "slab within a slab" holders were an intermediary step while PCGS got their new shells made. These slabs were the old small Rattler shells with a hologram on the back and the were encased in a wraparound band of plastic that went all the way around the outer edge of the slab but was not actually attached to it. These were made in Nov and Dec of 1989 and there are four varieties. Dot matrix perforated edge labels without PCGS on them. Dot matrix perforated edge labels with PCGS on them. The Doily label where the entire label is printed with a dot matrix pattern of doilies and the letters PCGS are made up repeatedly by voids in the printing, it also has a perforated edge. The die cut label that is the same as used on the next variety. All slab within a slab varieties are scarce. The first two are scarce, the last one with the die cut label is very scarce, and the Doily label is rare.






The "Old Green Label". PCGS returned to a one piece slab the same size and shape as their current ones. The die cut labels on these were an even green color and can be recognized by the use of large size digits in the serial number and the number begins to the left of the left edge of the barcode. They had a problem with them though. The green color used in the labels was not stable and these labels can be found today in a range of colors from canary yellow through sky blue. These were made from January 1990 through mid 1995.


The "new green labels" began in mid 1995 and lasted until November of 1998. These are the same as the previous variety except the serial number is now in much smaller digits and the number starts well to the right of the left edge of the barcode. They also fixed the problem with the green color and these labels stay green.


The last variety was the Regency holder. This was a special "premium" holder that was used from 1992 to 1995. It is a much larger holder, about 5 inches tall and three inches at it's widest point. The long sides are curved so the slab is narrow at the top and bottom and wide in the center. They came in a velvet drawstring bag. They cost an extra $25 dollars more than the regular slabs and for that extra money you got the larger slab, the bag and two lines on the label where you could have whatever you wanted printed on the label up to 22 characters per line. Regency slabs are quite rare.


Before the Blue Label holders came out dealers would often refer to old green holders and they mean the 1990 - 95 slabs because they were different from the ones then in use. After the blue labels came out they continued to say old green holders but now meant "The green labels that came out before the blue labels"

Now most dealers have no clue about all these generations of holder so in most cases now when they are talking about "Old Green Holders" and how much stricter the gradng was way back then, in almost every case what they are actually referring to are the "New Green Holders" from the 1995 to 1998 period. And they have been doing that since about 2000.

Ha, I found Condor101!! Hello Condor.

I may be a new poster here but I do own a copy of Condor's book: "Third Party Grading/Certification Serivces & Slab/Certificate Varieties." He literally wrote the book on slab types.

Will there be (or was there) an updated version?

<<Are there any general thoughts / advice about submitting green "rattler" for re-grade. Worst case is that PCGS would grade the same and put in modern holder. If coin downgrades then they will offer to buy coin back under their guarantee policy.>>

There is a feeling that the services were stricter in the "old days". So rattlers can bring premiums on ebay. It is very likely that all rattlers seen for sale at shows have been examined and passed over by crack out artists. They are unlikely to upgrade.

If your rattlers have never been examined by expert graders since they were slabbed there is a chance at an upgrade. The downside to sending in for grading in the holder is that it costs money and if it doesn't upgrade it will still end up in a newer holder removing any rattler premium. If you crack out coins and send in raw you risk a down grade or no grade at all.

Most rattlers I've seen/owned I've judged to be more valuable as is. It is expensive to send coins to PCGS for grading.

I agree that most stuff for sale is pretty well graded and yes there are exceptions, but not many. Most ebay sellers throw that out as bait for higher bids. I have even asked the seller before bidding about the coins and asked about full bands. His answer was "yes, typical PCGS under grade". Yet, it was not full bands and it may get a grade up, but I feel that they will be worth more in the old holders in the future.

Where can I get the book mentioned earlier in this topic?

Alan

Please see rattler alert..thanks James

You noted this thread was 5 years old, right?

Regardless of the threads age this was a good read, I learned a lot from it. thanks for bumping it.