Like Certified Coins But Not Thrilled With The Slab

I recently bought 2 ASE 2006-W burnished in graded slabs. These are the first slabs I have purchased as I've never been too thrilled with the appearance of slabs (but fine with the idea of them). Some are obviously better than others and will say these ASEs aren't too bad in hand. But I ended up specifically picking the TPG based on a slab I felt I could most best live with. Which really tells you something about slabs if you think about it. Most having all the charm of a USB flash drive package.

The obvious problem with slabs is they don't lend themselves well for collectors to display. And collectors really like the Dansco concept, to organize, to see at a glance. And to have something complete to appreciate, not an album with the usual keyholes and the keys if you have them off in a box somewhere. The key coins you might want to look at the most end up being the ones you're practically able to look at the least. Surely slabs are not designed for a collectors display interests at all. Slabs in their utilitarian style are designed for display in a dealers case.

Here's my take. There should be a standard one or two slab sizes. Maybe decide on 2x2 and 3x3, or whatever it is, and have those be the standard sizes. Period. Once you standardize the slab sizes and have flips and pages for those sizes then you could complete albums easily without having to make a choice between certified vs. display.

Of course TPGs would say if they standardized the size it would make it easier to counterfeit slabs but it would be more about protecting brand recognition. Ever see how they mark diamonds? Microscope small with lasers which becomes the security of it. TPGs should start thinking along those lines and start to put collector display interests first. Do you think it will ever happen?

The slab of my dreams (now there's a statement I never thought I'd type) would be something first class in appearance, unobtrusive, almost as if the coin were imbedded in a square of glass with the year/mint/features laser etched prominently on the obverse side of it and the TPG grade/logo/serial/bar code discreetly on the reverse. If they did it right TPGs would get tons of re-grades for appearance and album compatibility alone. Price it right and they could be grading entire albums.