So I have been getting a few "Sample" Slabs..NGC and PCGS.. I guess I shouldn't buy what I don't understand.. But I like them and keep getting Great Deals so... What is a Sample Slab.. Why would someone Pay to have an item slabbed and not graded? The coins I get seem great for the price and would be of much higher value if they had the grade rather then "Sample".. I saw another that was a "Advertising" Slab.. No grade just a AD for a coin shop.. I think I like them just because they are a bit odd.. And need to fill these empty PCGS Boxes I have.. Thanks for any info and good hunting!!!
The true sample slabs are slabs given away by the grading services at coin shows which are intended to advertise the grading service itself or to show off a new change in their product design (New design, new label, new hologram etc). Similarly related slab types are advertising slabs which are used to promote a business, club or coin show and not the grading service itself. These are normally distributed by the clum, business or show and not by the grading service. And the Presentation slab which are given to people (usually invited) who attend a certain event or complete a particular project. An example of a presentation slab would be those given to the people invited and attending the PCGS FUN luncheon. If you didn't attend the meal the only way you could get one was to buy it from someone who did. Sample slabs do have a small group of avid collectors and as posted there is a website that specializes in them. I also covered them in my book. Cameron and I do not catalog them in the same fashion though I group them by what generation of slab design they are based upon and then by variations of the slab with in that group. Cameron give different variety numbers to what I would consider the same slab just because the slab has a different coin in it. He also does not track changes in the reverse design (hologram etc) so he can have different generations of sample slab cataloged under the same number. There are also case where he has obviously earlier slaba cataloged with later numbers than later slabs. Some sample slabs are rare and highly desired, others are quite common. Typical price for a common sample slab is in the $3 to $5 range, but some of the rare ones have brought over $200 apiece. A couple pieces would probably bring much higher prices if they ever showed up. There has been the existance of a sample PCGS Regency slab reported but not confirmed. And one not even reported but which could in theory exist would be a sample NGC 1 slab, a sample Black NGC slab. If one of those turned up at auction it would definitely set records.
Wow, Thanks for all the info... These are my new Sample Slabs..Total price w/ Shipping under 20.00... not a bad find... I like that the PCGS '64 Dime is a Sample slab w/ a Grade
Hi lather I found this post from back in 2009, I was just woundering are you still intrested in sample slabs. Alan
Hi Lather I was reading your post from 2009, before I found it I was starting to think I was the only one collecting samples. I tried to start a string about a week ago to see how many other collectors where out there, and as of today I have had many looker's but not received any post's. I realize they are not for every one but I was surprised when no one replied. As you know they can be hard to find and you would thing that would be the attraction, but I guess not. But the one good thing is, the less people collect the cheaper the price to buy.LOL All the Best Alan
Here's an interesting one: Just got it in today, I didn't even realize it was a sample slab until I checked the cert: http://www.ngccoin.com/certlookup/CertResults.aspx?CertNumber=145534-008 I've seen the cert # 145534 listed on sampleslabs, but none with the ANA Centennial.
