I am not crazy about slabsand I kind of want to break it out but I thought it was worthy of a discussion first.
Looks like it is probably a nice coin but its difficult to see any details in these pictures. I'd like to see detailed images to understand the reported smoothing. As for breaking it out, of course! What's the point of keeping this coin in such a slab??
that's an awesome coin AN, i would like to see those surfaces up close with an free pic. the only thing that may prevent me from breaking out a coin would be the fear of damaging the coin trying to open up the case.
NGC slabs come apart quite easily. As long as you're not a total klutz, there isn't much chance of damaging the coin.
I have a few 'slabs' I won at auction from Heritage---and I'm going to set them free too!!! I hate not being able to hold them in my hand.....and except in rare cases of extreme value or questionable grading without a NGC slab, I just don't see the purpose of locking ancients in plastic.
There was an interesting article in either the Numismatist or Coin World about collecting "sample" slabs. These were done when slabbing first came out as giveaways to get people familiar with the slabs. The article made the point that they are an interesting, affordable collectable in the modest price range under $100. Chacun a son gout. The next time this slabbing issue comes up I am going to post about how I like to display my precious babies.
I am 100% in agreement with Arturo here. IMHO the reason NOT to break the coin out would be so it could be returned for refund if the surface situation was not described by the seller. If the coin is smoothed to the point of being tooled, how do we know the 5/5 strike was not a 3/5 boosted by the tool? There is nothing Choice about any coin that gets a 1/5 however it got to that number.
The coin was described accordingly and I will not be returning the coin. My thoughts exactly. If the coin has been tooled then how is it choice? Great job?
Well, although the 5-outta-5 strike rating is very sweet, the 1-outta-5 surface rating stinks => giving a 6/10 overall (ummm, that's a solid "C" where I went to school) ... maybe the coin is good at sports and perhaps it can still manage to get a scholarship through the athletic department? ... oh, and the AR smoothing comment was the final kicker => release that poor coin from it's plastic holding cell!! (it has been ridiculed and abused long enough!!)
