Another thread here mentioned that some of us may have a few thousand CD cases lying about so the though struck me that we might kill two birds with one boulder by re-purposing these to accommodate our collections. Most of you know how much I love slabbed coins but these proposed CD-Slabs correct most of the problems I have with the current fad slabs. Storage: No longer must you buy custom boxes to store your slabs. You may already own racks, boxes or other containers for those CD cases. If not, I direct you to your local Goodwill store where someone has probably dropped off something that onces seemed like a better idea than it does today. Failing that, the cardboard boxes that hold a dozen bird food suet cakes are the same size so you can buy a case of them and support your feathered friends buy throwing the contents out in the back yard to make room in the box for your CD-Slabs. Security vs. access Conventional slabs have been permanently sealed for your protection but CD-Slabs allow your choice of security levels. The cases come with a click closure for easy access. Additional security can be added with Scotch tape or Gorilla glue depending on how much you want to be prevented from handling your coins. Space for customized labeling: CD-Slabs come with ample space for custom labels giving pertinent information on the coin or exhaustive write-ups (original or copied from Wikipedia) depending on your choice of type size. Certainly all will want an enlarged photo of the coin taken to show off all the faults of the surface that might be otherwise overlooked. You might want to add coded information of where/when/how much/why....It is all up to you. If you wish, you can even add a grade or a few decorative stickers. Have it your way... The downside here is that users may need to think about how to secure the coin in the central hole. Coins under 8mm diameter will fall through. Larger coins will require adjustments make with a hole saw or other device if it is desired to retail the two sided viewing feature but the inclusion of the photo makes inserting a pad of felt, craftfoam or other material of your choice a viable option. Be creative! One answer is to collect only 8-10mm diameter Greek silver that with your cases. These cases also hold Chinese cash quite well. Aes Grave will require stacking cases and more Gorilla glue. Finally the issue of a large collection taking a lot of space can be visualized by going to a store that sells CD's and counting the same number of CD's as you have coins. You might even get lucky and find a store ready to sell their 5000 CD sales rack which should hold you for a few more years of collecting. Enjoy! I apologize to the families of those who adopted this system not noting the smiley face at the start but, on the other hand, these do seem to be a step up from regular slabs IMHO since they add the photo and the access options which really are what I find most troubling on the current slabs.
I think we should partner up in this endeavor. --------------------------------------Press Release----------------------------------------- Get more bang for your Boeotian, more value for your Vabalathus! Here's how: Certified Ancient Coin Acceptance™ Corporation proudly announces their long-awaited ancient coin verification program. Protect your investment now with a genuine CACA sticker. Be coinfident with CACA! Proven increased resale value* Peace of mind knowing your coin has been expertly assessed** Easy-open slab*** Low cost! Basic package, $24.99† Entry-level cleaning with a spit rag Easy-open slab Best-guess attribution Green CACA sticker Optional upgrades: Deluxe cleaning with sulfuric acid, add $19.99 (plus $100 for hazardous waste disposal) Gold CACA sticker indicating Overachiever status (hammer price >200% of estimate), add $9.99 Smiley sticker to indicate just how happy you are with your purchase, add $4.99 (free if you "like" us on Facebook) "Better" attribution (Wildwinds search), add $19.99 Supply your own attribution, add $24.99 Bar code on label, add $4.99 Unique bar code on label, add $9.99 * When shown the same Gallienus with and without a CACA slab and sticker, my mother was more impressed with the CACA. She thought the sticker was pretty. ** Applies to Nabataeans only. *** Easier to replace the coin with a lower grade specimen prior to selling. † Plus excise, duty, handling, shipping, VAT where applicable, and a 21.5% buyer's fee. Check out these glowing reviews from our Facebook page! "Now I realise what true value is. I will seek to sell of my Byzantine Solidii and use the money to get my Late Roman Bronzes certified by CACA. Surely the Bar Code and Smiley sticker on the easy-open Slabs for my LRB's will more than pay for the cost. I am cock-a-hoop for CACA!" -- Masis "I used to crack my ancient coins out of slabs. After seeing the quality of the product the CACA Corporation has to offer, I'm even more enthusiastic. From now on all my slabs will be genuine CACA stickered." --willyb ''I used this company and my ancient coin looks incredible. I paid for the Basic package, and I'm elated with the results of the spit rag cleaning-as they say 'nothing say's ancient like spit rag cleaning'. I'm so happy I'm sending my ancient coin back, so I can get a smiley sticker and a unique barcode. Thank-you CACA, for making my day.'' --awallin01 Offer void where prohibited by law. And as always, ask your doctor if CACA is right for you.
Perhaps I'm a bit gullible, but Doug's suggestion makes sense to me----especially for those sub-areas I collect and prefer to keep separate or otherwise have no suitable storage space available......and it's good for the environment I'll skip the CACA stamp and add my own sticky 'happy face' from all those address labels I receive in the mail LOL
Actually, I think it's a great idea, but what am I going to do with all my Spice Girls and Britney Spears discs???
I love creative ideas such as this one and am now inspired to revisit one I had last year - the Twelve Caesars Clock, a display case of coins of the Twelve Caesars which functions as a working clock. Seriously, why would you say "it's twelve-thirty" when you could say "it's half past Julius Caesar"?
I suppose a slabbed coin has to include the obligatory mistake on the insert. As far as I know, "ephesis" is an ancient legal term as opposed to a city in Asia Minor.
Wouldn't that be "half past Domitian"? Hmm, should JC be at the top, or in the 1:00 position? Actually, it might be fun to have such a clock-- with pictures of the Caesars rather than coins... or casts of the coins. Clockworks are very inexpensive. Another crafty project for the list!
Not during JA's watch ...and please work on getting rid of that Brooklyn accent (I was born there for those who may be offended LOL)