To Crack or not to Crack...

So I finally found a very pleasant Trade Dollar. She's an 1877 Trade Dollar, certified by PCGS VF-25. I paid a very respectable price ($210 shipping free). I will post pictures as soon as it arrives (Germany...so takes a little while).

Now, I purchased her because I don't trust raw Trades and wanted to put her in my CAPS album. I'm already nervous so I know when it comes time, I will have second thoughts cracking the slab and pulling her out. Am I crazy?

We aren't talking some high end mint state coin that triples in value because its MS-67 instead of MS-66. But I'm sure some folks have their own opinions regardless.

 

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If you plan to sell it some day, the person buying will probably feel the same way. If that is not your concern (you plan to hold it "forever") then break it out and enjoy it raw.

 

One alternative would be to take images of the coin in the slab and size the images so that they will fit in your album.

Chris

 

You said yourself you don't trust raw trade dollars. Many people feel that way. How much would the coin be worth to you raw? Not nearly as much I would bet. The difference in value by not having the authentication is how much you'd be throwing away by cracking it out (not to mention the cost of re-slabbing if you ever wanted to sell it). I wouldn't crack it out in your situation.

Your poll doesn't have enough options. I sometimes crack coins out if I'm going to cross them, if they are in a third rate slab, or if they are in a details slab and the authentication alone carries no value.

I don't treat any coin in my collection as if I "never plan to sell" it. That seems foolish to me. I've had coins I was perfectly happy with until an insane upgrade fell in my lap and I ended up selling it. Plus, even if you never sell the coins yourself, a family member might after you're gone.

 

Haha, I closed the poll. It was stupid anyway. There's probably too many scenarios to truly account for every situation anyway. I was more testing the poll concept than anything else.

Now, I also need to clarify. I've already made the decision to crack her out. I know I'm going to and I know I'm going to be hesitant.

The question was asked concerning whether or not I ever plan to sell. The answer is no, I don't. I expect to keep her until I die and my family can sell her. I have a bunch of other slabbed coins and a bunch of raw so I don't think one will make the difference concerning value and resell. The authenticity of a Trade Dollar is absolutely a concern.

And sorry for the poll, kind of a waste of time.

 

I will sell mine for $15.00 I bought raw what does that tell ya,

 

I will say don't crack the slab. It will be impossible to resale later in the case of an emergency, or if you need the money.

 

Put it in your album, but next time buy a slabbed mid-vf for $160.

 

I guess I'll play The Devil's Advocate I would crack it out because later if you go to sell it I would expect the coin dealer who supposedly has years and years and years of experience to know the difference between a fake and a real one.

 

Don't break it... please.

 

Crack it and enjoy it as it's a keeper. It can always get re-slabbed in the future. Full disclosure...my main US collection is a 7070 and about a third of the coins are crack outs so far.

 

Real coin collectors hold their coins in their hands and feel them. If I can hold a 2,250 year old Egyptian coin in my hands and enjoy it, you can hold your trade dollar with no problems. Do it, crack her out.

 

So anyone with slabs isn't a real collector I guess salient?

 

The next trick is learning how to safely crack her out. I'm sure YouTube can help.

 

Yep:


Please be careful!

Also, if you have decided to crack it, I would first take a picture of the coin in the slab (both sides) and then keep the label with the grade (this can be somewhat helpful in later verifying that it is genuine).

 

I wouldn't hesitate to crack it. We're not talking about a $5000 coin. And there isn't a slab in existence which refuses to open cleanly when I turn on my Dremel.

 

Slabs offer great protection for expensive coins, and high grade coins. And like you implied, some might downgrade if resubmitted. Some coins you want to think long and hard before you crack them out, but I like your plan to acquire a circulated trade dollar that you know is the real deal, and if you want it out of the slab, that's fine.

 

Here ya' go--last night's activity as inspired/reminded by your thread here. Just bought it off eBay and now for the 7070.



Unfortunately I am incapable of revealing the reflective nature remaining in the fields (well I can with a lot of coin tilting and then the focus sucks).

 

A better and easier (indeed safer!) way to do this is with bolt cutters, right next to the "bubble" where the coin is held in the core of a PCGS holder. It kind of magically creates a crack right across the bubble and "hinges" the slab open for you.

 

LOL. It's called exaggeration. But I can see why the ancients area of Cointalk is growing so fast. Collectors come to the modern sections and they get told to wrap their slabbed coins in 5 layers of plastic, vacuum seal it, and then lock it up in a safe and avoid ever looking at it to avoid any toning, evil spirits taking possession of the coin, or damage.

The same collector goes to the ancients section and they get told to enjoy their new purchase, hold it, feel it, look at it, and appreciate the tactile and visual experience.

Holding this 1,800 year old Roman denarius didn't do it any harm, and getting to feel a coin that ancient Romans used in day to day transactions....Priceless!