This is a small slab, 2 3/4 high and 2 1/8 wide. So the same height as a Accugrade, but a little wider. Hard clear plastic, sonically sealed. Two separate compartments, one for the label and one for the coin. With a square hard(?) white plastic coin insert. Visually it looks like the NuGrade family of slabs, but it's smaller. Anybody heard of them? Side shot: Shows the 2 compartments:
I'd have a hard time with the big disclaimer on the front. It'd be like hiring a plumber who's business card said "Bob's Plumbing: nobody can guarantee their job will be perfect".
I have never heard of them. Do they have a website? "Fleur de coin grading" in Google search doesn't seem to return an obvious site. Or even any images of their slabs. Given the ID number displayed, I'm guessing they have some site where you can look up their graded coins. I also agree about the disclaimer on the insert. I read it as "if we're wrong, don't blame us."
I found this google group from 1996 discussing fleur de coin. It appears to be a now defunct grading company formed by a man from Colorado, John Taitt, and possibly a woman, Mary Sauvain. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.collecting.coins/UQyU_0eH-_s Looks like it officially went defunct in 2007 https://trademarks.justia.com/757/38/fleur-de-coin-75738706.html
I couldn't get the rec.collecting.coins link to work. The other thing I found is that it was registered to "Strategic Investments Management, Inc." of Colorado. http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4802:5wyond.2.1 http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=75738706&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch
I'll quote a couple of the more interesting posts. It's always a good idea to have copies of information.
Never heard of them , an new basement slabber maybe ask conde101 she collects sample slabs and stuff... Well the coin in the holder looks decent to the grade assignment.. Sent from my C6740N using Tapatalk
The OP of this thread is a protege of sorts of conder101 in terms of slabs and grading companies. That said, maybe conder has seen them before or remembers them. It seems they were in business not too long before he started writing his book
I really like the disclaimer on the slab. maybe it should say “we might not be good but there’s none better”.
Hold your tongue You do not know, to whom you speak, this is no common criminal !! This is Thorin! Son of Thrain!! Son of Thrawn!!