The ULTIMATE TPG slab thread!

I'd like to hear it! Tell me what you think the "ultimate" slab features should be. To me it seems NONE of TGP's slabs are perfect....what needs to change??? What's good? What's bad? If you were designing the slab, what would you do?

 

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Great topic! My mind must be too tired to think of problems or the ideal slab design, but I can think of a few features that I do like:

-Stackable
-Sealed so that they cannot be neatly cracked open at the seam and reassembled. (NGC slabs seem to crack open so neatly, which is not good. ANACS gets second place.)
-Info readable from top of slab
-Firmly holds coin without rotation
-Edge of coin is not recessed in shadow, but more flush with the material it touches against

Something I haven't seen but would like to see:
-Some sort of unique identifying feature that cannot be faked. Even current PCGS slabs can theoretically be fraudulently reproduced, which is curreently being attempted in China. The article I read pointing out the minor, subtle differences between real ones and fake was pretty frightening. It seemed to me that all of the little differences could be fixed easily, to the point that the fakes would be undetectable. I don't know what the solution is, but it seems that it would have to involve something unique, possibly random, that could not be reproduced over and over because of how it was unique to one slab.

 

Sealed so that the coins don't tone in the holder... too many "red" copper coins brown in the holder.

 

Perhaps a 2x2, flat staples and a good pen?

 

I actually have to agree. I don't really like slabs either. My previous response was more of a "if slabs have to exist..." Really the perfect slab is no slab.

 

Perhaps a write once, read often, RFID chip embedded in the plastic of the holder.

Stapled 2x2 have the problem that given time and normal storage, the staple will react and induce toning on the coin. If you like toning, good, but odd appearing.

Jim

 

You stole one of my ideas. Adding to that, encrypt the code too so it's only readible by the TGP. While that's a pain for the buyer, it could at least be easily validated if questioned by sending it in.

Ahhhh...the dreaded staple toning...it's HORRIBLE IMO. A few of my grandfathers Morgans got hit with that from poor storage.

 

Yeah, I have some with it also, but on the good side, several slabbed with no problems. I guess they figured no one would AT a coin like that


Jim

 

While I don't like slabs either, I can't even think of a perfect no-slab holder either. For personal use, I like the plastic whitman holders. (Note: NOT the knock-off Edgar Marcus ones though). But I can't use them for coins I sell, because the holder can be opened without evidence. For that reason, I use the 2x2's with staples.

 

I would like to see all TPGs use the same grading standard and accurately grade every coin.

But that's probably way beyond anything 21st century technology can produce.

 

I'd like a slightly thicker slab with clear side "windows" for edge viewing. I'm surprized nobody bought that up.

 

the only feature that will be a big draw it to makeit completely airtight. now that will be a winner

 

The............................................... ..........

..........that would be a great selling point indeed. i don't know why 'glass sealed' slabs have not been tried. seems to me this would be tamper proof without being very evident! and surely would be air tight too. jmho

 

I bought an NGC slab from a seller and he shipped it to me vac sealed in a little baggy......kinds of a cool idea!!

 

The new NGC slabs have the little diamonds in the side to prevent this!!

 

yes instead of giving us nonsense features they should try some of this instead. protect the coin we are paying you for pretty plastic

 

To revive a thread that will remind many of you what it was like to be almost 5 years younger, 5 years healthier and 5 years prettier...

I'd like to see the big boys (PCGS, NGC,...) use that clear plastic electrostatic type film you see on cell phone screens and calculators. Should come on both sides of every slab. Most people would be crazy to remove them. Those slabs get scratched to hell by the time I purchase them.

I also saw the recent black retro slabs from NGC, someone was adding photos recently. They look really bad without a redesign of the labels to match the black slab look. I'm no fashion expert, but even I know not to wear brown striped white sport socks with a black tuxedo.

 

An encrypted code is about the only thing the TPGs can EASILY do and SHOULD be doing for the money they get. But they're not. That's really got to change, considering all the counterfeiting of their company's slabs.

If they were to use a "One Time Pad" method to generate a "grader-code" for each slab, that would be the easiest. If you don't know what One Time Pad is, google it. It's worth a look. This is just one way to encrypt a code to ensure authenticity. There are others.

As far as "air tight"... I think that's a lot harder than we think it is! I'm no expert in packaging technology, but I think expecting air-tight slabs is a little much without having to pay a LOT more. Maybe I'm wrong?

 

I think they could do some very simple things to help reduce and identify counterfeits. First, they could use various micro printing techniques on the labels like what is used on prescription paper and checks. This would help to verify an authentic holder. All that would be needed to verify this would be a loupe. They could also use other security features similar to what is used on the new $100 bills. I think redundancy is the key to fighting counterfeits. Counterfeiters would have a hard time copying multiple security features. From a financial standpoint counterfeiters would have a hard time copying and affording these features, while the cost for the TPGs to implement these features would still be feasible. Obviously counterfeiting will not be completely stopped, but it can be reduced. Though none of these features will help until the holders a tamper proof.

 

I'd like to see how much weight was assigned to the elements of the grade, in small letters of course at bottom of the slab. For example, if Swami is sensing a stronger than typical strike, denote it as sk3. If it's average sk2, below average sk1. Same thing for luster, surfaces, eye appeal, whatever. We can then test ourselves and one day maybe we too can be one with the universe.