Now that my Buffalo nickel collection is almost finished, I switched to Mercury dimes and just purchased this one. I just received it and lo-and-behold, it looks like the slab has been re-glued! The cert # checks out, but no photos on NGC to see if those spots look the same. I doubt they do. This "glue" is soft and I can pull and stretch it where it sticks out of the case edge. Using a small knife blade, I was unable to get it between the two halves and I believe the dime inside is the correct one, but I'm just unnerved at the possibility of that slab having been opened. I would like others thoughts on how to handle this. It wasn't an expensive coin, and I'd like to keep in my collection, so I was wondering if I should send it to NGC and ask them to verify the coin and slab. Thoughts?
I'd be pretty suspicious and probably return it, but alternatively if you think it is the coin, I'd submit it to NGC for reholdering ($13 plus shipping etc). I wouldn't keep it in the dubious holder and turnaround on reholdering is supposed to be 10 days according to their website, so you could always go for a refund if NGC rejected it / refused it. Also, I haven't used NGC, but I did email them a question once about a Feuchtwanger that I wound up buying, and they responded within a few days, which was professional and good customer service.
I was under the impression - and I could be wrong - that it is darn near impossible to open a slab without mutilating it. They're sonically welded, not glued, aren't they? Could that glue be from a sticker or price tag or something else?
Looks to me like it may have gotten chipped and somebody put rubber cement to try to keep air from getting in.
I personally would.....Return the Coin!! Final Answer! I would check out the coin to see if it has been replaced . Oh wait, that's a futuristic security feature. Not yet to be designed at this time.
The coin looks OK. The OP has ruined the slab with his knife. [Self Edit ] The coin is safe as is. If he is not satisfied, sell it to a dealer and buy another.
If a slab had been opened and reglued they wouldnt reholder it. The coin would be treated as raw and have to go through grading. They are sealed, but once in a blue moon one will come out thats not really sealed or a very weak seal that you can pull open. Usually those get returned to get resealed but I have an empty NGC shell from a cheap coin that was just kind of interesting so I didnt send it back It's hard to tell from the pictures but yea glue on a slab could easily be from something else.
Awaiting directions from NGC on how to deal with this. I like the coin and believe it to be the original, so will keep it in my collection, but I am uncomfortable having a possibly compromised slab and not knowing what caused it. It's more about what my heirs might have to deal with.
It doesn't happen a lot, but if too much pressure is put on the shells it is possible for some of the plastic to extrude from the edge of the slab as it liquifies from the sonic welding.
Got this from NGC this morning: Thank you. This piece looks fine. It is in one of our older holders where those marks were made when the coin was being sonically sealed. You can send it for a re-holder. You'll need to upgrade your account to a paid membership in order to submit.
So there you have it. I hope this information may help others in the future. I will obviously be keeping said coin, so end of story and just wanted you to know.
Just keep their reply with the slab in case you decide to sell it later or until you join later with a paid membership. Jim
There’s nothing wrong with the coin or the slab. They often look like that… the older generation slabs.
