I know third party grading services have been slabbing coins for about 25-30 years or so. I have a few morgan dollars that were graded/slabbed in a plastic flip by ANACS in 1985. These coins are encased in a plastic envelope and graded by ANACS, but they appear to have been issued or sold by California Numismatic Investments CNI. My question for those that were collecting 30 years ago, or otherwise might know: Is this an early ANACs slab, or was this a joint venture by ANACs in conjunction with CNI to market these morgans? The price is high even by today's standards. Any other photos or experiences with first generations slabs? PCGS (OGH) Old Green Holders etc? Anyone remember back before TPG's slabbed coins?
Sure ! http://www.cointalk.com/t41680/ On your coin notice that the id # is the same. The original certificate arrived with the coin in a flip, paper clipped to the photocertificate. The coin company, just put it into a different flip, probably as they would file in different drawer. Jim
I have seen a couple of these in my local B&M. I didn't think to ask any questions, probably since the Morgans inside did not catch my eye.
Believe me, I look at any of those I see. They were graded conservatively. They can cause confusion to a buyer who does not know how to grade themselves, as they had 2 grades, obverse and reverse. This coin is a 63/63, so that is OK, but how to value a coin that is 63/60. or 60/63? An upgrade of this into a PCGS or NGC holder would probably not be worth the fee, but if you find some keys/semi-keys, it is a possibilities. Race, I noticed that the flip they used appears heat sealed, so they could sell and accept return if unopened. The original flip from ANACS was not heat sealed. Jim
I remember sending in coins to ANACS to get graded back then. The coin was returned in a flip with a cardstock notice printed on it that the flip was unsuitable for long term storage. ACE Mike
The piece pictured by the OP is a sixth generation ANACS certificate (used from late 1983 to late 1985. Earliest seen 10/04/83, latest 12/12/85) put in an aftermarket holder by the company selling it. ANACS was the first of the third party authentications services. It was founded in 1970 (as ANAAT, American Numismatic Association Authentication Trust.) it went active April 2nd 1972. In the beginning the services were not grading services, they were authentication services guaranteeing that the coins were genuine. grading was still up to the owners. Grading did not enter the picture until late 1978. ANACS was the second company to do grading beginning in January 1979 as a six month experiment that never ended.