Ever worry about a slab that looks tampered with? Jefferson grading question..

I usually buy NGC slabbed stuff. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I always look them over real well if the actual coin can't be verified by the picture they have on their website. I always worry about tampered with slabs.

Now I know this is out there but I bought a 1945-P MS-66 war nickel for my US type set. The pics weren't the best. The guy said there was some light sanding/buffing marks on the back of the slab. Which, I could see and didn't care because I planned on breaking this one out for the album and saving the label. I normally want problem free slabs. (Have had problems in the past with beat up slabs.) I figured, I may as well take the beat up slab out of circulation and use the nice coin inside for the album.

Anyway, I got it. No picture in NGC's database but the serial # matched the coin and grade. On the slab, there's usually just one or two points that they seal on the edge. On this one, both upper right corners have that rough white stuff and the center, as well as the bottom left corner and the center of the bottom. I also wonder if the "buffing" it got on the back which took off some of the hologram, wasn't to get a glue spot/fingerprint off?? I suppose it could have been a dealer sticker. Anybody know if NGC has a standardized sealing method??

It's definitely a high grade nickel in the slab. But there's a very fine, 1.5 mm scratch in the field right behind Jefferson's head. Could it possibly get a MS-66 with a mark like that in the field? I was not expecting it and you could not tell in the picture. No returns accepted by the seller. I decided to risk it. I have not left feedback over this issue, or contacted the seller yet. Also have not cracked it out yet.

It seems like something that could have been so simple. I looked at war nickels for a long time trying to pick out a problem free one. I didn't want to take one out of my BU set.
I'm going to use it. I just wanted to see what you guys thought. Am I blowing this out of proportion?

 

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Anybody know if NGC has a standardized sealing method??

Plastic slabs are uniform in nature, 2 clam shell halves that fit together and are supposed to be sonically sealed around the entire circumference. I have no idea where and how you came up with only a couple of areas where the plastic is fused, this makes no sense. There are times where a possible error in the sealing might occur, but it just doesn't normally happen.

You also mention a 1.5 mm scratch behind Jefferson's head...make sure this is a scratch (incused) and not a die scratch (raised) and yes, I have seen coins with minute scratches that somehow passed the mustard.

 

Is the coin a solid 66?

If there is a doubt in your mind, you should probably send it back, as it is my experience that these doubts rarely go away over time.

 

Yes, it affects the slab all the way around, but only where the 2 sides are in direct contact. Such things as dirt, grease, large gouges, warps, etc. will definitely affect the end result Also, it is very common to use ultrasonics to spot weld metals today - difference being that it does not use electricity not generate the quantity of heat. The metals are actually fused together without being melted.

 

And if there is too much pressure on the slab when the welding occurs it is possible for some of the plastic to extrude out as a fin along the seam.

Some people mistake this fin for being "glue that squeezed out when they glued it back together."

 

From everything you posted, I doubt seriously that the holder has been tampered with. Since it sounds as if you don't like the coin that much and the seller doesn't accept returns, why not ask for permission to return it - it can't hurt to ask.

 

I check slabs also and have never encountered an issue. Holograms do come off all the time though, and since we're talking about a $50 coin right? Don't worry.

Sure a tiny scratch could still get an MS66 grade and yes, you are likely worrying yourself needlessly.

 

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I talked to the seller a bit and I trust him. I got home late tonight and removed it from the slab, which as usual, was not an easy task without destroying it. (Its in my U.S. type set IS album now.)

I knew they sonically sealed the slabs but never knew why the "fins" would come out along the seams like glue occasionally. Well described. This seems to happen in various ways. Every slab seems different.

I believe it is a true 66. Blazing luster. Minimal marks. I really don't have any regrets.