I searched for a thread on this to no avail... if there is one please forgive me... I understand there was a need for viewing the edge, but I always thought PCGS slabs really had a great "focus" on the coin. With the circles around the coin they really accented it wonderfully, I loved them! Now with this new holder my eyes are immediately drawn to the three 'plastic pieces' which hold the coin in place, not the coin itself... What is everyone's take on these?
I personally own two coins in the "Edge View" holder and one in the older "gasket" holder. I personally like the gasket holders (I don't collect coins with edge lettering) Though the edge view are good for Pres. Dollars and Bust coins w/ edge lettering, I don't want one for my Lincoln cent. No thank you.
I think the key here is to buy coins that are so nice you don't even notice what kind of holder they're in.
I actually understand what you are saying. The new configuration makes the coin look like is resides inside a radioactive warning symbol. However, from a numismatic photographer perspective I love the new PCGS holder. With the old holders, it was very difficult to determine where the coin edge ended and the gasket started. With the new holder, it is very easy to correctly crop a coin photo. And once the coin is cropped at the edges of the coin, the remainder of the holder and prongs can be cropped out leaving only the part of the clear prong that covers the rim evident in the photograph. I think the PCGS prongs are less noticeable in photos than the white NGC prongs.
I see no problems. As long as the coin is safely encased and its graded correctly, it should be okay. The three triangular shapes looks like an outline of an angel. Or is that just me?