One area of coin collecting that I am struggling to make a decision on is whether to buy modern commemoratives in the original packages, or buy one that has been slabbed by NGC or PCGS. I have already decided that any old coins I buy will be slabbed, since I am too new to be able to grade them or detect cleaning. But I thought the moderns were a different story. Almost all of them get graded either 69 or 70. So I figured I would buy them in the original packaging with COA in case they ever commanded a premium for having the original packaging. I thought my opinion was reinforced when I saw the pictures on this website that actually lowered my impression of the third party graders -- at least for grading modern coins in bulk. (A young guy with a bunch of tattoos on his arms and a bucket of Twizzlers on the desk.) Now I'm starting to reconsider though. The mint packaging is all different sizes depending on the year, type of coin, whether it is a 2 coin set, etc. That is pretty inconvenient to store and open them to see the coins. So I'm thinking about buying slabbed commemoratives in a 69 grade instead. I would not buy them from the mint and have them slabbed, because I think that is too expensive for the dollars and half dollars. I would let a dealer buy them and get them graded in bulk at a lower rate. And then I would buy them on ebay already slabbed. Thoughts? Has anyone converted from one method to the other? My only doubt is that maybe 100 years from now some guy will walk into a coin shop and the owner will say, "Wow! You actually have the original mint packaging! Back in the day everyone had their coins slabbed and threw this stuff away." Not that I'll be around to worry about it, but it is always the things that are not supposed to be collectible that end up being sought after the most.
I buy them in original packaging. The coins get stored in their capsules in safe deposit boxes while the packaging gets stacked and placed into a closet.
I have gone back and forth in my short time collecting, but a LOT of time pondering it. I don't think there's a right answer, so gather the facts and choose what works for you. For starters, 69s are worth about OGP, so I typically look for 70s first. But maybe you just like slabs, for ease of resale or whatever. Next, I've seen strange grading practices with 70s which are far from perfect, so that's no guarantee. Next, what's your tolerance to buy multiples from the mint and keep just the best ones? What about sending them in to be graded yourself whenever in the future? And so on. I dislike that OGP airtites are not standard size, so I can't display them in Airtite albums, and a whole buncha OGP is cumbersome. So I do buy real airtites and move the coins into those, leaving ALL of the OGP in the closet. I've ended up STILL doing it both ways...so other comments will be read!
I go mint packaging and slab as well. The mint boxes won't fit in the safe. For years I just threw the boxes away, now I have a closet full and might list them on eBay or something. Who would of thought that people buy empty mint boxes?
When I bought some graded 70s, getting the OGP was definitely a positive incentive to me. Long ago I used to toss the glossy paper covers from new hardcover books. I later regretted that.
My preference has always been for original packaging. I have never liked the whole slab marketing gimmick since it began in 1986. Other opinions may differ, but I like the quality of US Mint packaging.
Find somewhere other than eBay to sell the empty packaging any more. No longer allowed to be listed except with the coin or coins.
For the few I had to replace, I bought slabs. Even though they’re mostly 69’s, an ogp from eBay could well be lower than 69 (the problem coin). Most I’ve purchased are from the mint and remain in their ogp.
How many modern commemoratives do you think have been submitted for grading, came back sub-70 and then were cracked out and re-packed in the OGP? Just my opinion, but I think upwards of 50% plus of those on eBay have been through this process. So, if you're buying OGP's on eBay or some other place where you can't see the coin first hand, there's a good chance that you're buying a known 69 or lower grade.
Here's something to consider, something that has happened within my lifetime and is very similar to the question asked. The boxed Proof Sets sold by the mint in the 1950's. You can buy the individual coins, raw examples, fairly cheaply. Depending on grade of course. But in original packaging, those things have a set price and rarely sell for less - regardless of what the grades of the individual coins are. Why ? Because there aren't that many around any more. Same thing for the Mint Sets of the same time period. Originality matters ! Here's another example - a few coins I bought some years ago. 1911 Proofs, I bought the whole set. Ten coins in all. Now that's really nothing too exceptional even though the coins were all gorgeous. Now add this to the mix - Those 10 coins came in the original packaging, as a set. The only one I've ever seen
I actually store the boxes separately since i had same issue as you. As for who buys empty boxes before it used to be people who would present the items as gifts or collectors who had damages in packaging and want their items to be in near mint state. But these days it is mainly those who sell counterfeits (just check the $$ for some mint packaging for the heavily counterfeited coins).
