Raw coins are raw for a reason.

I think 95% of the Historical coins on eBay are raw for a reason. Enjoy the pictures of capped bust half dollars that would come back "genuine" from the plastic factory.

Rim Damage. Possible cleaning.



Cleaned.


Heavy Damage.


Graffiti.


Gouged.

 

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I've seen a lot of coins that I believe were cracked out of "GENUINE" holders on the bay

 

So you`re saying they sell coins on eBay with PMD and some of them were even once slabbed and cracked out to maximize revenue? This is absolutely preposterous, WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED OF THIS EARLIER???

 

Oh nooo... all these years... all that money wasted... oh, the humanity...

 

Coins weren't minted in holders. Neither did they circulate in them. Sometimes I scratch my head at the things people buy on eBay, and I scratch even harder when I see what they paid.

But I remember the thrill I had looking at those beat-up old half dollars when I was a kid, and I also remember the thrill of first owning one, and I'm reminded that there are a LOT of reasons to collect besides somebody else's opinion of eye appeal.

This hobby did just fine for centuries without TPGs. Are they important? Yes - I won't spend a large chunk of change without proper authentication. But I certainly don't need anybody else telling me whether I like a coin or not.

(BTW...That comment isn't directed at you, Detecto, but at a general collecting aesthetic.)

 

I agree John... and I would certainly buy (and enjoy) every one of the coins Detecto posted. The next slabbed coin I buy will be my first... and that ain't gonna happen.

 

I've bought plenty of slabs, but in every case I wanted the COIN. I once collected rare gold, and you've gotta be very VERY careful about authenticity in that market.

 

But you missed the holy grail on the second picture

 

Ya think?

 

I found this going through my collection today. I forgot I've had it, and I've had it so long that I THINK it came from a lot of silver coins I bought from a friend of mine a few years ago. He just handed me a bunch of silver coins, said figure out the melt value and we'll come up with a price. He didn't care what coins were in there, as long as he got the silver value or close to.

 

While I agree with Tim's warning on Ebay that many "raw" coins are really damaged coins, there still are a good many good coins unslabbed. I know, who would have thunk it, but some of us crazy people bought really nice coins BEFORE "it has to be slabbed to be worth anything" mantra came into being.

Sometimes I do worry, what with collectors mindsets nowadays, that when I am gone they might open up my US boxes and think they are all Chinese forgeries, since "no coins this nice exist outside of a slab".

Yes, educate yourself and learn to have a healthy skepticism about Ebay. However, never assume a nice coin MUST have a problem simply because the owner did not wish to pay the TPG for their opinion.

 

That's a nice coin. If only it could tell the history of its travels.

 

I think that raw coins are SOMETIMES raw, since they either were cracked out of details slabs, or were never submitted due to the value/expense ratio of submission. Sometimes, it just isn't worth it to submit a common coin, with minimal distinctive features, and spend the time and money to send to a grading service. That doesn't mean that one can't find some awesome coins that are raw--they just aren't economically worth the slab fee, and shipping or long turnaround for something that isn't highly commercial.

 

I agree MDude! I wanted to say this also.

Certainly raw coins can and will have problems. That isn't to say that there aren't plenty of problem-free, high grade raw coins.
I have plenty of examples of stunning coins that were purchased raw. I also have plenty of purchases that were raw for a reason. However, the reasons were not being hidden from me.
My bigger concern for higher dollar raw items is the possibility of being counterfeit.

A few examples of raw I purchased, that would slab, in my opinion. But like MDude mentioned, is it worth the fees?






Example of a raw beauty I bought. Described as "old cleaning". Which I agree. Still, it's a real looker and goes great in the type set album.



I also purchased this MS details quarter, with the graffiti on it. It shows the true beauty of an uncirculated seated quarter, without the large price tag. I was more than happy to buy it for the price.

 

Or some of us do not want to slab. If I stop being on CT, and my ebay account starts listing unslabbed XF/AU SL halves, bust halves, type coins, etc. you may wish to take a look.

I am pretty sure my BU capped bust dimes and many other coins you would consider "economical" to slab, but I simply won't.

 

Sounds good Chris, link me!

 

Not too awful hard to figure out. My wife sells womens clothes on it right now, but purchases are completely different.

 

Nothing wrong with being a raw collector. I was just commenting on why a lot of common coins are not slabbed. Raw collectors can often be some of the most discriminating and selective collectors.

 

I understand sir, just throwing that out there for others. I just wanted everyone to know there ARE still unslabbed coins out there that are very worthwhile, just because its not in a slab does not by definition means there is something wrong with it.

 

I saw that coin when it was first listed. Thankfully, the seller did not attempt to state that it was an 1838-O since it is simply an 1838 with post mint damage.