I've noticed that some slabs are advertised by sellers as a sample - they even say "Sample" on the inset. What does that mean? I've also seen coins with with a details grade that indicate the coin has been "smoothed" - how do you smooth a coin?
A lot of sample slabs have been given out over the years as gifts by the grading services. Smoothed? Is that anything like "thumbed"? Chris
It's pretty much just what it says. Imagine, a coin has a bad mark or several smaller ones. If you know what you are doing you can use tools to smooth those marks over and make them disappear to the eyes of the average collector and even some more experienced collectors.
When the TPG's change the slab design, they will pass out samples as advertisement. Usually a low dollar coin inside. I know as of the last Long Beach show PCGS is passing out Secure Plus Slabs with shield cents in them. And as some have posted, lots of people collect samples. http://sampleslabs.com/
Many sample slabs are common, some are quite rare. I have heard rumors of a Sample Regency slab. I would think if it does ever surface it could be a four figure Sample. Sample slabs of some of the lesser companies are also rather rare. PCGS's first sample rattle slab is a very difficult one to find. The second rattler one is easy. Sure but the coin is of no importance here. And I but slabs all the time without caring what the coin looks like. But them I'm kind of weird.
So get on your danged horse and finish things Conder, The world awaits....... [Easy for me to say. Not a published work to my credit]
There once was a time when PCGS gave out Silver Eagles simply for attending the PCGS Registry Luncheon at major coin shows. Then of course, there was the time that s silver Eagle was given for joining the PCGS Collectors Club: By the tome I'd gotten into asking for Sample Slabs at the major shows, they were all funky coins like nickels and what not.
