Coin slabs....how would you rate this one?

Thanks for the link. I will get both types (BCW and Coin World) and compare side-by-side for quality and put some fresh uncirculated coins of various metal composoition in them then store for a few years and recheck to see if the inserts for each has affected any of the coins since I can't find product comparisons like this online.

 

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Lots of questions and counter claims. This is my experience in using the BCW holders, your experiences may differ. See your dealer for details, offer not available in all states, etc.....................

I have been using the BCW shell and the CoinWorld insert for about 7-8 years or so. I buy them from Valley Coin > http://www.valleycoin.com/product_info.php?cPath=9_406_664&products_id=22607

For those easily confused. BCW makes the holder shell I use and Coin World makes the insert I use. Coin World inserts are available in several colors, I use white only. Valley Coin sells me both. I do not use the Coin World shell as it is larger than the BCW shell and will not fit the three ring binder pages I use. Nor do I use the foam BCW insert.

Here is a pic of one such page with BCW holders inserted on a black background:


I did not select this method because it was the cheapest available. I chose this because of the size of the shell, and the ability to create my own labels, without having to figure out printing someone else's label concept with my laser printer. And the ease of storage while being convenient to share among my CWT collector friends.

Again, Yes, they can be closed and reopened easily.

The label show in my post above in not an Avery label, thus does not have an Avery label number. I use a 110 lb. white cardstock, available from any office supply store. I created a file in Power Point, a correct size text box to fit the label depression in the insert, used a fill pattern for the background, and the text I desired.

Hopefully I have covered it all.

 

Great post PennyGuy! Thanks you. One thing I would like to know is why don't you use the black inserts? Is it purely aesthetic taste or another reason (like the black shows up dust easily or some other reason)? I would think that the black looks far-and-away the best behind a shiny silver or gold coin but maybe I'm missing something.

 

Thanks missing link. You guessed it, purely personal taste. Some of the CWT's are quite worn and I just like the contrast with white.

 

The fact that the Coin World inserts will fit snugly into the BCW slabs/shells may actually be the way to go as PennyGuy is doing. The BCW slabs can be purchased for a significantly lower price (if you buy as a wholesaler) than the Coin World slabs.

I have noticed though that the manufacturer is now only selling the green inserts (at least for silver Eagles)...I don't understand why they no longer sell the white and black.

 

Why try to slab it all ? let the recipients handle it since it is lower end stuff.

 

Lower end or inexpensive doesn't mean junk, garbage coins at all and doesn't mean that I want to encourage bad numismatic habits. On the contrary, I am looking to encourage good habits with the young collectors. It's actually silly, in my view, to suggest that just because a coin is less expensive / less valuable that it should be treated as if it were worthless. I am looking to put into these holders uncirculated or AU coins such as Peace, Eisenhower, S.B. Anthony, and Presidential dollars and Kennedy half dollars just to name a few examples that I have ready to insert and create labels for.

I'm not of the mindset to give coins (as gifts to young people as a way to encourage an enthusiasm for the hobby) that are very worn or of little value because I also want the young potential collectors to understand that coin collecting is more than just accumulating a pile of featureless, useless, round metal things. The potential value is just as exciting in my belief. I will encourage the young collectors to not only learn about the history behind the coins, but I will give them a price guide so they can get a sense of the tangible value that coin collecting can have. Let them dream a little...you know what I mean?

 

I am using Lighthouse slabs for coins that I don't send in for grading:
http://www.lighthouse.us/epages/lig...th=/Shops/leuchtturm_us/Categories/US/US_2390

I have also talked to a Lighthouse representative at my last coin show and they said those holders are designed for about 10yrs of storage. It matches with what they're saying on their web site:

Capsules and inserts are chemically inert and free from PVC, acids, or chemical softeners. EVERSLAB holders are meant to provide a secure and durable "semi-permanent" closure.

Note: a template for labeling cards can be downloaded on their web site

 

@ GD, The BCW slabs are more than 40% less than the Amos standard slabs when you buy 25-499 slabs (and granted you have a Fed tax ID for resale) - http://www.bcwdirect.com/cat/coin-supplies/coin-slabs/coin-stamp-display-slab-holder..... 40+% is a pretty significant savings I would argue. And if you are buying the Coin World Premiere slabs, your savings would be more than 110% if you purchased the BCW slabs. If there isn't any meaningful, significant difference in quality of the slabs (not the inserts...you've made a good case for the ones Amos sells), why not save more than 40% on supplies like that?

 

@ micbraun, thanks for the info. Are any of these manufacturer's slabs (BCW, Amos, Lighthouse) less or more clear and transparent than the others over time? Many plastics are not really that good at remaining crystal clear over several years. Are the plastics used in each manufacturer's slabs exactly the same kind of plastic?

 

@ GD, I spoke with a sales person from Amos today and the slabs with inserts you suggest to buy are no longer being manufactured. Whatever limited stock remains will be sold and that's it. So, the only other option is the more expensive Coin World slabs with inserts if you want to go with Amos.

I can get the Coin World inserts for 20 cents a piece, coupled with the BCW slabs...this may be the way to save some money if buying large quantities. It's the way PennyGuy has been doing it for 7 to 8 years.

The problem is that the Coin World inserts at 20 cents each only come in the green color as far as I can tell.

 

???

 

@missinglink: Sorry, I can't tell what exact material they're made of. I bought a couple of Everslab boxes about a year ago and they look like a quality product to me. Before I used some cheap no-name holders & capsules and learnt my lesson

 

Something else to possibly consider is the size. I think coinworld premier slabs spec out the same as PCGS and NGC so they fit together and box up nicely. Basically a more uniform look that I know some collectors prefer to display that way. If you do get them interested in collecting they may want it to match some graded slabs they buy later. Just a thought.