How to respect a slabbed ancient coin

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LOL! I was a dedicated slab fan when I came into the forum. Many of my coins are in slabs and I plan to leave most of them that way . I'm planning to set some of them free so that I can relocate them to 2x2 Leuchtturn capsules which is my newest favorite presentation method.

Seriously though, ancient coin collectors need to put down the slab or no slab boxing gloves and close ranks to face our common enemy. The threat of having our hobby outlawed is a real danger. We need to recruit new members to our ranks and support them—the more of us, the stronger we are. Support Wayne Sayles and Mike Moskowitz of the Ancient Coin Collectors Guild.

 

I agree with Deacon Ray in that slabs are not a big threat to the coins I collect. The added cost may be comforting who want to buy coins from sellers who know nothing but open the hobby to a new group of people who don't want to know more than fits on the label. If these people help keep the hobby legal, great. I rarely see a coin I want in a slab. People who send large quantities in for slabbing have so far avoided coins I find in 'can't live without' status. If they do, I have a vice that works like a hammer with greater finesse.

Like what? My NNC coin is an example of why we need slabs but not jokers whose claim to 'expertization' is owning a coffin sealing machine. All who read this and looked at my NNC coin that saw the MS-65 and that's all are exactly why we need NGC (currently the only slabs I would respect to any degree). If I were to send off a coin of mine with a check for $50 I believe I would be entitled to a second or two of the time of someone who knows more than I do about the coins. Guarantee or not, I'd like to think they would evaluate the coin for authenticity and mark the label with a correct ID.

The seller from whom I bought my slab had three 'like that' but was not selling them as what they were. I doubt he even looked at the coin since all that matters is that label that says MS-65. I was outbid on the other two by people that thought they were nicer than I did or thought that evidence that the slabbers make errors is a collectible specialty in itself.

 

So the fact that the coin reads Constantius but the label reads Constantine does not bother you at all?

 

I'm not an ancients guy; reading ancients posts is a guilty pleasure. I agree with Deacon Ray that slabs are not the hobby's enemy . . . and if they are, they are far, far down the list. I assume that when I break down and buy my first ancient, it will be in an NGC slab because I will admittedly know nothing and won't know enough to avoid the wrong coin. But when the right ancient coin "speaks to me" I will have to have it . . . the slab will just be my newbie safety net.

 

mistake

 

I like the convenience of slabbed coins when showing them to people, but I also like to handle my coins, that's why I use the ones that can be opened and reclosed. Like the Augustus comet denarius in my avatar - how can you hold a coin like that and keep it sealed away? These aren't like modern coins cranked out by machine with tolerances measures in milligrams and thousands of an inch, these were struck by men sweating over a fire wielding a hammer and tongs. Each coin has it's own unique topography that tells a story and no two coins are alike. That's part of what makes ancients so fun!

 

That is how ya do it Sal

 

@Sallent nice coin! I am glad you gave the holder it's proper respect! I like the rose design. I need one for my collection.
You can see my feelings on this shirt designed by @TIF of Coin Talkopia (a small free trade island off the south coast of Antarctica I think). This pic was from a coin show youth auction. The YN bought a "free" coin grading certificate in our club's auction. When he found the grading was free, but he had to pay postage for the coins return, he gave the certificate back. I traded him an anonymous RR As. I think he was pleased with the trade.

 

Welcome to the Ancients Forum, Oldrdawg! I realize that you've contributed before but welcome anyway!

My first ancients purchases after my boxed Royal Mint collection of Holy Land Coins were NGC encapsulated Alexander Jannaeus—Star and Anchor—"Widow's Mites" I found that the ones that I assembled myself in the flips are more effective than the slabbed ones when using them in my charity work and telling the story.

Please let me add that I absolutely and totally respect the abilities and expertise of Mr. Vagi. Though NGC does not authenticate ancient coins—I consider Mr. Vagi's certification as good as a guarantee. I've submitted ancient coins to NGC and they've spotted problems that I was not aware of on many of my submissions such as tooling, smoothing, repatination, and Authenticity cannot be verified. The bottom line is that I trust them. I don't keep problem coins. I don't sell them or give them away either. To be honest, many of them go into Baltimore Harbor.

 

LOL! Nice shirt but I'm more impressed by your efforts to educate youth in the awesome hobby of collecting ancients. My hats off to you sir!

 

You are right, @Deacon Ray!! It is on my 'to do' list to contact ACCG and see what I can do (besides giving money) to help protect against the outlaw of the hobby of collecting ancient coins and other artifacts. I notice a couple of recent agency actions that seem to be decidedly not in favor of ancient artifact (including coin) collectors.

 

I just fainted.

Just fainted again.

 

Thank you for your comments, LaCointessa! I was a bit melodramatic in my comment. I've only thrown one coin into the Harbor. It was one that NGC sent back to me saying the authenticity could not be verified. I took that to mean it was fake. The experience was a blessing in disguise in that it changed the way I buy coins. I only purchase from respected dealers now. Some of those awesome and highly respected dealers are regular contributors to this forum!

 

If it makes you feel better, English is my first language and I still have trouble with it .

 

Sorry I was late to this discussion. Business got in the way ... unfortunately. My feelings about slabbed ancient coins are obviously well known so I won't get into that. Just want to thank @Sallent for freeing this sad little coin which did nothing to deserve its imprisonment.