Slabbing Question/Poll; Value

Ben:
On common dates I believe that slabbing is immaterial, however better dates?

Who would buy an 09 S VDB that wasn't certified?
Unless I could get it for a steal, and really cheap, I'd pass.
there are too many fakes out there.

 

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Yea. They sold no Morgans this year, and 3 in 2006. Oh! the last 1899 uncertified was in 2003. So, yes, they have sold uncertified, but I would not use any of them as a price guide unless the government has a price freeze in effect.

 

Well, now you see just how out of the loop I am when it comes to certified/TPG Graded coins. 99% of the time I buy RAW because I'm familiar with what I'm purchasing. When you are familiar and understand the coins you're looking for it's no trouble at all ELIMINATE the middle man, so-to-speak.

Ben

 

Totally agree, Ben. It's rediculous to pay more than a coin is worth simply because it's encased and stamped with someone elses opinion on grade. If I wanted to collect numbers instead of coins, perhaps I'd have a differing view, but puchasing plastic and a supposed assurance in authenticity just isn't much fun for me either.
Guy~

 

I agree with the fact that slabbing modern coins serves absolutely no purpose whatsoever, a total waste of money. I can see where a slabbed better date or rare coin may increase the price of that particular coin because being slabbed by one of the top three TPGs creates a "comfort zone" for the buyer in a way so the buyer may be quicker to pay more for a coin slabbed by PCGS, NGC or ANACS because of the trusted name on the label, when it shouldn't affect the value of the coin at all. But, it happens. Would you pay $50 dollars more for an XF 1916-D Mercury Dime in a PCGS slab or $25 dollars less for that same coin raw, knowing that there are more 16-D Mercs out there than what was ever minted, same goes with any high dollar coin.
I voted no.

 

Generally not in case of the educated and knowledgable buyer.

I have seen it go both ways. On key dates, it certainly makes the AVERAGE buyer feel safer, especially on more commonly faked dates. This may not make the coin more valuable, however it is easier to sell/command "book " price.

Now look at State Quarters for example. You can buy a silverproof set for $20, and get all 5 silver proof quarters for that year, probably in a 69DCam, but to buy that same 5 quarters in a 69DCAM slab, you'll be paying triple that. Are the coins worth more? Nope, they just cost more.

Then , lets go way of the shyster. We have an X member who's MO is to buy slabbed coins and remove them, only to sell for 2-3X what they were worth slabbed. This is only the case with problem coins such as cleaned, damaged etc. On one ebay account buy it ANACS cleaned for $500, crack it out, sell on other account raw for $1200. Just happened last week. Same coin. Over and over and over, great way to make a buck in coins, huh?



EDIT: I might add that I am building a set of 66RD Lincolns, and yes, I have paid extra for the plastic. The TPG's will not allow you to enter a coin into a registry set unless it is slabbed, and 1 TPG only allows their slab ( guess who, the collectors friend )

 

Sometimes it pays to get it graded

IMO, grading a KEY coin makes it more valuable only because you know it's authentic. I recently purchased a set of coins from a reputable dealer and decided to submit a couple of the rarest coins for evaluation. I got them back, graded as I expected but I felt a lot better because they were authenticated as real, not fakes.

Who is going to fake a common date cent or nickle? Not likely. But a 1909 S or an 1877 Indian Head Cent? Quite possibly. I had to check and I now feel satisfied that I made a good buy. Many times that is what you are looking for. It's not always for an investment.

Modern coins, a MS70 or PF70 means you'll pay and get more $$ for it. But, how many of you can tell a 70 from a 69?

Bruce

 

It's not about me.

It's about the market as a whole - the hobby as a whole.

It is clear that TPGs add value to the market as a whole.

 

By extension, that logic would apply to any valuable coin, not just key dates.

 

Steal and/or really cheap = greater chance of phoniness IMHO

 

LOL, we just saw that. My $55 primo AU 09-S for starters.

 

yup, but for a low multiple of face it is still a nice filler.
I got a 1909 S, obvious fake for $1 once.

 

Being a person that frequents about 2 to 4 coin shows a month I'd have to say of course the value increases. Actually the value of the coin does not increase, however, the price for any coin in a slab is always higher than one not in a slab. At every coin show there are more and more slabbed coins due to the dealers knowing full well they can always ask for more money due to the coin being slabbed. I've seen coins worth only a few dollars sell for an rediculous price due to being in a slab. Many, many people have gone completely slab happy. This is why there are so many new slabbing, or grading, services poping up. Many collectors have boxes of slabbed coins and that is now their collection. All plastic.
Myself, I break out all slabbed coins. I have none and when I buy one I take the coin out and throw away the plastic. I refuse to pay a dealer more for a slabbed coin.

 

One of the most factual and truthful posts here...

 

I myself do not send coins to get slabbed but will always buy a slabbed coin if the price is right. At the shows I go to I have picked up many good deals on slabbed coins. Example say a Morgan in MS-64 that would sell for 35.00 (bid in gray sheet 40.00) Now I have a nice Morgan and got the slab for free. There are many out there like that.

Bottom line is I have coins that carry extra value because someone else paid for the slab. I also feel it is easier to sell a coin that has a company standing behind the Authenticity of the coin


Happy New Year

Rick

 

i will buy a coin based soley on the coin itself. it doesn't matter what the grading firm's opinion of it is (or if it is raw). either i like the coin, or i don't. sometimes, i will pay a premium, but only due to the attractiveness of the coin. one exception i will make that i have not had to encounter yet, is the purchasing of a genuine rarity. i would either purchase a rarity certified by pcgs, ngc, and possibly anacs (tho i don't know much of where they are heading...?). when i go hunting an 1893-s morgan, i believe i will want expert opinion regarding authenticity.

 

Regardless of my personal opinion of TPGs, your statement is true.

Beyond reasonable doubt, it is easier to sell top TPG coins. That is a characteristic of the market as a whole, and transcends the opinions of any one person.

 

I did last week, but I know what I'm doing and saw it in hand first. I paid what it is worth (i.e. what I can sell it for after being graded) minus my profit margin. It wasn't a steal, but I'll make a little on it.

 

Over time a graded coin is more valuable than a non-graded coin. Personally I would trust a grading service to tell me the grade of a coin over the person trying to sell it to me. In the red book page 22 it states very clearly that "Coins in high grades of condition that have been certified and encapsulated may be valued at multiples of similar coins that have not been so treated". The red book isn't the end all be all but it does serve as an important guide to many collectors, especially neo-phytes that are collecting for investment.