Who hates slabs more than me?

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Im not saying that I believe the slab is the "centerpiece", of course the coin is, I was just saying that slabs would add a variety to my collection, and that its a change from my raws..thats all.

 

I agree 100%.

 

And most of those people not willing to put the time and money into t because it is "just a hobby" also would not be willing to put more money into the coins than their competence level would let them feel comfortable with if it wasn't for the TPG's encouraging the to spend beyond their level. Without the slabs they would spend lesser amounts, and in many if not most cases be in at a level where slabs wouldn't be needed anyway.

 

Not even sure if that's a pro-slab or anti-slab statement.

If slabs didn't exist, then it would force people to educate themselves about how to grade coins themselves, and if they were unable or unwilling to do that, they'd get out of the hobby. Less people in the hobby, less demand, simple economics says that will bring the prices down. It would also get rids of SGS and others like them since they wouldn't have any suckers to sell to. I can learn to spot what I want and pay a lot less for it. Sounds like a win to me.

To be fair to the TPGs there are coins that are heavily faked and I do think there are cases where it's worth paying for expert authentication of coins. I just never believe somebody's grading opinion written on a chunk of plastic is worth paying a single cent for. I can figure out for myself whether I like a coin enough to pay what the seller's asking. If I don't like it or think it's overpriced, I'll just walk... I don't need somebody else's opinion on how good the coin is to decide that for myself, thank you.