Should I take the auction sticker off my slabs?

I’ve purchased the vast majority of my ancient coins at auction but they always put a taped label with the lot number of the item right on the slab.

Should I be taking these off?
Or is there any reason to leave them on?

Like does it help validate provenance or authenticity by having been sold by a major auction house?

I know NGC doesn’t guantee authenticity, only the grade, but I’m curious if maybe HA experts also take a look at the coin and give it their thumbs up too? Or maybe they just accept NGCs opinion and don’t look at all.

Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

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If you store them in the NGC type vertical shipping boxes, those auction labels can be useful as inventory identifiers.

 

https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-grading/ngc-guarantee/

 

I think you misunderstood me. I know the NGC guarantee. I was asking about if I should remove the Heritage Auction tape label things.

 

Nah I don’t have any of those boxes. I just stack them up in my safe. Not too high though since I don’t want them all falling over.

As for organization I have tried to do it by date. Earliest to latest.

So for example I put my Domitian denarius on top, then Trajan (yeah I’m missing some), then Hadrian, then Antoninus Pius and etc.,

For my Greeks I do the same thing regardless of location. My Athenian owl Tetradrachm is on top, then my Cappadocian drachm from 93 BC then my Parthian drachm from 69 BC etc.,

There will probably be a day when that doesn’t work anymore but at this point in time I have less than 25 ancients total so it’s not bad at all.

I know some people have hundreds or thousands so I can totally see needing a really accurate and easy to access and identify organization system.

 

Sorry. My eyes are getting tired and missed the fact that you're talking about ancients, which they apparently don't guarantee authenticity on.

As for the stickers, I'd probably leave them, but that's just me.

 

That's great. You asked a question, I offered a suggestion. That doesn't mean you have to accept or implement the suggestion. Just food for thought.

 

Nope they just guarantee the grade itself.

I was just wondering if Heritage Auctions also has their experts take a look at coins in NGC slabs or if they just accept NGCs word on it

If they do look at them even in slabs the stickers could be like a proof that 2 different experts have given it the thumbs up rather than just NGC.

 

I know you did and thank you I appreciate it. I was just saying what I did in case maybe you had a reason for why doing it the way you said was a better way to do it. That’s all.

I’m still learning so what may seem obvious to veterans might be something I am totally oblivious too.

 

Personally, I leave all auction house stickers on my slabs.

 

Personally, I'd free those beautiful ancients from their horrid modern plastic tombs Keep the id tags and maybe the auction sticker separately for ID purposes...but for the love of all things ancient, free them!

 

Hehe thanks I appreciate the advice xD.

I actually wouldn’t mind having raw coins of some kinds but with the more expensive coins I like the slabs because I can let people hold them without worrying about them being dropped or getting oils or dirt or something on them.

One thing I’ve noticed is if you tell people who don’t hold coins often to hold a thin small coin by the edges they tend to drop it often.

Also they’re easy to stack!

I know a lot of people hate the slabs but for me they are the right thing.

I don’t even know how to open an NGC slab even though I’m sure there are videos and guides for doing so online. All that potential sharp plastic gives me chills. One slip up and I end up flinging sharp plastic into my expensive coin.

 

The lot numbers are put on the slabs for Heritage’s convenience, not yours. It lets them find the right item quickly and get it in a package for shipping.

If you want to search the Heritage archives for the sale of your item, you may want to leave their number on the slab. I keep all the purchase information separately in a spreadsheet, so I don’t need this kind of information stuck onto my coin. I immediately take off all dealer and auction stickers so my slabs are pristine.

Of course, if I want put a coin in an album or match the holders of similar coins, I also remove the slab. But that’s a whole ‘nother discussion.

 

It is usefull to know the auction they came from if you want to track them later. Personally, I have added that data to the OpenNumismat entry along with a photograph

 

Personally, I take off all auction house (along with any other) stickers at the same time I take off the slab itself.

 

I have never been a big can of stickers added but in this case atleast its not placed on the reverse side over the Hologram area as often happens and can damage it and reduce the eye appeal of the holder IMO.

 

agreed, Those stickers tend to ruin the hologram

 

My opinion, whether you keep the labels on them or not is a personal preference, it doesn't necessarily add provenance to the slab, Heritage has sold fake slabbed coins also and not caught it, it's an auction house, they do their best to not let counterfeits or modified coins slip by, but they do from time to time.

if you can use the numbers for organization and you find it useful, keep them on the slabs, if you don't that's fine too.

I will say this, each of those numbers can be searched on the HA site and it is in fact a purchase record of sorts, as well as pictures, so I'd suggest whether you keep them on the slabs or not, you at least catalog the number and what it was, in case of theft or loss, or if you wanted nice pictures when you go to sell them later, if you decided to sell them later. always good to have records of your collection in case something happens, and the more info the better.
the HA number is useful for a few reasons, where the slab number might not show the actual coin on a look up. They have a decent database of past auctions, so that number if searched will pop up what it is and the pictures from the auction, and all the info on it.

If you don't find that useful, that's fine too. it's your collection you can do whatever you like, even crack them out and carry them as pocket pieces.
but no, Heritage selling it in one of their auctions, don't make it any more or less legit, it's not a certification or opinion, they just sold it.

 

When we had coins robbed, some of them had images on Heritage aside from the ones that pops produced. In the end, the NYPD didn't care. But the stronger the record you have, the better your position when you face a crime. The transaction does at least prove a buyer and a seller.

 

It does cover the Hologram on the reverse too.