Do you normally buy raw coins, or slabbed coins, or some mix of the two?

Just wondering, do you normally buy raw coins, or slabbed coins, or some mix of the two?

My buying is kind of bimodal. I'm having a LOT of fun doing old fashioned coin collecting... e.g. buying raw coins and filling albums with them. For coins $200 and under I prefer buying them raw. Of the coins that I buy, roughly 85%, in total numbers, fall in this under $200 range.

I'm also perfectly happy to buy slabbed coins in this under $200 range if they have "the look" I'm looking for, it's just that I'll crack them out afterwards to put them in my Dansco(s). Roughly 10% of the coins I've bought in the last year, by number, have been these sort.

Finally, for my more valuable purchases, essentially anything over $200, I do buy them slabbed (and keep them slabbed unless I think I can upgrade them). Roughly 5% of the coins, by total number, that I've bought in the last year are these sort. Even though they are only 5% of the coins by number that I've bought, they represent roughly 75% of the money that I've spent on coins in the last year.

So, how about you? Do you buy only raw coins, only slabbed coins, or some sort of mix?...

 

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I love both slabbed and raw. 'Raw' retains more character as it's a mystery at what the coin will truly grade as. Then again, I'm the grader. Fun stuff.

 

I'd say my coins are about 90% raw and 10% slabbed. I have bought $300 coins raw with no problem.

Lately, I've enjoyed building Danscos like you. Currently working on a 7070.

My favorite accomlishment was filling a Walking Liberty Half Dansco.

 

Definitely a mix. Probably 2/3rd of the coins I buy are raw. Coins I buy for my main sets I submit to NGC, so I prefer that they are already slabbed.

 

I buy almost exclusively raw coins.

 

I collect foriegn, primarily British and French. Most of my purchases are raw and under $300, the few coins I buy slabbed are removed to be displayed in Quadrum 2x2's.

 

I also have several 1960's Whitman foriegn albums completed, British, Australian, Panama and Mexico.

 

I buy both. My last few have been raw. The more expensive, the more likely I am to want it slabbed. Ironically though, my most expensive coins are not slabbed.

Edit: I truthfully only own less than 20 slabbed coins so I guess I'd have to say most of what I buy is raw (a majority of my collection is world coins)

 

I would say my more expensive coins are slabbed. my raw coins are probably in the 95% range and 5% are slabbed. If I want a cheap coin and it is in a slab I will keep it in the slab. I have cut coins out of the Canadian ICCS plastic thingys to put in airtites for a caps album. I have 1 toned Canadian ICCS in plastic I paid $190.00 I want slabbed in a PCGS slab still. Depends on the coin ? if it is way high money $300-750+ and I want to know that it's authentic then I will buy it slabbed. my collection is mostly world coins 90% and 10% U.S.

 

I would prefer to buy ALL raw. The problem is that most of the coins I'm interested in buying any more have been slabbed. They do, however, rapidly turn back into raw coins once they arrive at their new home.

 

Since all of my buying is done on line, I buy nothing but slabbed. I don't trust photos well enough as I've gotten unpleasant surprises even with certified coins.

 

My coins are slabbed with the exception of some moderns that stay in the original government packaging. It will make it easier for heirs to deal with them. If I was younger I would venture into raw coins more.

As @KSorbo said, buying raw coins on line is a risk.

 

I'll buy both. I like to look for good deals. I find a lot more deals on raw coins than I do for slabbed. The slabbed coins I like are the small white ANACS earlier versions and old fattie no line NGC. It feels to me that a lot of the old PCGS stuff has been picked over pretty well. But honestly I buy the coin and not the holder, but my attention is drawn first to the two I mentioned.

 

This is me just about 100 % to the letter. However I will say the over the last few years I been looking for more slabs coins. But slabs that were graded in the mid 80's to mid 90's . My collection is still 85% raw to 15% slabbed .

 

From what I have seen, your albums are really special. Each coin you pick is really pretty. You don't just fill holes. I really enjoy your way of collecting and your post.

 

I buy both and have no problem cracking to put coins in my Dansco albums. Right now I have over 2 full PCGS boxes of slabbed coins that will be cracked.

 

I have bought six coins this year. That's more than normal for me. Five in slabs and one ASE from the mint. I won't buy anything raw anymore unless I can check it out in person. That's not easy because I can only make one or two shows each year. The Fun Show in January is a must. The travel is costly but I just can't miss it.

 

Almost exclusively raw, but it's getting harder to find good stuff. It seems that many many people have been duped into thinking that you have to slab anything that is round. I find an awful lot of coins where the cost of the cert is a huge percentage (or sometimes more) of the value of the coin. I collect mostly Canadian.

 

Always raw, Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Worlds. I would only buy a slab if it's a coin I need and the price is right in line with it's value as Raw. And most likely I would crack it open.

 

Raw. Those very few that I have bought slabbed have been immediately cracked open.