Purchasing commems- slab vs original mint capsule

Although I havent purchased any, I have really been digging commems lately and have been browsing around on ebay.

My question is, would you prefer to buy a commemorative in the original mint box with COA or go for a coin that has been third party graded? Does having a slabbed coin increase the value over mint capsule, since there is the fee of grading already absorbed by the seller or previous seller?

Thanks for reading!

 

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For modern commems (1982-present) I greatly prefer the coin raw in original government packaging.

 

It depends on if the original box is scarcer than a higher graded example or not. For common modern commems, I'd rather have them slabbed. That's the exception though. For everything else, original mint box.

 

Its always nice when you can get the coin without paying the TPG's.
IMO if just looking to put together a modern set some of the 69's are a great value. Most can be found for a steal after the flippers get them back and are dumping the 69's onto the market.

 

Thanks for posting I was thinking about creating this same thread but for the older fifty cent commem. I really have been looking at them I had one dealer tell me right now is a good time to get them as they are the cheapest they've been in about eight years. I'm torn I think the would look great in a dansco but most I feel would be bought online so the slab set is also appealing.

 

Just because you buy them in a slab doesn't mean they have to stay there.

 

I'd rather have modern Commems in the OGP as I just have a few that I like . But my older commems pre '82 I buy both slabbed and raw . The raw ones are from Harlan Berks as they grade them very conservatively there . Other's as long as I can see them in hand really don't care if they're raw or slabbed .

 

So true. I see a lit of them in old ngc fatty holders and pcgs rattlers. Thought that would be a fun way to collect them, but I'm not that disaplined.

 

More like 18 yrs...yes they are cheap and worthless now.IMO, best time to buy when nobody else does..

 

Depending on the grade. I wouldn't crack any PCGS MS65 commems.

 

Speaking of rare, check this out:



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Description from the site:

An original set of six Bay Bridge commems which include their original holder and mailing envelope. There is one MS63 coin, three MS64 coins, and two MS65 coins. All very well matched in look, as they should be considered they resided together for so many years. The NGC holders are the old, thick slab ones and they are consecutively numbered. All of the holograms are perfectly intact, although one of the Bay Bridge slabs has a small chip in it. The close-up image we've provided is of one of the MS64 coins.

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How's that for rare?

 

@Paul M

That's a nice set of the Bay Bridge commems. Are they yours?

Some of the Classic Commem half dollars used to come in cardboard holders that were responsible for tab toning on the coins because there was a small strip of cardboard across the middle of the holder to keep the coin in place. One in particular that I tried to find was the Oregon Trail - a P,D&S specimen - but they were always priced out of my reach.

Chris

 

That's cool to see how they were delivered from the mint. Indeed rare.

 

I prefer ogp from the mint. For the few I've had to replace from eBay, I bought certified, as most of the ogp on eBay has problems.

 

How bulky is the OGP? Are you pressed for space?

 

My opinion is unless you are playing the MS 70 game why buy them slabbed. First get on the Mint's list so you get sent the two annual commem. at the mint price. I have noticed that my local bullion and coin shop will get a lot of these in and as the inventory stacks up you can get a lot of the moderns at spot price plus a couple of bucks. They usually are in the gov. pack or in the mint capsule. Its a good way to get started and a chance to look at a lot of them. I've seen the set in an album before and they look good.

 

I have a complete collection of silver and clad post-1981 commemoratives, nearly all are in original government packaging. Two major exceptions are two 1994-D NGC-certified proof-like coins. On a few occasions, the US Mint sold coins with the option of having the coins delivered in capsules only. OGP fell out of favor for awhile and became mildly popular with some collectors and dealers who did not want the OGP or routinely threw it away.

 

Modern commems? OGP. No need to grade them as most translate to '67-69' and the occasional '70. Being a 'true' collector the grades should not matter. What should matter is what you think regarding the coin. Does it appeal to you? Do you like what you're seeing in hand?

 

Thanks for the responses everyone. My budget is not very high right now for coins, but I need to buy something, so i'll probably just attack the moderns.

I have a blue book, and it has a column for distribution. That's the actual distribution right, not just what was authorized? I think my buying strategy will be to obtain the lowest distribution first.

 

The last modern commemorative I bought was the Korean War commemorative. Bought it in 2013 on eBay and it included the OGP for about melt. Keep looking on eBay and you'll find good prices.