I received a coin for my birthday in an edge-view slab - an 1832 Capped Bust half dollar in a PCGS edge view slab. It's graded VF35. As with many other edge-view slabs, I can't actually view the edge of the coin.... is there something I'm missing, or aren't you really supposed to be able to view the edge of the coin? I know some of these have edge lettering... Just curious.....
I can't see the edge though....that's my point. Is there something I'm supposed to do to be able to actually see the edge??? The slab material isn't really transparent enough to see through and there doesn't seem to be enough space to see in there to see the edge well.
PCGS didn't start using their version of the edge-view in the States until some time after NGC introduced theirs. Everyone has their "druthers" but I prefer the NGC version because the tabs are smaller which allows you to see more of the edge. I agree with you that the translucency of the PCGS tabs is not all that good for viewing the edge, and the 3-tab configuration makes them wider so less of the edge can be seen. Chris
Even though they let you see a portion of the edge the real reason for this type of holder is so the gasket does not hide the rim of the coin. Condition of the rim is a key element of grading most coins.
Thanks - that's helpful. I have another of these coins that is not certified and I can clearly see it's edge lettering - very interesting to see so I wanted to check if the new coin had this and what condition it might be in.
NGC uses the term Edge-View for their slabs and they do show the edge much better than the PCGS version (I'm not sure what they call theirs, the hobby just extened the term edge view to cover both companies.) The PCGS prongs, while translucent, do not really allow you to see through them so 1/2 of the edge is still obscured from view. The NGC prongs, while opaque, covered much less of the edge originally, maybe 1/10. The slab core is also beveled to provide a better viewing angle of the edge. Then in Sept of last year (2011) they changed the slab and narrowed the holding prongs by about 1/2 to allow even more of the edge to be seen.
