VOTE: COFFIN FREEDOM or LET THEM LAY ON THE SLAB

Thank you kindly, Mr 'Al'

 

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Ksorbo, I think you make some valid points if they work for your personal objectives. These are my thoughts.

If you want to buy coins on eBay, either buy from real dealers who sell there or buy slabbed coins. I think your observations on slabs giving a certain level of authenticity comfort are reasonable. I think that other buyers on eBay would feel the same as you and keeping them slabbed so they are more liquid if you are actively selling them as part of your collecting process is reasonable. My personal opinion nonetheless is to stay away from eBay for ancient coins.

As for selling when you die, please don't expect your family to sell them on eBay unless they completely understand ancients, your collection and how to sell on eBay. I think that is a recipe for disaster and stress for them!

Instead, leave a set of instructions WITH your coins on what to do. List dealers you would trust to sell them for you in their auctions (CNG, Berk, Forvm, etc) or buy the collection outright. If you are close to joining the Gods in Valhalla (I don't know your age), have that conversation with the dealer now so they will be expecting a call from your family and maybe even have the dealer appraise it in advance. Make it easy for everyone. I guarantee you that if you don't do this they will likely end up in a garage sale or to sold some fraud.

If you leave your coins in slabs, my advice is to give you family Heritage's contact information and consign them there. Heritage is making a market for slabbed ancients unlike any other ancient dealer (except eBay and I hope you've decided you're not doing that to your family) and you will probably find your best audience for slabbed coins there.

Now in the meantime, free your coins from those slabs, keep the slab tickets as proof that they were graded and enjoy them while your'e still kicking!

 

That was all very reasonable advice @Carthago

 

This is good advice but only for some. Collectors like me need to be realistic as to which dealers might handle their collections. I have purchased 100+ coins from CNG (or Victor England when he worked under his own name) but they should have no interest in my entire collection. They might be expected to list 10-20% of my coins as individual lots but that would leave thousands to be lumped into group lots to be ignored by their high end customers (TIF and higher). I need to find dealers who specialize in coins in the $100 bracket rather than in the $1000 (or more) region. My problem is too many of these dealers are older than I am and may not be in the business when they are needed. If I died today, the names on my current list might help but I really need to develop a rapport with some 40 something sellers who will be alive if I need them in a future years. The younger ones I know specialize in $1000 coins. I know the $50 coins will be unwanted by most but it is hard to realize the minimum value level is rising a lot faster than the demand and no one wants huge numbers of coins that will sell for $100. When writing out instructions for the family, specify which ones go to the auctions and which to the dealers who do local shows. A better answer might be to have a friend in the hobby willing to be disbursor of your collection. We all wish we had an interested grandchild to make all this easy. It rarely works that way.

 

Can I just point out that if you buy a slabbed coin from eBay, make sure that it has been slabbed by a reputable company.

TIF has it summed up about right on her website.

http://www.tifcollection.com/#!certified-ancient-coin-acceptance-corp/c18te

 

This is great stuff, thank you all!

 

That's exactly the position I'm in. My collection is a long ways from major auction house category, although Lord willing I have a lot more years to enjoy the hobby, so maybe that will be an option someday

 

I hope you and all the others here have a lot more years to enjoy the hobby! Gives me more years to learn from you all to enjoy it!

 

I did exactly the same thing. I posted my album on ancients.in** and then printed off a copy. I wrote estimated values on each and have instructions on whom to sell them thru. Having almost entered "Valhalla" unexpectedly a few months ago, I can tell you I felt better knowing all this was laid out for my wife.

As far as slabs............it is one of many reasons I don't collect modern coins. I did however buy a slabbed 1861 Double Eagle AU 55 thru Heritage. I chose this grade specifically because it had been handled in its lifetime and its grade was not going to change dramatically sitting on an Abafil coin tray. Its gold (a rather immutable metal) and it can always be re-slabbed. Removing it from it's slab does not erase it's provenance (as mentioned by others.) The slab numbers are recorded and the photos readily identify it as the same coin.

I love going to museums but I hate not being able to touch the objects. I buy ancient coins and such, precisely so I can touch history. I don't want to stand there with my nose pressed up against a slab. It may as well be behind a glass case at that point.

 

My sentiments! I love that my coins have been touched, circulated, transacted as they were originally intended.