Is a scratch on the slab as bad as a scratch on the coin?

Obviously this is a question not regarding the value of the coin since a slab can be replaced but rather more of question for the visual appeal of something that you paid extra for and end up with a scratch that gets in the way of you seeing the coin. You know how scratches whether on your arm or your car or your coin seem to be a magnet to the eye.

In my thread about quality of coins from the mint I was told to consider graded coins. I looked at Heritage Auctions and saw a lot of AGE proof PR70 that seemed to have a lot of marks or dust. Can't tell if its on the surface or on the coin but some seem really bad. In your experience do the graders take the time to blow any dust out before sealing or are these things magnets for dust on the surface? Also do these slabs scratch real bad or real easy?

Take a look at this example on LARGE view

http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=131325&lotNo=23865

What is your opinion? Not looking to buy this just curious about

Specifically under Lady Liberty's left arm and near the "IN" portion of In God We Trust

This second example as scratches on the left side (your view) of the coin but it appears on the surface since it looks like the scratch carries the same way over the raised and lower surface on and near the rays of the sun

http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=131323&lotNo=28547#Photo

 

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No, a scratch on the slab is annoying but nothing like a scratch on the coin. You can always have the coin re-graded for damaged slab.

 

Scuffs and scratches within the plastic of slabs are incredibly common and even more common on coins that have gone through the auction cycle since they are repeatedly examined by folks who might not take the care with them that you would like. These can be bothersome, but many can be buffed out or otherwise minimized. It would be a coin-by-coin and slab-by-slab basis for purchase, with obviously the more difficult coin being allowed to have a more obvious slab imperfection. Please also note that many slabs are scuffed when obtained directly from the TPGs.

 

If slab scratches and scuffs are that annoying, have them re-holdered. Re-holder is 10 bucks at NGC and 12 at PCGS. No re-grading needed or required.

 

Scuffs are common, and nothing like a scratch on a coin. Well, at least for those of us who collect the coins inside the plastic -- and not the plastic itself.

 

You have to also ship it and insure it. Items that go over $1000 start to get expensive for insurance. You may be paying north of $30 just to get the coin to them. I would assume this is where having a coin show might come in handy for the hand off.

 

Don't you mean re-holdered? What if the coin is already a 70?

Chris

 

True, but some people are OCD and have more money than they really need.

Chris

 

You know that but your EYE doesn't. My point is that you buy the coin in part to admire it ...or display it ...or maybe just to take it out to dinner and a movie. A scratch on the surface gets in the way of that relationship. I think I would need to have it re-slabbed and hope the graders don't scratch it again. I thought one of the earlier threads I read said that one company now uses scratch free slabs.

 

That's NGC, and they are $5 extra.
http://www.ngccoin.com/services/services.aspx
I don't know how good they are, though.

 

I think I'm on the same page as everyone else. Scratch on slab = annoying, Scratch on coin = problem.

 

Is a scratch on the slab as bad as a scratch on the coin?


OH, NO!


The scratched slab is far worse!

Give me a scratched coin any day, but a perfect [MS-70] slab.





[you are kidding, of course?

 

I suppose it depends on what you are collecting. If you are a slab collector...a scratched slab might be way worse.

 

I scratch the heck out of my slabs, (with a hammer).

I bet you that one could experiment with various rubbing compounds and find something that would buff it out, for those who want cleaner slabs.

 

Maybe. I think it may make the scratch less severe or noticeable, but I think once there is a major scratch it will always be there. Probably just as easy to have it re-holdered as others have suggested (presuming you want to spend the money on it).

If it is a $1,000 coin, whats another $30 dollars (or whatever) to have it re-holdered? On a common coin under $100, then that may be a different story.

 

AND, no guarantees that the new slab wont have a scratch on it. I have received them directly from PCGS with scratches on the slabs and quite frankly, it's irritating.

BUT, its on the slab and not the coin.

Picture this, you show your pretty coins to your children or grandchildren. One of them accidently drops the slab or mishandles the slab and it gets a scratch.

All the effort to reslab the coin because it was scratched during the auction sale goes right out the window.

IMO, a scratch on a slab is no biggie and if folks are THAT obsessed with perfection that a naturally occurring and inevitable event happens to a slab then maybe they should reconsider exactly what it is they are looking for.

Of course, this doesn't even bring in to account that PR70DCAM First Strike Gold Eagles are darned near a dime a dozen. Of the 1,169 graded as First Strike $50 Gold Eagles by PCGS, 1,014 are PR70 DCAM!

In a nutshell, if you don't like either of those offered by Heritage then there's 1,012 others to choose from.

 

Sounds like there is a market for "slab tags", making sure the plastic stays pristine. Yeah, I know, it sounds far fetched, but they sell slab protectors. Because, you know, making sure the plastic is in pristine shape is of major importance. :/

 

I didn't go out looking for a PR70. I just expected it with a proof based on grades. If there were 1000 proof coins and 900 were PR70 then I would expect one also and want to return my coin to get it. If only 100 were Pr70 then the OCD wouldn't kick in and I would say ....oh well better luck next time. I would think for a $200 to 300 premium on top of the premium for a bullion that you woud get everyone of them to be a PR70 and melt those that don't make it and try again.

 

All your threads are about minor imperfections... why not collect bust halves then you don't need to worry about that...