I have a question about NGC labels, in particular for graded American Silver Eagles, and specifically the 2006 W's. I have noticed that the designation "early releases" appears on both brown and blue labeled NGC-graded silver eagles. The blue labeled coins tend to bring more in auctions. Can someone please tell me the difference? Which early release eagles get the brown label as opposed to the blue label?
It would pretty easy to send an email to NGC and ask them. While you're at it, ask them what the black label is for too.
Here's an article that may answer some questions. BTW, I believe "brown label" is the normal color for most ordinary NGC slabs, right? http://reviews.ebay.com/20th-Anniversary-American-Eagle-Tips_W0QQugidZ10000000002972341
Why would someone pay for a label? Is that review alluding that the bullion from the 20th anniversary set is supposed to be "better" (thus the "limited" blue label) than the ones issued singly from the mint? I'm generally pro-ish TPG's...but those gimmicks intended to artificially inflate a coins/bullion pieces "value" can turn a person's stomach...and turn that same person into a former customer.
I'm convinced that the major players in Numismatics think that there are a lot of gullible people with lots of money who swallow every new creation, and the good ole boys club intends on taking full advantage of the situation while the pickin is still easy.
Much appreciation to all who responded to my question. Your comments were very helpful! I know that logic says to buy the coin not the slab; however, when black labeled and blue labeled NGC-graded eagles, signiifying their origin is only from the 20'th Anniversary Sets, are selling for MUCH greater prices than those with regular brown labels, it is difficult to ignore such a difference when purchasing. I also have to consider that PCGS-graded eagles, with the phrase "20th Anniversary" on the label, sell for MUCH greater prices as well. You know, sometimes I wish TPG Services DIDN'T EXIST; but in the words of Tony Soprano, "Whatcha gonna do?!"
I do not believe that a 1st strike or an early release has any additional value. they are all the same coin in different packaging. I do however see the differences between the type ,number of sets produced in the 2006 w. this set up a new frenzy for the anniversary ASE.
Well, what I'm getting from most of you is that irregardless of the price differences for various label designations assigned to graded, certified American Gold and Silver Eagles (and perhaps et al) by TPGs such as NGC and PCGS as well as a few others like ICG and ANACS, IT IS BEST TO BUY THE HIGHEST GRADED COIN AT ITS LOWEST PRICE (eg. 2006 W NGC or PCGS MS69 "plain labels with coin and grade", w/o further label designations such as "Early Releases", "20'th Anniversary", "Black Label", "Blue Label" or "First Strike" even though such labeling, while priced higher today, seems to have a better chance for appreciation in the future. It can be quite confusing to some people, even after sellers proclaim that 1) all NGC Black-Labeled slabs certify and depict ONLY coins from the 3-coin Silver Eagle 20'th Anniversary Sets; 2) NGC Blue-Labeled slabs certify and depict a) Coins from the 2-coin Gold and Silver eagle 20'th Anniversary Sets, or b) designate that the coin is an "Early Release" that is to say among the first 50 thousand released, and on and on and on!!! PCGS also labels coins as "First Strikes" with or without "20'th Anniversary designations, and dealers almost always require a significant premium for those coins with "20'th Century" clearly shown next to the coin and grade on the label. While I am primarily a collector, I certainly hope to see my collection appreciate, and therefore I can sometimes justify purchasing a "hot" label designation on a slabbed coin graded MS or PR 69 or 70 for a few dollars more than the same graded slab by the same company at a cheaper price. On ebay, I seldom will pay more than 20% higher for the designation, but even then I must admit I'm still buying the slab and not just the coin! Do I need a confessional? I think not. Especially since I've turned around and sold those higher priced ones for more than I paid and usually make a greater percent of profit on them than on the same grade lesser price coins I bought and resold! So there you go. Sometimes it IS profitable to buy the slabs. I just can't argue with greater profits and the added versatility of designations in my personal collection! To me, that's no different than people who pay more for different VAMS, large and small dates, types one and two, or the various mistakes on modern dollar coins. To each his own. Good luck to everyone with their hobbies!!
I'm new around here, but from what I have read, you're going to have a pretty difficult time convincing people that that a paper label on a slab is the same (or in any way similar) as true, time honored varieties. I would love to hear someone describe the actual, physical difference (which would indicate the price difference) between the 2006 W Unc. ASE bullion that a customer bought singly from the mint and the EXACT SAME bullion in the "20th Anniversary" sets. I'm more than aware this was done, and will continue to be done by NGC because they have to come up with more "gimmicks" (that's all these different lables are) due to their (unholy) partnership with the Coin Vault. I can just hear Robert Chambers to Mark Salzberg in one of their "label meetings": "Relax man. There's enough juice here to keep us all fat and giggly."
Heres the troublesome thing. I think that NGC got sued because they were labeling things "first strike" That was bogus...since it did not fit with the accepted definition of the concept. They switched from the point of either settling or losing the suit to labeling coins "early strikes" That system indicates a date range that the coins were struck it does not indicate how early in a dies life the coin was struck, so an early release can be struck by a late state die and still be called early release. The whole concept is just a way, in this case to create a value on a coin that is inflated. Early release is a useless term but people buy them thinking that it is a big deal. So the color of the label probably means even less. It's nothing....When you buy one of these slabs, the price is inflated, when you sell one legitimately and not to some hoofty on Ebay, the price gets deflated pretty quickly. Bill
Third-Party Grader such as PCGS or NGC. An objective party as opposed to the seller or buyer grading the coin.
