Cost of slabbing

Linda Hutchins

unread,

Nov 6, 2011, 9:12:54 AM11/6/11

to

I have a few coins I would like to have professionally slabbed. But
the cost, Goodness. What am I not getting? How can someone afford to
sell a slabbed coin on e-Bay for $10.00 when it has been slabbed by
PCGS or ANAC?

Jerry Dennis

unread,

Nov 6, 2011, 12:23:40 PM11/6/11

to

One reason to learn to grade for yourself. Professional slabbing is a
good idea for key and semi-key date coins, or if there's a possibility
of a counterfeit or altered coin (e.g., a 1916-D Mercury dime). If a
common date coin has the possibility of attaining a super-high grade
(e.g, a current Shield cent that could grade MS-69/MS-70) that's
another consideration.

The 1970-D Kennedy half is the key to the series, and they can be had
for under $30 in MS-64, or even less in a lower grade. At MS-65
they're worth about $70, in MS-66 $285, and in MS-67 $4,500, the
highest grade shown in the PCGS price guide. If you opened a 1970
Mint set (the only way to get a 1970-D Kennedy back then), you
shouldn't assume that just because it's in an unopened package that
it's worth big bucks. Grade it yourself. If you think it's an MS-65
or higher, then consider having it professionally graded. If you
think it's an MS-64 or lower, it isn't worth it.

As for selling a slabbed coin on ebay for $10, it's basically a crap
shoot. Using my 1970-D Kennedy as an example, someone thought their
half was worth more than the slabbing fee (last I knew was about $30).
and it came back an MS-63, worth about $10.

Jerry

Bremick

unread,

Nov 6, 2011, 5:52:05 PM11/6/11

to

"Jerry Dennis" <JDen...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:6945988e-ec65-4eb2...@m19g2000vbm.googlegroups.com...

---------------

It should be noted though that if you plan to sell your coins one day, most
potential buyers won't automatically accept your raw coin without question
just because you assure them you have learned how to grade for yourself. On
the other hand, a PCGS-slabbed example should have less trouble finding a
buyer.

oly

unread,

Nov 6, 2011, 6:52:03 PM11/6/11

to

On Nov 6, 4:52 pm, "Bremick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote:
> "Jerry Dennis" <JDen1...@aol.com> wrote in message

The actual answer to the OP is that it simply isn't cost effective to
slab common low value coins.

oly

Bremick

unread,

Nov 6, 2011, 7:46:43 PM11/6/11

to

"oly" <oly...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:531c0287-d47c-45ca...@n13g2000vbv.googlegroups.com...

----------------

You're right. But the OP really seemed to wonder why anyone would
submit a $10 coin for grading when the fees and shipping costs a lot more
than the coin was worth. Jerry's answer indicated that the submitter (who
must have thought he knew how to grade) most likely expected a much higher
grade but ended up "stuck" with a slabbed lower grade coin worth only ten
bucks.

Linda10701

unread,

Nov 6, 2011, 11:00:28 PM11/6/11

to

On Nov 6, 6:46 pm, "Bremick" <rem...@cox.net> wrote:
> "oly" <oly2...@aol.com> wrote in message

Thank you ALL. It makes me realize that I should get the opinion of a
local coin grader, before submitting any of my coins for slabbing.
Yes, I was wondering why anyone would sell a coin for less than even
the slabbing cost. Was hoping there might be a group or company of
submitters that got a BIG discount. (oh, well I can dream can't I?)

oly

unread,

Nov 7, 2011, 12:41:47 AM11/7/11

to

> submitters that got a BIG discount. (oh, well I can dream can't I?)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Some people will submit 100 selected examples of a newly minted
comemorative silver dollar and if they get three to five to ten
examples (or more) back in MS-70, the profits on the "perfect" coins
in theory will more than offset the other 90 coins or so that they
will have to sell at a smallish loss. While this sounds silly (it
is), apparently some people can make money this way and this accounts
for all the coins in MS-69 which are available in slabs on ebay and at
coin shows.

oly

Jerry Dennis

unread,

Nov 7, 2011, 11:03:16 PM11/7/11

to

> oly- Hide quoted text -

>
> - Show quoted text -

Let's not forget Bob Chambers and the Coin Vault, too. They buy
massive quantities of Silver Eagles in the "Green Monster Boxes" and
ship them (or have them shipped) to NGC. NGC, in turn, grades all
MS-68s, MS-69s and MS-70s. Everything is shipped back to the Coin
Vault. They hawk the slabbed high grades and offer the rest raw as
"Brilliant Uncirculated." Those of us who've been watching for years
know that means if we submit them ourselves, they'll come back at no
better than MS-67.

Jerry