I personally have been known to get coins slabbed that were worth far less than what it cost me for the slabbing and shipping fees.

I look at it this way. I enjoy collecting coins. I enjoy looking at the coins that I collect. And when I look at my coins, I like them to be presented in an attractive manner. 2 X 2's and almost all of the other storage options that are available just don't do it for me.

When I'm thinking about getting a coin slabbed, value is only one of the things that I consider. Some of the other things that I look at are; Is it rare, how attractive is the coin--what is it's eye appeal, how much would the coin benefit from the protection of a slab, would I enjoy looking at it like I do the rest of my coins, am I going to keep it for a long time or am I going to turn it over for a quick profit, is it a filler until I find a better one, is it a lower mintage coin or a variety that has potential to be worth more in the future, is it a coin that has a variety that needs to be confirmed by a "higher authority", sometimes the number of points that it is worth can be a determining factor for me. There are any number of reasons that can be used to justify getting a coin slabbed. The question is which one(s) work for you. I have a set of uncirculated Washington Quarters (1932-1964)that I am working on. The only coins that I am going to get slabbed are those that are pre-1942. The rest of them are going to stay in my Dansco Album. The reason: The value of the coins. Most of the later dates are just not worth it to me to get slabbed.

Basically, the choice is up to you. It is your collection and the only person that you have to please is yourself. If it makes you happy then get it slabbed. If you are just as happy with it raw then don't waste your money. Save it for something else that you like.

This is an Indian Head Penny that I had slabbed by NCS. (NGC would have laughed at me if I had sent it to them!) It's an 1867/67 overdate. NCS graded it Fine details, corroded. It's probably not worth a plug nickel but I had it slabbed because I wanted the variety attribution. The picture is not the best but trust me---the coin doesn't look much better. The point is that I like it. It makes me happy.