I've been looking for some early slabs and I've noticed something interesting

[DaveG]

My interest in early slabs was piqued by Conder101's book on slabs and I'm now the pleased owner of two PCGS rattlers with inexpensive, but nice coins in them.

 

Over the last few months, I've attempted to find an early NGC slab. First, at least in my area, PCGS rattlers are much more common than early NGC slabs and the early (say 1992 era) NGC slabs that I've found either have $100 coins in them (too expensive for me for just the slab, at that price I'd have to want the coin, too) or the coins in them are undesirable (like an MS-65 Mercury dime with an obvious scratch on Liberty's head)

 

It seems like the nicer early NGC graded coins have mostly been cracked out and re-slabbed and/or there are a lot more PCGS rattlers around in the first place and not as many have been cracked out. (I realize that PCGS was grading a lot more coins than NGC ten years ago.)

 

Anyone have any observations to add?

[291fifth]

I'd beware of making any generalizations about early slabs. If you find them in dealer stock they are usually rather ordinary. The really nice ones have been cracked out and resubmitted. However, sometimes older collections that the dealers have not picked over become available. This is where you can still find the nice ones. You can also find nice ones when less expensive coins are involved. In this case, the gain in value would not have been sufficient to merit the expense of resubmitting them.

[Oldtrader3]

To be perfectly honest, I do not know the difference between the generations of NGC slabs (the coin inside has always been more important). I have been buying them since the beginning and am sure that I have samples of the various types. It would be helpful however to have someone show samples with descriptions of each iteration of NGC's various slabs.

[DaveG]

Conder101 recently published a book that showed all of the different slabs and slabbing companies.

 

Several weeks ago, he posted the PCGS and NGC chapters across the street. I'd think you'd be able to find it with a search.

[KIEFERSCOINS]

The NGC plain white labels you should watch out for. They are pretty scarce and the coins are definately undergraded for the most part.

 

PCGS rattlers were used for 3 plus years, whereas NGC changed the slab and label several time within the first three years.

 

Cameron Kiefer

[Oldtrader3]

Thanks for the info.

[Conder101]

Oldtrader3

 

Do you have many (or any) of the first generation black NGC holders?

[Bruceswar]

Sample Slabs great site that shows alot of different slabs.... altought they are samples you still get to see what they look like

[KIEFERSCOINS]

Thanks Bruce for the plug. That is my website.

 

Cameron Kiefer

[Oldtrader3]

Condor: No I do not have any of the Black NGC holders. I had a couple years ago, but sold them. I did not like them much at the time.

[Bruceswar]

No problem man....

[Conder101]

Here is the link to the thread on the other side of the street that shows all of the NGC slab varieties. I still haven't added an image of NGC 12 (The band used on the GSA dollar and Brown Ike holders) and there is another variety that isn't shown NGC 14. NGC 14 is the new multi coin holder and it will look the same as the NGC 11 listing but it has the same front label as NGC 13. NGC 14 just went into production this week. NGC 11 probably doesn't exist, the photo is of a prop holder used for promotional purposes.

 

NGC 3 exists with two color variations to the border. I only picture one because I CAN'T see the difference (colorblind)

 

NGC generations

[Oldtrader3]

Thanks, Condor. I appreciate the link.

[BillJones]

I don't know what you mean by "early NGC slabs." If you mean the ones with black inserts, those are about as rare as 1913 liberty nickels from what I have seen. I've never had a chance to buy one. If you mean that ones that have gold logos on the back and no hollogram, yes I'd say that ON AVERAGE their grading is more conservative.

 

BUT a novice grader CANNOT buy coins in those holders willie-nillie and get undergraded coins all the time. It's like buying coins in PCGS holders with green labels. On average green label holder PCGS coins are more conservatively graded. BUT some are undergraded; some are right on; and some are overgraded.

 

Bottom line you STILL have know how to grade coins to cheerypick the upgradeable coins.