How old is a PCGS Green Label? Can you tell the age of a slab by the number?

[WaxonWaxov]

Hi!

 

I'm not framilliar with PCGS at all. How old is a PCGS green label?

 

Also, is there a trick to tell the age of a slab (PCGS or NGC) based on the number?

 

You know, how antique pocket watch dealers can tell the year of a movement by the serial number?

[DC Dawg]

I believe the PCGS labels are from the late 1980s. I was able to find an approximate date using the images at sampleslabs.com, that is maintained by Conder. It is wonderful to help identify the approximate date of older slabs.

 

Scott

[PerryHall]

PCGS could tell you from the serial number but they won't. They have a vested interest in maintaining the myth that grading standards haven't changed over the years and all their coins are graded to the same unchanging standards.

[midwest]

PCGS generations

 

NGC generations

[WaxonWaxov]

Those are great links midwest, thanks.

[TomB]

PCGS switched from green labels to blue labels in the late summer to early fall of 1998.

[Bruceswar]

I believe the PCGS labels are from the late 1980s. I was able to find an approximate date using the images at sampleslabs.com, that is maintained by Conder. It is wonderful to help identify the approximate date of older slabs.

 

Scott

 

Just a quick correction. Conder does not own this site. Another board member does.

[TomB]

Bruce is correct, Cameron Kiefer operates that site, not Conder.

[jom]

.....Cameron Kiefer operates that site..

 

That's right! The Slim Slab Savant from the South himself! (who I'll probably be having lunch with today at some point).

 

jom

[DC Dawg]

With apologies to both Cameron and Conder for the misattribution!

 

Scott

[CarlWohlforth]

However Condor did publish a book on slab varieties. He has them listed in order so you can estimate when a particular slab was used. For example there are two green labels. The earlier one uses a larger font for the serial number which starts where the bar code does. That was changed in 1995 to a smaller font which starts a bit to the right of the bar code.