Coin slab

File:Variety of coin slabs.jpgs within a variety of coin slabs. Top left NGC, ANCS, PCGS, bottom left ANCS, PCGS]]

A coin slab is a type of holder for a coin. Slabbed coins are typically from one of the coin grading companies. The practice of sending coins to third-party grading companies and then "slabbing" them began in 1986.

When a grading company grades a coin, it is sealed in a tamper proof slab with a barcode and a hologram. To prevent counterfeiting, holograms were attached to the graded coin slabs beginning in 1989. however, earlier coin slabs did not have a hologram.

History

File:PCGS coin slab hologram.jpg

Slabbing coins is a practice which began in 1986. The grading of coins was a way to remove coin grading controversies by having a third party certify the coin's condition.{{cite news |last1=Travers |first1=Scott A. |title=The Ten Greatest Myths of Slabbed Coins |url=https://www.usgoldexpert.com/articles/the-10-greatest-myths-of-slabbed-coins/ |access-date=21 July 2023 |publisher=Scott Travers Rare Coin Gallery LLC |date=2023 |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604112959/https://www.usgoldexpert.com/articles/the-10-greatest-myths-of-slabbed-coins/ |url-status=live }} The earliest coin slabs introduced by PCGS were in use from 1986-1989. Collectors refer to these early PCGS slabs as "rattlers". They were nicknamed rattlers because the coin was not firmly positioned in the holder; coins rattled inside the holders. The holder consisted of a thin plastic shell and the specifics about the coin and grade were printed on a dot matrix printer. In September 1989, PCGS introduced a new holder that more firmly held the coin.{{cite news |title=Rattler PCGS Coin Holder - A Beloved Early Slab |url=https://coinweek.com/rattler-pcgs-coin-holder/ |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=CoinWeek LLC. |date=18 April 2024}}

There are major coin certification companies that encapsulate coins in an acrylic case after grading the coin. Companies like ANACS, Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), International Coin Certification Service and CAC accept coins which they grade, certify and then slab. Collectors rely on these third party grading companies to certify coins.{{cite news |last1=Thorne |first1=Mike |title=How Do You Feel About Coin Certification? |url=https://www.numismaticnews.net/world-coins/how-do-you-feel-about-coin-certification |access-date=21 July 2023 |publisher=Numismatic News |date=21 March 2023 |archive-date=21 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721212231/https://www.numismaticnews.net/world-coins/how-do-you-feel-about-coin-certification |url-status=live }} After the coins are reviewed and certified a holographic label is attached to the slab.{{cite book |last1=Maier |first1=Larry B. |last2=Stahl |first2=Joseph W. |title=Identification Discs of Union Soldiers in the Civil War |date=2008 |publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers |isbn=9780786452132 |page=149 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fNZfp9oTRqgC&dq=coin+certification+hologram&pg=PA149 |access-date=23 July 2023 |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725211616/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Identification_Discs_of_Union_Soldiers_i/fNZfp9oTRqgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=coin+certification+hologram&pg=PA149&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last1=McGuire |first1=Shayne |title=Buy Gold Now |date=2008 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |isbn=9780470268001 |page=178 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DrnMoI550TMC&dq=coin+certification+hologram&pg=PA178 |access-date=23 July 2023 |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725211459/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Buy_Gold_Now/DrnMoI550TMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=coin+certification+hologram&pg=PA178&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }} The earliest coins that were slabbed by the major coin grading companies did not have holograms. PCGS began adding a hologram to the reverse of their holders in 1989.{{cite web |title=Museum of Coin Holders |url=https://www.pcgs.com/holdermuseum/Gen2.0 |website=PCGS |publisher=Collectors Universe |access-date=23 July 2023 |archive-date=23 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723152314/https://www.pcgs.com/holdermuseum/gen2.0 |url-status=live }} NGC began adding a hologram to their coin slabs in 1990.{{cite web |title=Evolution of the NGC Holder |url=https://www.ngccoin.com/about/evolution-of-ngc-holder/ |website=NGC Coin |publisher=Numismatic Guaranty Company |access-date=23 July 2023 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409081636/https://www.ngccoin.com/about/evolution-of-ngc-holder/ |url-status=live }}

Counterfeit slabs

Counterfeiters have duplicated coin slabs from major grading companies. In 2023, CoinWeek reported counterfeit 1881 CC Morgan dollar “PCGS” slabs.{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Jack D. |title=An Epidemic of Counterfeit 1881-CC Morgans and Bad "PCGS" Slabs |url=https://coinweek.com/an-epidemic-of-counterfeit-1881-cc-morgans-and-bad-pcgs-slabs/ |access-date=21 July 2023 |publisher=Coin Week |date=16 January 2023 |archive-date=21 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721212217/https://coinweek.com/an-epidemic-of-counterfeit-1881-cc-morgans-and-bad-pcgs-slabs/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=ACEF reports fakers using same slab numbers multiple times |url=https://canadiancoinnews.com/acef-reports-fakers-using-same-slab-numbers-multiple-times/ |access-date=21 July 2023 |publisher=Canadian Coin News |date=5 April 2023 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409161649/https://canadiancoinnews.com/acef-reports-fakers-using-same-slab-numbers-multiple-times/ |url-status=live }} In 2018, Coin World numismatic magazine reported that counterfeit PCGS slabs complete with holograms were being sold on the website AliExpress. They reported that the real slabs are "sonically sealed" but fake slabs snap together.{{cite news |last1=Gilkes |first1=Paul |title=Chinese starter kit for fake PCGS holders |url=https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/chinese-starter-kit-for-fake-pcgs-holders.html |access-date=23 July 2023 |publisher=Coin World |date=2 August 2018 |archive-date=23 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723142037/https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/chinese-starter-kit-for-fake-pcgs-holders.html |url-status=live }} The magazine also reported the discovery of a fake South African gold Krugerrand which was in a counterfeit NGC slab with a hologram.{{cite news |last1=Starck |first1=Jeff |title=California dealer discovers fake Krugerrand in fake holder |url=https://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/california-dealer-discovers-fake-krugerrand-in-fake-holder.html |access-date=23 July 2023 |publisher=Coin World |date=13 November 2015 |archive-date=23 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723142557/https://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/california-dealer-discovers-fake-krugerrand-in-fake-holder.html |url-status=live }}

References

Category:Coin collecting

Category:Computer storage systems