For people new to coin and precious-metals investing, “slabbing” may sound like a stage of manufacturing. Instead, it describes a coin that has been certified. Anyone considering buying or selling rare coins may find several reasons to consider slabbed coins.
The Coin-Slabbing Process
Coins submitted to a professional grading service for certification are reviewed by specialists and receive a grade based on several factors. Once authenticated, the coin is sonically sealed in a transparent “slab” or holder. The holder includes key details: the type, grade, variety, mint mark, and information about the third-party grading service. Slabs are meant to serve as permanent coin holders and, after sealing, are generally hard to tamper with. The two leading third-party services, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), also allow further authentication checks. Their websites let users enter a coin’s serial or certification number; if the number is accurate, the result provides coin details and photographs.
Slabbed Coins Compared With Raw Coins
Beyond selecting coins made from gold, silver, or another precious metal, collectors must decide whether to purchase “raw” or slabbed coins. A slabbed, or certified, coin has been authenticated and graded by a respected independent service such as PCGS or NGC. Both slabbed and raw coins may be kept in different protective cases. A raw coin, however, is not enclosed in a sealed holder carrying a professionally verified grade.
What Benefits Do Slabbed Coins Offer?At the time of original publication, the article described the following:
Although having coins slabbed involves a cost, the process offers several clear advantages. A sealed holder may protect coins from physical harm caused by ordinary handling, wear, or drops. It is important to remember, however, that silver and copper coins can still suffer toning damage when a holder is not airtight. Slabbed coins give collectors greater confidence in a coin’s authenticity and resale value, reducing the need for further inspection when they sell to a coin dealer. Finally, certification removes subjectivity from the grade and therefore from the coin’s value. It is common for two people to disagree over the grade of a coin that has not received certification.
For people investing in coins and bullion, understanding how to verify and preserve a collection’s value is important. At the time of publication, Atlanta Gold & Coin Buyers stated that it had extensive experience with selling and appraising rare coins and bullion. It described itself as a reputable dealer committed to transparent service and competitive rates for buying and selling coins. When originally published, readers were invited to Fill out our online form to request an appointment at an Atlanta office.
