- Slabbed coins offer advantages: Slabbed coins, while not solving the problem of grading as a precise determinant of market value, do offer the opportunity to acquire coins which have a reasonable assurance of being at or near the numerical grade levels indicated on them. The knowledgeable buyer can learn to separate the low-end and unappealing coins and leave those to other buyers, while purchasing those of premium quality. Years ago grading differences among sellers were much greater than they are today. Common and popular coins certified by the major grading services are very liquid, and a silver dollar described as, for example, 1885-CC MS-63 (PCGS) will readily trade at a certain level. A hand-picked MS-63 coin with attractive lustre or toning or with a special aesthetic appeal will usually sell for considerably more. If the number of investors continues to dwindle in the future, then a great price differential will develop within slabbed coins of the same numerical grade, for informed collectors will reject ugly coins and pay premiums for superb ones. Right now you can cherrypick coins in slabs, ignore the ugly ducklings, and buy the nice pieces.
- Information is readily available in print: More good books and periodicals are available, and at reasonable prices, than ever before. As noted, for a few hundred dollars a good basic numismatic library can be formed. Krause Publications, Amos Press, DLRC Press, Specialty Books, Whitman Coin Products (a division of Western Publishing Co.), Sanford Durst, and other numismatic publishers each produce many desirable titles, as does the Publications Department of Bowers and Merena Galleries. Out-of-print books, price lists, and auction catalogues are the specialties of a half dozen or more booksellers, most of whom issue informative catalogues. Apart from whatever valuable advice you may glean from books you buy, there is a great deal of enjoyment to be had by learning about coins, their designs and their history. Undoubtedly, the future will bring more information in CD-ROM format. As an example, the American Numismatic Association is planning to issue back numbers of The Numismatist, published since 1888, on a CD-ROM.
- The market is very competitive: There is great competition among dealers, which results in lower markups and provides the opportunity for you to buy or sell within a close margin. There are thousands of dealers who have coins for sale at fixed prices and a dozen or more auction houses which issue fine catalogues of important collections. The worldwide market assures you of a market for your coins when you sell.
- You can enjoy numismatics: The chance to have plain, old-fashioned fun is part of numismatics. Collecting coins is one of the world's most interesting, absorbing, most intellectually satisfying hobbies. Building a set of coins, reading about numismatics, attending coin shows, and becoming involved will add a new dimension of enjoyment to your life, as it has for thousands of others.
PCGS Coin Guide Table Of Contents
