State Quarters in Sample Slabs

50 State quarters (1999-2009) and America the Beautiful quarters (2010-2021) are the most common coins in sample slabs. Some collectors seek to get as many different states as possible, while others

look for samples for their home state. But what state quarters exist in sample slabs?

Using my eBay sales spreadsheet, which covers nearly every sample sold on eBay August 2013 through March 2024, I compiled this table. This shows whether each state quarter (50 State or ATB) appeared in a sample from the top four grading services. Sample is defined broadly, including YN,

promotional, club, and show slabs.

ANACS ICG NGC PCGS

Is it possible to get all fifty states, five territories, and the District of Columbia in samples? Almost. These four states and territories did not appear on eBay in the 11+ years covered: American Samoa, Montana, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands. Every other state and territory appeared at least once as a 50 State or ATB. This list includes only what appeared on eBay — It does not include every sample past and future. New types continue to turn up and certifiers continue to issue more samples.

Rarities of each type could be an avenue for further research. As a start, the table shows twelve states used by all four services: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Rhode Island. Generally, coins from the early years of the 50 States program, such as 1999 and 2000, as easiest to find.

ANA NumismaTalks Presentation on Sample Slabs April 25

As part of National Coin Week, the American Numismatic Association asked me to give a webinar on sample slabs. See it Thursday, April 25 at noon Mountain Time.

Learn more about this and other NumismaTalks here.

Sample Slabs

April 25, 12pm MT

Want a free sample? Grading services give away examples of their work at major shows to promote their products, reward customers, recognize achievements, and more. In the last 10 years, sample slabs moved from a nearly unknown specialty to the edge of the numismatic mainstream. If you have any interest in sample or grading services, or want to learn to cherrypick samples hiding in plain sight this presentation is for you.

Not Quite a Sample — Single-Grade Slabs

Sometimes you will see a holder with a descriptive grade such MG . as “Brilliant Uncirculated,” no serial number, and a simplified JR 2005 Silver Eagle label. These are often thought of as sample slabs, but they . GEM BRILLIANT

have a different purpose. I call them “single grade slabs.”

A mass marketer may want to sell common, popular certified coins in quantity, such as Silver Eagles or 1964 Kennedys, to the general public or to beginning collectors. These buyers may be unconcerned with the exact grade, or the precise grade may not be important for these generic coins. Coins sold this way are sometimes called “program coins.”

A grading service will make this seller a simplified label with no serial, and a descriptive grade instead of a number grade. The certifier saves the costs of assigning number grades and tracking coins in population reports and passes these savings to their customer. The mass marketer gets certified coins that meet their needs at lower costs. The coins are then sold, not given away, and are not samples. Single grade slabs are production slabs that serve the usual purpose of protecting, authenticating, attributing, and grading coins, only with less precision.

Buying and Selling Buying

I buy sample collections or better single slabs for inventory. For my own collection, I look for samples from obscure or unlisted grading services (such as AHCGS, CCCS, or Global), gold coin samples, and rarities from all services. I also buy NGC type 8.0 holders. Contact me at davidschwager@hotmail.com or Instagram @schwagerdavid

Selling

Sample Slab Update Sale #12 went out in March and was the largest sale yet with 101 items. Remaining items ate in my eBay store. I will give better prices on eBay listing for readers who contact me directly.

Slabs for sale All ship free. Email davidschwager@hotmail.com to buy. All common payment methods accepted.

1. PCGS Authorized Dealer 30th Anniversary medal with seldom-seen bag. It’s not as valuable as the Regency pouches that earn about $400. But this Authorized Dealer type rarely appears with the

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dark green velour bag. Only PCGS authorized dealers who attended a party at the September 2016 Long Beach Expo received the bag. $150.

2. PCGS employee-only holder. PCGS gave this slab to employees to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the company in 2006. The label reads “PCGS / 20 YEARS OF SERVICE / OVER 13 MILLION COINS GRADED / 1986 — 2006.” Some spots on coin. Plastic is pristine. These rarely appear for sale, as most employees held on to theirs. $395.

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3. Sample slab pioneer Cameron Kiefer’s promotional slab. I dedicated my book to ICG grader and coin dealer Cameron Kiefer, who created sampleslabs.com. He did not sell these holders and only gave them away. 150 made. I acquired several from Cameron’s estate. $25 each.

4. Also from Cameron’s estate, ICG holders used as favors in his 2007 | wedding. Unknown | until recently -— the wedding guests held these tightly. Two available. $48 each.

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Additional item of interest to slab collectors. 6. Group of 10 Blanchard stock books. Each has 10 pages and holds 60 2x2s. Vinyl covers. Clean used condition. $95 shipped.

Sample Slab Update #35— April 2024 (sent 4/11/24). Published about every two months by David Schwager, Fountain Valley, California. davidschwager@hotmail.com. Please email me to be added to or removed from the mailing list. Comments and submissions are welcome. See SampleSlabBook.com or the Newman Numismatic Portal for past issues. The best way to reach me and know what I am doing is Instagram @schwagerdavid. I also respond to Facebook messages.