Grading pins? Need help!

[glynparson]

I’d wait until PSA opens up the lower level services. Than submit to them. To everyone that doesn’t send quality items in for grading before selling. Thank you from me and some others. We really appreciate the extra income.

[oldjudge]

Thanks guys! I’ve been told by long time pin collectors that the pin slabs can trap moisture and cause foxing. They may or may not sell for more slabbed but they are not for sale so it is a moot point.

[BobC]

What Jay is saying is on the money. The graded holders for pins can have some moisture issues. Also, they aren't really easy to properly store and nicely display. They're really thick and yet, somewhat tiny. To me, the graded holders take away a lot from the pin and their presentation. And also as mentioned, I don't see grading of pins having anyway near the impact on pricing like it does with cards. Plus, the encapsulation of graded cards is often done to also protect the cards from damage and wear from handling. Pins don't have the same handling concern issues as cards. You aren't going to accidently crease a pin or damage a corner by holding and handling one.

The butterfly display cases Jay showed a sample of are a fantastic way to display pins. You can also use the white cardboard holders used for coins if you want to display fronts and backs of pins. And by using those cardboard single coin display holders you can even put your pins in a binder using multi-pocket pages. The graded pin holders are too bulky and thick to really work well if you want to display your pins in a binder.

At least for now, you don't really have pin collectors all that concerned, or that interested, with grading.

[UKCardGuy]

Another vote here for keeping pins raw.

I prefer to keep my pins (Sweet Caporal, Orbit, Cracker Jack, PM10, 56T Buttons, etc) in binders in white coin flips. It presents nicely.

I do have some pins in a slab, but it's only because they were part of a lot or I got a really good price on them. I haven't found a good way to add the graded pins to my binders.

[icollectDCsports]

Slabbing pinback buttons: Yuck.

[riggs336]

Display them.

[Aaron Seefeldt]

So many of us say we will never sell our collections, or there are certain items we'll "take to the grave". Chances are none of us will actually be buried with our collectibles. And, before our caskets are even in the ground, our family members will be trying to sell everything we've left behind.

Do you want to leave them with more or less $$? Facts are facts and slabbed items get more $.