| Slot: |
NGC Gen 1 Black insert example |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
DIMES - BARBER LIBERTY HEAD |
| Item Description: |
10C 1892 |
| Grade: |
MS 62 |
Owner Comments
This is just a place holder example not a coin that I own. Photo credit to Conder101's NGC generations thread. This is the very first slab used by NGC when they began operation in 1987. Conder101 reports this was used only from Sept 1987 to Nov 1987. These black 1st gen slabs have gotten so incredibly expensive, not to mention difficult to find, that I doubt I will ever be able to afford an example of this generation.
Gold coins look fantastic in this holder, but the biggest complaint I have read that was voiced when this holder came out was that small or dark coins tend to get "lost" in the black core. Due to the general unpopularity of the holder it was not used for very long before NGC switched to the gen 2 with the solid white core. As a result, not many of these holders were produced and many that were eventually were cracked and the coins moved into newer more popular holders. Of note the use of the NGC foil logo on the obverse of the slab. Conder101 writes, "From my understanding, this was thanks to a marketing consultant who insisted that it was of paramount importance to keep your logo in front of the customer at all times and therefor it was more important than the coin information."
In 2013 NGC celebrated its 25th anniversary by introducing a limited edition retro version of the original black slab and followed that with subsequent limited rereleases in 2015 and 2022. All of the new retro versions differ from the original as they use the prong style, non solid black insert. But I have seen a few collectors that were confused and even a few that thought the new retro holders were the original 1987 holders.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 2.0 White label |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
SILVER DOLLARS - PEACE LIBERTY HEAD |
| Item Description: |
$1 1923 |
| Grade: |
MS 63 |
Owner Comments
This is just a place holder example not a coin that I own. Photo credit to Conder101 NGC generations thread. The key differences between generation 1 and generation 2 holders are; the generation 2 holder took the foil logo that was on the front of the gen 1 holder and moved it to the back. The solid core was changed to white and a white label was used on the front of the slab for the coin information. According to the research done by Conder101, both of the generation 2 holders were only used for a month or two, from the end of November 1987 Thru some portion of December 1987. Given that there is still a decent size extent population of both of the generation 2 holders I tend to think both were used for a bit longer than the timeframe Condor101 gives. There is an informal excel spreadsheet that lists each known example of the generation 2 holders. Clearly that list likely does not have every surviving generation 2 holder on the list, but the last time I looked there were several hundred of each of the generation 2 holders listed.
In his original research Conder believed this to be the first of the generation 2 slab style to be used by NGC, and thus labeled it 2.0. However, it is now believed that this was actually the second of the generation 2 holders. That thought seems very likely to me as this holder uses the same reverse foil logo that is embossed on the outside of the holder vs the inside of the holder as it is on what Conder called gen 2.1. To me, logic would conclude that NGC would not have used the foil logo on the outside of gen1, then the inside of the first gen 2, only to reverse course and put the logo on the outside again on the second gen 2 holder.
However, NGC has (to my knowledge) not published any documentation or has any digital reference (like the PCGS museum of holders) on how or when each holder design change occurred. So the system of numbering is biased on the observations of the collectors and dealers that were actively in the market since (while) NGC has been in operation.
This generation, like the gen 2.1 is very expensive; but I hope that I will be able to find a example that I can afford one day.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 2.1 White label |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
DOUBLE EAGLES - SAINT-GAUDENS |
| Item Description: |
$20 1924 |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 62 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
The first year's coins were minted in high relief with the date in roman numerals. After striking 11,250 coins in high relief the design was modified and the relief lowered so that production could be done on high speed presses. The date was also changed from roman numerals to standard date numerals. This change in relief and date format were the only changes to the design throughout the years of production.
In the 1940's the US government decided that because it had been decided that the entire production of 1933 Saints were to be melted and not distributed that the handful of coins that were in collector's hands had to be surrendered to the government. This has led to some high-profile court cases in recent years.
A coin from my collection housed in a rare generation 2 NGC holder. The biggest difference between the two gen 2 holders is that for this holder the foil logo is printed inside the plastic shell. The other gen 2 holder has the reverse logo embossed on the outside of the shell, this unfortunately made it very easy for the logo to be damaged from handling and dealer stickers. In his book Conder101 called this slab gen 2.1, however, it was latter reviled that this version of the gen 2 holder likely should have been listed as gen 2.0 and was really the first of the second generation holder style that NGC used. As I wrote in the description for the gen 2.0 holder, Conder101 reports both the gen 2 holders were only used for a month or less in December of 1987. However, given the number of examples that are known to exist I think the timeframe that the gen 2 holders were used by NGC was longer than reported by Conder101.
I purchased this coin at the ANA show that was held in Phoenix AZ in the spring of 2023. A dealer that I was unfamiliar with was setup at the show and had several gen 2.0 and 2.1 NGC slabs. I have wanted an example of both for some time and was really intrigued at the thought of adding one or the other when I saw his case. Most of his other coins were late date WLH's which would have been a bit less than this Saint. But the idea of a large gold coin over the silver half's was more enticing and a deal was struck.
I wish I had been smarter and purchased an example of this style of holder earlier in my collecting journey, it would have saved me a lot of money, lol. Of course, early on I was focused more on completing series and collections and not even thinking about the history of slabs themselves.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 3 Holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
CENTS - INDIAN HEAD |
| Item Description: |
1C 1909 INDIAN |
| Grade: |
MS 64 Red |
Owner Comments
This is my coin, sadly the gold foil on the reverse was damaged when I bought it. Of course, back in 2013 when I bought this coin, I was not buying it for the holder but rather because I wanted an example of the coin type; the old holder was just a bonus in the case. The generation 3 holder was the first holder to see extended use by NGC. Conder101 reports this holder was used from January 1988 thru late 1989. The major change from the generation 2 holder is to the obverse label. One of the chief complaints about the generation 2 holder was the white label and how it just blended into the white insert. To address this NGC added a light tan/brown border around the obverse label to help it stand out against the stark white core. The reverse foil logo placed on the outside of the plastic shell was kept the same from the generation 2 holder.
I purchased this coin from a Heritage auction; the auction fees sure were more reasonable back then.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 3 Holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
CENTS - LINCOLN, WHEAT REVERSE |
| Item Description: |
1C 1930 D |
| Grade: |
MS 64 Red |
Owner Comments
A duplicate from my collection, with a full reverse hologram, however, it does have some sticker residue. I have in my purchase notes that I bought this coin in 1999, unfortunately I either lost or failed to note where I bought it from. Crazy to think that in 1999 MS64 was considered a very high grade, rarely did coins exceed MS65 in those earlier days of the TPG's. Today MS64 is a rather pedestrian "ho-hum" grade to a registry collector, I doubt this coin would upgrade but it is a nice coin.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 3 Holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
SILVER DOLLARS - MORGAN LIBERTY HEAD |
| Item Description: |
$1 1900 |
| Grade: |
MS 64 |
Owner Comments
My coin and a pristine holder with a full undamaged reverse hologram. I bought this coin in 2005, at that time I was very interested in completing a full date/mm set of both Morgan dollars and my 09-58 Lincolns. I was already a member of both the NGC and PCGS forums and was able to purchase this from a fellow collector from the PCGS forum. At the time the holder was not even a concern from a standpoint of which generation it was, although, I have always liked the look of these no-line holders from NGC's early days so getting a nice coin in this holder was a nice bonus.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 4 holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
CENTS - LINCOLN, WHEAT REVERSE |
| Item Description: |
1C 1928 |
| Grade: |
MS 65 Red |
Owner Comments
Conder101 reports NGC began use of the generation 4 holder towards the end of 1898 and continued in use until perhaps 1995, he did not have an exact timeframe. This holder change came about due to a counterfeiting scare with PCGS slabs, to combat that NGC changed the reverse from the foil logo to a hologram logo. It was believed that the hologram would be far more difficult for any counterfeiters to replicate than the foil logo.
This coin is a part of my date/mm Lincoln cent collection, a coin I purchased from a fellow collector on the PCGS coin forum in 2010. I personally think it would be graded higher if resubmitted today. A very nice holder with a full and intact reverse logo hologram also with CAC green bean approval. The holder still has a dealer or auction house inventory sticker on the reverse, it would be interesting if I could find out who's sticker that is.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 4 Holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
DIMES - ROOSEVELT |
| Item Description: |
10C 1958 |
| Grade: |
MS 66 |
Owner Comments
This coin is another of my personal collection, unfortunately the reverse hologram has some damage. Bought this from an ebay seller in 2012.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 4 Holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
SILVER COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
50C 1892 COLUMBIAN |
| Grade: |
MS 62 |
Owner Comments
Another from my collection, a very pretty coin but the reverse holder hologram is completely trashed. This was purchased from a fellow PCGS forum collector.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 4 Holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DOLLARS - WALKING LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
50C 1936 |
| Grade: |
MS 65 |
Owner Comments
Another coin from my collection, and again unfortunately the reverse hologram is incomplete. Purchased from a Heritage auction in 2021, should have skipped this one due to the hologram damage but I wanted it for my 1936 all NGC mint set.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 4 Holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DOLLARS - FRANKLIN |
| Item Description: |
50C 1958 |
| Grade: |
MS 65 |
Owner Comments
A coin in my personal collection, this holder is in very good condition with only just a very small section of the reverse hologram affected. This was bought from another PCGS forum collector.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 4 Holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
SILVER DOLLARS - MORGAN LIBERTY HEAD |
| Item Description: |
$1 1885 O |
| Grade: |
MS 64 |
Owner Comments
One from my collection, this holder is almost perfect, just a very tiny nick taken out of the reverse hologram.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 4 Holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
SILVER DOLLARS - MORGAN LIBERTY HEAD |
| Item Description: |
$1 1891 S |
| Grade: |
MS 63 |
Owner Comments
A coin from my collection, this holder has an excellent and complete reverse hologram. While not the most attractive coin I have shown this coin to many dealers, and all agree it is an original coin.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 4 Holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
SILVER DOLLARS - MORGAN LIBERTY HEAD |
| Item Description: |
$1 1899 O |
| Grade: |
MS 64 |
Owner Comments
My coin and again sadly the reverse hologram has sustained some damage prior to my ownership.
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| Slot: |
NGC Gen 5 Holder |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
CENTS - LINCOLN, WHEAT REVERSE |
| Item Description: |
1C 1911 S |
| Grade: |
MS 65 Red Brown |
Owner Comments
Conder101 reports this generation 5 holder was possibly used from 1992 thru 1995, but this is just a guess. The generation 5 holder is the most commonly encountered old "fatty" style of holder. The biggest change between generations 4 and 5 is the addition of a readable barcode to the obverse label. This change was adopted due to, and to combat, continued issues with counterfeiting.
Another coin in my collection, just a very small chip missing from the bottom of the reverse hologram, doesn't affect any of the letters. A tougher early branch mint Lincoln cent that I purchased in late 1999, now wearing a CAC green bean.
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