Last Saturday and Sunday, 16 & 17 December, I happened to be at the Tropicana coin show, and although I recognized that there would be some controversy over slabbing, little did I imagine the extremes! Just so that every one who reads this Board is aware, the represented company had two booths. One was for their coin grading services and the other was strictly to introduce a planned new service, i.e., chip grading (and slabbing). The two representatives I talked to (Lew and another fellow) pointed out that their service required them to not be collectors, and after a few minutes of discussion it was self evident that they knew nothing of chips, chip collecting, chip collectors, but had the grading and slabbing services down cold.

They advised that chips submitted to their company for grading (at a cost of about $10.00 each) would be submitted to four different, knowledgeable chip specialist, each of who indicates their grading of the chip. Care is taken to separate origin of the chip (owner, etc.) from the assessors. All four grades are then passed to a control point, who is then responsible for assigning a final grade, at which point the chip is slabbed. They are currently looking for, and conducting screening evaluations of the "knowledgeable chip specialist." They require people around the country.

Although they explained it to me, and my head nearly exploded with all the information, their method of grading will not be the C&W method. It will be based on a 70 point system, but beyond that I just can't recall the specifics. The slabbed, $1 Tropicana chip (which we have all seen in the various posts) was but one of many. I personally saw at least 20 of them and I am in possession of several more, as they were readily handed-out as samples. Even to the point of, "here, take some for your friends." In addition to the many $1 Tropicana chips, they had a display that contained at least 30 other chips, many of which were moderately high value, i.e., over $100. Unfortunately, I cannot recall if they were actually graded, or if they were also just examples of the slabbing process.

In discussions with them, I found that the holders are not UV blocking, but they can fix that. Also, the "frosted" area around the chip (see the scan) can be made clear, so that chips that have printing (or side inserts) on the side/edge can be viewed. There is no solution for a "stacking" set of chips. They are well aware of the up-coming CC>CC Convention and also Rene's Super Bowl Show. They were not aware of Greg's BB, nor the Club's BB, however they do have the URLs.

Also in attendance were several coin dealers who also showed chips and tokens, in fact, I made several purchases, hence the "TOTI - GAUGHAN" I asked about earlier. I'm not sure if those individuals monitor this Board, but I have yet to see very much from anyone who was there.

Prior to these events, I was not ignorant of slabbing, but I have never really collected coins, cards, or anything else slabible, to be knowledgeable of the "slippery slope". However, it is hard to be in this hobby and not run across coin collectors/dealers and other such people, who have had some experience in this area. And the one consistency they tell, is that love or hate, it cannot be stopped.

I am in favor of grading, but not slabbing. In fact, I rather like the way Harley Davidson does it 100 Point motorcycle competition/rating system. Remember, I am no expert, and only have a friend that owns a 100 Point Harley. Basically, Harley Davidson anoints one motorcycle from each production year, and for every model in that year as a 100 Point Harley, i.e., The Harley that all others in that class are measured against. If anyone of the competing Harleys scores higher that the 100 Point Harley, then that Harley becomes the Official 100 Point Harley. The interesting thing is that the Harley must be maintained and NOT re-furbished. It can't be a re-built machine, or have new parts added. It needs to be stock, with its original parts, or fixed with original parts. At a competition, it and its competitors will garner extra points if it is rode into the show (instead of being pushed), and even more bonus points are bestowed if it ridden to the show (on the streets and highway).

The friend of mine that has a 100 Point Harley (1938 I believe), rode it to work some time back to show it off. I was shocked! It was rusted, leaky, vibrated, and in general looked terrible. However, in all the World, there was no other Harley (in original condition) that was better than his, for that model and year. His was unique and he could touch it, smell it, hear it and the fact that he could do so, improved its value!

Just like his Harley, which at night is in the garage, but he can take it out whenever he wants to, I want my chips protected (in flips), to be touched (mostly by me) and also graded (in a commonly accepted and consistent manner).

Yes this is a long post, and I purposely avoided humor to keep it shorter. I guess that didn't work. <g>

Happy Holidays to everyone and Happy New Year!

Jim Follis