Littleton "slabs"
 

I recently made an excellent deal on eBay, and bought 2 Britannias for just over $16 each, as well as a Kookaburra, all from the same seller. They each came in those "slabs" from Littleton, which I just find annoying. I much prefer a direct fit airtite so I can play with my coins!:yippee:

Newbie question, I know, but is there any reason I should keep them in those plastic holders? Will they be easier to sell down the road? I'm not sure if I can open the package w/out cutting into it. It's not like the coins are graded, it just seems like packaging to me.

Any advice?

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

There are a bunch of slab crackers around who can probably advise you . . . I'd be wanting 'em out of the slabs, but don't know if that'd be a right or wrong decision, just preference.

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

Leave them in the slabs. Buy more and play with them.

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

Amen. Get a lot of INSURANCE right now per HILLARY.

Posted: Apr 22 2009 By: Jim Sinclair Post Edited: April 22, 2009 at 2:23 pm

Filed under: General Editorial

Dear Friends,

Please do not let spin, hatchet jobs, or any other means part you from your gold insurance. If I was nobody and my efforts were going nowhere there would never be attacks.

�This is it� is now behind us.

Pakistan is a disaster domino for Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.

Pakistan is a master stroke for those whose battle strategy is to break Western capitalism and demolish the US dollar.

Economically, the West, but specifically the USA cannot afford any more wars on a simple dollar cost deficit spending basis.

Gold is your lifeline, so think hard and do your homework before you let your emotions force you to lose your grip on things.

Think about how India, with the population from the Tea Wallahs to the Prime Minister, love gold as a trustworthy bank will do when Pakistan goes total Taliban.

Stand tall and face this threat knowing what it means. Take care of yourself and do not waver.

Today seems quiet, but it is anything but.

As the sign in the park says incorrectly, the end is not near, it already happened.

Gold is your lifeline to more than just your financial needs.

Respectfully yours,
Jim

Clinton: Pakistan �Mortal Threat� to World
Published: April 22, 2009 at 1:24 PM


WASHINGTON, April 22 (UPI) � Nuclear-armed Pakistan is becoming a �mortal threat� to the world, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the House Foreign Affairs Committee Wednesday.


�Pakistan poses a mortal threat to the security and safety of our country and the world,� Clinton said. �And I want to take this occasion � state unequivocally that not only do the Pakistani government officials, but the Pakistani people and the Pakistani diaspora � need to speak out forcefully against a policy that is ceding more and more territory to the insurgents � .�


Taliban militants Tuesday took over the northwestern Pakistan district of Buner, just 60 miles from the capital of Islamabad. Militants were patrolling its streets with no signs of government law enforcement personnel, Pakistan�s English-language newspaper Dawn reported. The move came after the Taliban last week imposed Shariah, or strict Islamic law, in the neighboring Swat Valley as part of a peace agreement with the government.


�(We) cannot underscore the seriousness of the existential threat posed to the state of Pakistan by the continuing advances now within hours of Islamabad that are being made by a loosely confederated group of terrorists and others who are seeking the overthrow of the Pakistani state,� Clinton said.


�I don�t hear that kind of outrage or concern coming from enough people that would reverberate back within the highest echelons of the civilian and military leadership of Pakistan,� Clinton said.

More�

Clinton Rallies Attention to Growing Extremist Threats in Pakistan
Wednesday, April 22, 2009

WASHINGTON � U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today voiced alarm about a rising extremist presence inside Pakistan, which she said �poses a mortal threat to the security and safety of our country and the world� (see GSN, March 16).

�We cannot underscore the seriousness of the existential threat posed to Pakistan by the continuing advances � now within hours of Islamabad � that are being made by a loosely confederated group of terrorists and others who are seeking the overthrow of the Pakistani state,� Clinton testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

She noted that the risks are particularly heightened by the existence of Pakistan�s nuclear arsenal, which many analysts are concerned might fall into the hands of Islamic extremists should the central government be overthrown. Islamabad is estimated to have roughly 60 nuclear weapons.

�I don�t hear that kind of outrage or concern coming from enough people that would reverberate back within the highest echelons of the civilian and military leadership in Pakistan,� Clinton said.

In particular, she urged the Pakistani diaspora in the United States to �speak out forcefully against a [Pakistani] policy that is ceding more and more territory to the insurgents � to the Taliban, to al-Qaeda, to the allies that are in this terrorist syndicate� (Elaine M. Grossman, Global Security Newswire, April 22).

More�

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

HistoryStudent - Let's see if I've got this straight (Reader's Digest version!)


1. World is going to hell in a handbasket, therefore...

2. Buy more PM's!!!


(I'm happy for the excuse to buy duplicates. Still wondering about those pesky slabs though.)

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

Are you talking about something similar to this, Agmom? Not a hard plastic PCGS or NGC slab, but the light duty plastic ones that come apart easily?

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

Ah COME on :signs14: - I was just having a little fun with our recent news.

:36_1_25: Be brave, be courageous, have joy - and LOTS of INSURANCE!

:wink::111:

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

I assumed those cheapie Littleton clamshell things were what the OP meant. I've bought a few coins in thiose, but take them out immediately. They're not even sealed... just a single plastic "spot weld" along each edge tab. No "cracking" to it. Just use a razor on one of the "spot welds" and out slides the coin. No added value to the Littleton thingamajigs. Air-Tites are a much better idea.

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

Direct Littleton purchases were a ripoff when I was a kid 35 years ago. Cost me $20 to realize - 4 lawn mowings back then. Send me the plastic so I can take them outside and melt them with my magnifying glass.:cry1:

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

No offense taken - I was just having a little fun too!!:36_3_12:

Thanks, Curmudgeonista, that clamshell thing is exactly what I was talking about. I'm very glad to hear it's no great loss to get rid of it. Airtite it is!

(I know my coins are just bullion, but coin people seem to be a particular lot, and I didn't want to diminish their value down the road. I'm still on the steep part of that learning curve. THANKS!)

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

Agmom, If you are not able to pull apart the plastic with your fingers then another option you have is if you some big scissors, you can cut through the plastic. You can cut across the 4 edges of the plastic were it is sealed and then you should be able to pull it open without damaging the coin. I had a littleton slab before and I was able to cut the sealed edges to get to the coin. The razor idea that Curmudgeonista mentioned also works. I hope this helps

Excellent ebay silver scores on the Britannias because these Britannias have very high premiums on them and to be able to get them for $16/each and especially on ebay is very very good indeed.

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

The airtites should work with the Britannias. The price you paid on the Britannias is much cheaper then what APMEX was charging before shipping cost on these coins. The key thing about the Britannias is not to scratch them.

I would treat them with great care IMO because you do not want to scratch the queen's face. :111:

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

Do the 40 mm airtites work for all the 'common' silver coins - phils, Britannias, etc., and the Koalas and Kooks?

I just got the most gorgeous '08 silver Britannia that badly wants to be protected from any threat of damage . . . and I have a Koala in a cracked holder that needs to be replaced.

Also, if that's the right size airtite, where's the best place to buy a few? (Of course, if that's the wrong size, then I still need to know where to buy what is right . . . )

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

The 40 mm airtites should work with Britannias because the Britannias are 40 mm in diameter.

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

If the Koala is 40 mm in diameter, then a 40 mm airtite should work. If the Koala is 38 mm in diameter, then a silver Canadian Maple Leaf airtite should work for a Koala.

EDIT: I checked the internet and the Koala is 40.6 mm. An airtite for a 1-oz SAE will work for a 1-oz silver Koala.

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

Thanks! I happened to stumble across the seller while I was looking at some Russian coins. Nowhere in the description did they even mention the word "Britannia," so very little competition!! (BTW, they were a 2000 and a 2001 Brit., neither of which I had.)

Clawdia, yes the 40mm airtite does work for the Britannia. I believe the older Kookaburras are a 38mm, the same as a silver maple, but I think the newer kooks may be a little larger. (Not sure about that.)

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

Pretty sure all Kookaburras going back to 1990 are 40mm.

I like to keep direct fit Air-Tites on-hand in 40mm, 39mm, 1 oz bar size (rectangles) and even a few 38mm for Maples and U.S. Silver Dollars (also for certain silver crowns). Some oddballs come in handy too, especially 36mm (w/ ring) for 1st gen Libertads, Loonies and such.

If you're ordering from APMEX and just need a few Air-Tites you can throw them on the order, but my favorite vendor for stocking up on supplies is Jake's.

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

I appreciate the correction, Curmudgeonista, as well as the link!

Do you (or anyone else) happen to know what size I'd need for the silver Philharmonic?

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

I think Silver Phils are 37mm. Same as Gold Phils. I have a couple of those in Air-Tites, but I don't think they were direct-fit type (can't remember and they're tucked away right now). It doesn't really matter, though, as the ring type Air-Tites are safe too.

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

They are 37mm.

You can get the diameter for most of these coins at the APMEX website. After you click on the "more" button, scroll down and the diameter is listed.

Re: Littleton "slabs"
 

Thanks, guys.