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PCI
(Photo-Certified Coin Institute)
As mentioned in the Hallmark section, PCI bought all of
Hallmarks slabs, shells and molds when Hallmark closed their doors in
1991. Since that time numerous people have owned PCI, but the slab has
remained virtually the same. The green border was used until about a year
ago when it changed to a gold label. No samples are known with the new
gold label. These samples date back to the early to mid 1990’s when
PCI aggressively promoted their product at regional and national shows.
PCI 0.1
This PCI sample slab pre-dates the following sample slabs and is rare. Only one of this type has been offered on ebay in the last two years and it made a record price for a sample slab, brininging in over $150.00! The slab is like PCI's normal photo-slab and has the word "sample" below the coin type. "-0" appears instead of the grade. I estimate less than a dozen exist today, but there could be more out there. This type is definately one to look for in junk boxes and dealers inventory.
PCI 0.2
Another hard to find photo-slab! The label placement is different than PCI 0.1, but the coin and picture are the same. This slab is as scarce as PCO 0.1 and would be one to look for in dealers stock and junk boxes. There has to be more out there - they just have to be found. Even if only a few dozen still survive, this slab is still worth over $100 to collectors. |
| PCI 1
This is the first sample with the earliest date I have seen. I numbered it PCI 1 since it has the earliest date and the following slabs I numbered as a sub type since they were pedigreed to a different show but still have the same type of coin and label. “NH99” appears where the grade would appear and the show it was handed out (1991 ANA) is labeled in the bottom left hand side. “Sample” can be seen to the right of the show.
PCI 1.1
1992 ANA (American Numismatic Association) Midwinter
PCI 1.2
1992 TNA (Texas Numismatic Association)
PCI 1.3
1992 GNA (Georgia Numismatic Association)
PCI 1.4
1992 Peach State
PCI 1.5
1993 ANA Convention
PCI 1.6
1993 Long Beach
PCI 1.7
1992 FUN Show
PCI 1.8
1992 ANA Show (Summer convention)
PCI 1.9
1994 ANA Convention. Notice that the pedigree has been moved below the date towards the top of the slab label. |
| PCI 2
PCI scabbed problem coins before any of the other services. To distinguish the slabs apart, PCI put the problem coins in their holder with a Red color label. The coin inside this slab is not a problem coin, but PCI probably just used the same batch of coins as the regular samples and just wanted to acquaint the dealers and collectors with the label. Interestingly, it is from the “1992 ANA Show” but does not say which one, ie. Midwinter like the previous example. It warrants it’s own number since the label is different in color than PCI 1. |
| PCI 3
No pedigree appears on the slab for a particular show and the word “NH99” is replaced with “Sample.” |
PCI 4
It has been almost 10 years since PCI has made a new sample slab and things sure have changed! The label is now gold instead of green, and the company has changed ownership at least three times. Instead of using Lincoln cents like the previous samples, PCI put a Washington quarter inside and even graded it (AU-50 which is a low grade for a modern coin). Never the less, it is a neat sample that was made sometime in the summer of 2004 and was discovered in August of 2004. |
