SICC

SICC

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SICC - Southern Idaho Coin Club founded in 1957. Come at 6 pm, buy pizza, and enjoy with others. The meeting will start at 7.

The club meets the first Thursday of each month at Idaho Pizza in Boise, at 7444 W Fairview Ave, near the corner of Cole. SICC Southern Idaho Coin Club Established 1957

09/01/2026

A Brief History of Coin Slabs
For today’s coin collector, a professionally graded coin sealed in a plastic holder is almost taken for granted. But the “slab” is a relatively recent development in numismatics with a history closely tied to the growth of third-party grading and the need to authenticate, grade, and protect coins.
The story begins with ANACS—the American Numismatic Association Certification Service—in 1972. ANACS was created to address the growing problem of counterfeit and altered coins. At first, however, ANACS did not put coins in plastic holders. Collectors received a photographic certificate showing both sides of the coin along with information about its authenticity. Grading was eventually added to the service in 1979. Over the following years, ANACS and other companies experimented with ways to combine certification with physical protection.
Then, with the founding of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) in 1986, it upped the game with a numbered, standardized grading system combined with a tamper-resistant plastic holder. The idea was revolutionary: an independent company would authenticate and grade a coin, then seal it in a holder, giving buyers confidence that the coin inside was the one that had been examined.
Those earliest PCGS holders are now famous among collectors as “rattlers.” They earned their nickname because the coin could move slightly inside the holder. Today, early PCGS holders are collectible in their own right, with collectors identifying different generations by holder design, label style, and other subtle characteristics. ANACS also eventually transitioned from its photographic certificates to encapsulated coins.
Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) followed in 1987, adding another major player to the growing third-party grading industry. Over the years, holders became stronger and more secure, while labels gained holograms, barcodes, and increasingly sophisticated anti-counterfeiting features.
But the story of the slab did not end with PCGS, NGC and ANACS. In 2007, Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC) was founded by 23 leading members of the numismatic community. CAC took a different approach. Rather than initially becoming another grading service, it examined coins that had already been certified by the other three companies. Coins that met CAC’s stringent standards for quality within their assigned grade received the now-famous green CAC sticker. CAC says that fewer than half of submitted coins receive the sticker.
Then, in 2022, CAC took the next major step and formed CAC Grading. The new company applied the same philosophy of accuracy and consistency to a complete third-party grading service. They assembled more than 150 members of the numismatic community and began accepting coins for its new holders in 2023.
CAC has already become part of the collecting story of slabs. Interestingly, even its holders are now being divided into generations. Old Slab Holders documents several CAC generations beginning with the first holders produced in 2023, with additional label and holder changes continuing through 2025 and 2026.
What started more than 50 years ago as a way to authenticate coins has evolved into an important part of modern numismatics. Today, collectors not only collect the coins inside slabs—they sometimes collect the slabs themselves, preserving a fascinating history of how the hobby has changed.
For more photos and more specific information on the different generations of slabs you can find it at www.oldslabholders.com.

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September News from Southern Idaho Coin Club 08/29/2026

September News from Southern Idaho Coin Club Email from Souther Idaho Coin Club September Meeting - Pizza and Coins!   News from the  Southern Idaho Coin Club Sept. 3rd Meeting  - Pizza, Coins & More! Coming soon, our meeting on Sept. 3 at

Senate passes bill that could change nickels and how you pay with cash 08/12/2026

Senate passes bill that could change nickels and how you pay with cash You’ve likely already noticed some changes when paying with cash.

The Cárdenas Medal 08/05/2026

The Revenue Cutter Service became the US Coast Guard in 1915

The Cárdenas Medal Congress has a long tradition of awarding medals to honor individuals, groups, and events. The Second Continental Congress approved the first Congressional Gold Medal on March 25, 1776, to honor General George Washington for his “wise and spirited conduct” in forcing the British evacuation of Bo...

07/19/2026

If you are relatively new to coin collecting you should watch this video. It’s a bit long, but this dealer provides a lot of great info on coins that people are selling online for way more that they are worth just because they are in a plastic holder.
 https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BgYubfK7Y/?mibextid=wwXIfr

US could get a new nickel under bill passed by the House 07/16/2026

Is a new nickel on it way? Probably.

US could get a new nickel under bill passed by the House Without the penny, the nickel has presumably gained some value. It could also get a new look.

U.S. Mint Liberty Bell Coins Revive a 111-Year Numismatic Rarity, but Also Raise Collector Concerns 06/28/2026

You might have to get a mortgage on your home if you want to buy either one of these two gold coins from the US Mint.


U.S. Mint Liberty Bell Coins Revive a 111-Year Numismatic Rarity, but Also Raise Collector Concerns The U.S. Mint’s $19,600 Liberty Bell Coin Revives a 1915 Rarity, and a Pricing Fight The 2026 Liberty Bell gold coins mark one of the boldest U.S. Mint

05/20/2026

Our big coin show is just around the corner.

May News from Southern Idaho Coin Club 05/06/2026

https://conta.cc/42Rp5D3

May News from Southern Idaho Coin Club Email from Souther Idaho Coin Club Big Coin Show This Month   May News from the  Southern Idaho Coin Club Our Coin Show is Almost Here! Mark your calendar for May 29 and 30. Friday, May 29th - Noon

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Address


Boise, ID
83704

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm