Man, a lot happens in 8 years looking back-
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1963763.msg19520346#msg19520346I made that topic and we have kinda gotten there but kinda not, as well. @owlcatz (reply to someone asking about grading Kialara’s very nicely shutting the idea down 😛., well now PCGS does, maybe NGC? I can’t keep up but I also don’t like either company because they do shady/shit business. PCGS does not allow drop offs? Fuckn ridiculous! I could go on (to no ones surprise). But the slabs are huge and make Kialara’s way less fun to play with after that. I guess I understand if you plan to send to an auction house (after authentication by a ghost, prob Elias, a non-expert so still trying to figure authentication procedure out. This is going to backfire, sooner than later too).
That said while Max was ridiculously generous having cases made, and while it took me some time to have the discussion with him being a buddy and him being VERY generous…I never trusted the cases fully and saw air pockets the day I got them. As anyone knows who’s bought a clear phone case ..no clear soft material will hold its color or provide an “air-tite” fit (technically not even slabs do, I know). Half of mine are yellowing, fog up and while I’ve had a couple bars in them, and not sure if they have created any damage, others have reported slight issues (@MinerJones could speak to this better than I).
In that old thread LesbianCow and I were adamant about using high end acrylic ONLY. Max rightfully was concerned about it damaging his art. He still is (still, very understandably). I’ve assured him a proper fitting acrylic case will NOT damage anything. I’ve got coins with big jewels on the outside, all sorts of metal types (hard/soft) and everything in between in acrylic caps, plus 10oz silver bars in the air-tites.com cases which have been in them a decade now..zero issues what so ever.
My idea, price out a one size fits all bars acrylic case. For the newer small bars, custom inserts would be placed in all corners to hold them in place, retaining protection and still looking professional.
I spent an hour + on the phone with air-tites.com a few days ago. While they don’t manufacture, they are the leader in 3rd party resale for coin collectors needs (namely acrylic capsules/cases) and have close relationships with their producers. I spoke with the owner directly who was very receptive to our hobby, Kialara’s and is helping me out more than he certainly has to. Should know more soon!
For those of you who plan to hodl your Kialara’s forever, like myself, this imo is a no brainer.
Interested ? (Price point unknown, but it would be at cost, of course).
If anyone knows makers who could accommodate such a project plz chime in. Anyone in touch w @BG4?? Believe his company could makes these np.
(Sorry for the novel but I wanted to be thorough).
Cliff Notes-read the colored sentences only