Thread: which grading service to use?

I've got a couple coins I'd like to have certified and was wondering if any certification service was superior to any other. Some of the coins include a 1916 d merc in AG, and an error cent struck over already struck dime. I'm thinking of selling the merc on ebay and figure the certification will remove any doubt about authenticity.

The top four are :

NGC
PCGS
ANACS
ICG

If any doubt about cleaning or altered surfaces, ANACS should be used as they net grade problem coins.

Originally Posted by National dealer

The top four are: NGC, PCGS, ANACS, ICG ...

Do you rank NGC above PCGS because Rick Montgomery has moved from the latter to the former? It was accepted that his policy of correcting mistakes put PCGS on top. Market pricing tends to support this, with the two firms being very close sight-unseen, but with PCGS perhaps marginally preferred.

I am just an observer. I have only one slabbed coin, an ICG. I never met Rick Montgomery or worked for either of his companies. I did work for Amos Press (which owns ANACS) but I doubt that any of the people at the grading company could pick me out in a crowd and I coudl not identify any of them, either. I do know J. P. Martin and James Taylor of ICG on sight and have interviewed them for articles about the grading and certification of ancients, which ICG does.

So, I was just wondering if your ranking was accidental or purposeful?

Michael

I have liked NGC for a while now. While adding Rick Montgomery to the fold will certainly help, I have found NGC to be a bit better overall in grading. PCGS still holds a slight edge in the market, but as you noted, this gap is slowly closing. They are also gaining ground with the paid endorsements from the ANA and PNG.
I made this list of grading companies based on my personal preferrences. I do like the approach that ICG has implemented in their grading approach. There new holders are fantastic, and they are making considerable improvements in the sight-unseen market.
For attribution, Anacs is by far the leader. NCG and PCGS still have very limited understanding of the variety market.

Do we really need a TPG service to "grade" an AG-3 Mercury dime?

I believe the OP is interested in "authentication". Any of the companys mentioned can do that quite well.

I believe when it comes to a key date coin, even if you are sure it is going to be sent back in a bodybag, it will be noted as to why it was put in a bodybag, and overall, if it isn't noted that it is altered or anything similar, than I believe that anyone will feel more confident in knowing for sure ( when they put it in their collection / buy / sell ), that the coin is in fact authentic material. Back in my early years of coin collecting, that was mainly what I bought, was key date coins that had been sent back in a bodybag to my dealer when he sent them off to be graded. Coins like this are usually price slashed, and are very great for first time coin buyers, then, they can work their way up from there.

Originally Posted by Pennycase

I believe when it comes to a key date coin, even if you are sure it is going to be sent back in a bodybag, it will be noted as to why it was put in a bodybag, and overall, if it isn't noted that it is altered or anything similar, than I believe that anyone will feel more confident in knowing for sure.

Pennycase, the only problem that I see with your logic is that body bags are not sealed. Any altered or fake coin can be added to a bag and passed off as a problem but authentic coin. The main purpose behind grading key dates is authenticity. There are thousands of very good fakes on the market.

Originally Posted by GDJMSP

...And if money or being able to afford it is the issue - and it almost always is - try to buy the more expensive and harder to find coins first - not last. This will save you money as well. For the common dates do not increase in price like the hard to find dates do. And by waiting, the hard to find dates will only be more expensive when you do get around to buying them.

My dream colletion... a type set composed ONLY of key coins from each series. You are right, my keys have doubled in value while most everything else remains the same.

I have sent coins to PCGS and waited nearly 2 months for them to grade coins. I did so that in the event I want to liquidate/trade these coins, I know that PCGS coins get a premium for the same coin in the same grade. Of course, the debate is the word "same"...almost like is, is!

Otherwise, I like using ICG for they are doing all of the right things (in my opinion). Their slabs with the Intercept Shield provide the best slabbing protection over any other grading service and I always pay the additional $3 for the Intercept Shield. This way, all things being equal compared to other grading companies, their coins are going to STAY a particular color and tone. Plus the black background really shows the true color of the coin. Since black, from a color science aspect is absent of color, it does not reflect color. Also, their grading seems fair and conservative...but that's just me!

Originally Posted by Pennycase

I believe when it comes to a key date coin, even if you are sure it is going to be sent back in a bodybag, it will be noted as to why it was put in a bodybag, and overall, if it isn't noted that it is altered or anything similar, than I believe that anyone will feel more confident in knowing for sure ( when they put it in their collection / buy / sell ), that the coin is in fact authentic material. Back in my early years of coin collecting, that was mainly what I bought, was key date coins that had been sent back in a bodybag to my dealer when he sent them off to be graded. Coins like this are usually price slashed, and are very great for first time coin buyers, then, they can work their way up from there.

sorry if it's a dumb question but what is a "bodybag" ?

A bodybag is a small polyethylene bag that contains any coin that is deemed cleaned, altered, corroded, damaged, or anything else that keeps it from being graded and encapsulated.

And the coin that gets "bodybagged" gets charged just the same if the coin was slabbed!

Thank you sir, may I have another...Ouch!

Originally Posted by Ed Zak

And the coin that gets "bodybagged" gets charged just the same if the coin was slabbed!

Well, think about it. You are paying for the grader's opinion*, not a particular grade, and his opinion is that you have a cleaned/damaged/counterfeit/whatever reason ungradeable coin.

*Of course this only applies to reputable graders - there are some TPGs where you probably would be paying for the grade.