APCGS, Who Has Used Them And Your Results

Some coins sell higher in slabs (coins with well preserved surfaces, ugly coins with no wear, etc), some coins sell higher raw (well struck up coins, coins with hairlines but no large marks, cleaned coins, etc). Arbitrage ensures that coins in slabs typically sell higher than if they were raw, while raw coins typically sell higher than if they were in a slab.




When did you last bid in a Nobles auction? If it was in the past 3 years you'll actually find that the opposite is true, at least for pre-decimal coins.




This was probably the one:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/161281062194

I stopped as PCGS established their share in the Australian market, there was no longer a need for a Australian grading service.

I'm guessing after 3 years and they are still trading so obviously THERE is a market for them. Regarding that THERE isn't a market for anymore TPG in the world needed, this would be true. But WHEN we become a cashless society, there will be no need for dealers, TPG, auction houses as coin collecting would become a dying hobby. Ask most dealers, THERE is plenty of them struggling at the moment. In the end the only thing that will survive is ebay


Looking at THEIR registry, I think you will find that they grade more decimal coins compared to pre decimal 70/30% and since they are dramatically cheaper, it is a more viable option for decimal collectors. Once again I will bring this up, THERE is more decimal collectors than THERE is pre decimal collectors.


Are you kidding? Obviously there is a need for them in the market or they would not have survived. THEIR grading fee is much lower than the other TPG companies. With 65-75% of collectors being decimal collectors (and this percentage is increasing on a yearly basis as the pre decimal collectors are dying off) it is a much more price efficient company for collectors to pay $10 to slab THEIR $100 coin than to send it offshore and pay $30. I remember reading in this forum years ago about people believing that they wouldn't survive and guess what, 3yrs later and they are still here. How long is it going to take before you realise that they are here to stay, 5yrs, 10yrs, 20yrs?

The collectors that have an idea of how APCGS have graded in the past are very wary of anything that they have slabbed and it will take a long time before they prove themselves so there are obviously enough novice collectors out there to keep them afloat

Walter is correct.There are dealers that are doing well even with ebay around. Got a nice PCGS slab from WA (Sterling and Currency) 2 months ago from bidding on ebay. So that is an example of a dealer making money off slabs, making money of ebay and making money off new clients from far far away (Sydney).
Some dealers also make the fees they pay ebay a good way of getting online advertising. PPH lists on ebay, I saw her Saflips there and then logged onto her own website. I got the flips, she saved having to pay fees and the postman delivered them.
The dealer who sits in his bricks and mortar shop and waits for customers to walk in to look at his dipped coins is probably thinking coin collecting is declining.

Correct me if I'm wrong but valuations are suppose to be book value, normally for insurance purposes. Obviously their not going to give a certificate out for a $10,000 book value coin with a price of $3500, that would kill the market. People would see that value and because people are always after a bargain, they would be looking at then only paying 60% of the valuation, so $2100. All of a sudden that $10,000 coin is $2100, easy way to lose money really quickly and drive the already low prices even lower. It's a buyers market and has been for a few years now, definitely not a sellers market.


Yes that would be true as an AU-50 PCGS coin would only grade to an EF-40 with APCGS. On the facebook forums they do let people know that they grade to Australian standards.

Only the investment sections of the coin market are going down. There is a general perception by dodgier dealers that the market is declining, but in reality, due to third party certification, the market is just becoming more aware of which dealers are honest and which are not, so the dishonest dealers are losing their market share thinking the market is just slowing.

Im not sure if this is what you mean but a PCGS MS-62 is aUnc is Australian standards.