Grading Companies

great links thanks nice to have them all in one place

If you were new to this hobby would you go with NGC or PCGS.
I have looked at some of the prices at the PCGS web site and I think that maybe I should grade some of my coins...
What do you Ladies and Gents think

In my opion you only want to buy a coin that is slabed by one of the top four. This is how I see them ranked
1. Pcgs
2. Anacs
3. NGS
4. ICG
I would not buy any of the others out there they more then usally grade a coin higher then it is. that is just my opion

I decided to start a graded type set from my raw types about a year and a half ago. I went with ANACS because I could send them directly without a go-between and it was a little cheaper. I had too many nice coins to leave to my kids without knowing just how nice they were. I've sent about 90 coins in and there are always surprises, both good and bad. It is obvious to me no one will be completely satisfied with any one grader with all coins. I have an NGC 63 come back a 61. An NTC 64 come back 58 cleaned, and PCGS 63 come back as a 61 and one NTC 62 gold dollar come back as counterfeit. I now have a nice 53 coin type set all in ANACS holders but if I had it to do again I would have left it a mixed bag of graders. I also learned I cannot predict what a coin will grade. Everything concidered, I am not unhappy.

quote:

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Originally posted by lou b

I have an NGC 63 come back a 61. An NTC 64 come back 58 cleaned, and PCGS 63 come back as a 61 and one NTC 62 gold dollar come back as counterfeit.

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I was reading the above at work. When I got to the gold dollar part, I yelled out some a bad word.

With due respect to all of the above- It seems to me too many of us have been caught up in this third party grading- IMHO this was initiated by the SNOB investors. If I am a true blue collector-and as such really want what is available now in quality type coins, I really do not need a third party. We need to hone up our own grading skills. Having been avid in this hobby since 1952- I find that I can grade equal or better than the third party grading companies. (Some are atrocious) Slabs are cumbersome-bulky- I like the type albums- or customized capitol plastic holders- Well, not wishing to offend anyone- it is always to each his own. But as for me- I will stick to the RAW coinage. MY grading is as good or better than theirs. I still have my Brown & Dunn grading book (Priced at 50cents) which first came out in 1958. I find that nothing has really changed from their established standards- except some new ones have been invented- and that is the MS (Mint State Grade system. If the coin has appeal to you-athestic and beautiful detail then buy it- I guess it is my age- Because when I go to a show and I see how some of these people are tossing their money around for slabs when there are dealers who still have the same grades in RAW for a fraction of the cost of the slabs. So forgive if I seem obnoxious- My son, says to me now and then, "Dad, I know about your good ole days, leave it be." But, I too am in that group who doesn't always follow sound advice. When we went to a club meeting, we could buy Gold double eagles,Eagles or quarter eagles for (Double face value) yep! Sob sob. But in spite of all that is said and done, I have said for at least 50 years that this is the Hobby of Kings. Knight # XXVIII

Hey, no SGS? hah hah hah.