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 Replies: 13 / Views: 45,165 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1554 Posts |
Regards to a member inquiring about sending coins off to I.C.C.S.  Have no fear, these guys are the Numismatic Grading Gods for Canadian coins. Soooo highly respected within the Canadian Numismatic society that no other grading service slab will recover the premiums that are paid by buyers of coins in I.C.C.S. slabs. Always keep in mind that I.C.C.S. only grades on technical merit whereas American grading services also grade on eye appeal. Eye appeal is as different from one person to another and can vary widely. I could never understand how anyone could consider eye appeal to be a grading factor for a final grade on a coin since a coin's beauty is in the eye of the beholder and varies from person to person.  Technical grade, however, is a science rather than an emotional opinion which is why I.C.C.S. is known as the "most" Conservative grading service for Canadian Numismatic material. They are so conservative that many professional numismatists make money off of their slabbed coins by merely cutting them out and re-submitting them to U.S. grading services which always grade former I.C.C.S. slabbed coins higher. So can you imagine sending a previously slabbed I.C.C.S., VG-8, Canada, 1894 half dollar to P.C.G.S. and it comes back to you an F-12 or to I.C.G. and it comes back to you an F-15. This could mean an instant gain of $1,500.00-$2,500.00 Can.$ premium on this same coin. This practice is quite common, I do not condone it since it adds to the overall population report of the existence of a particular coin's denomination, however, what can you do when your a pawn in a chess game!  Edited by glenzy1
12/08/2008 2:21 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
 and  ...on your sentiments towards ICCS. They are by far the most respected grader of Canadian coins; PCGS doesn't come close. Quote:
U.S. grading services which always grade former I.C.C.S. slabbed coins higher. So can you imagine sending a previously slabbed I.C.C.S., VG-8, Canada, 1894 half dollar to P.C.G.S. and it comes back to you an F-12 I would not be surprised; I don't think the US TPGs can claim any authority on grading Canadian coins; it's a waste of money to get their slab. Case in point--I have a few NFLD coins graded by NGC that are way over my own standards. By the same token, most dealers in the US overgrade Canadian coins; when in doubt, collectors should feel compelled to contest their grades. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1571 Posts |
I beklieve this post, (not mine), should be "required reading", bu all collectors, especially the new-comers to the hobby. I would not have had the very dissapointing experience that I had with ANACS, had this info been available! I will never slab another coin, for two reasons: I want the coin, "as is", not enhanced by someones'"opinion", and I see no justificatiomn for the outrageous prices they charge for what they do. The coin involved was a 2005 quarter, BU, but so spotted by something, that it looked like "floor-sweepings"! I had gotten 100 in a bag, along with two "P", and two "D" rolls of nickels, all with the intention to put them on ebay. It, incidentally, was the best looking one of the lot! The coin was submitted in March, and not returned until June! They said it was MS-65. It didn't look anywhere that good. RIP-OFF! Dick Edited by livingdinasaur
11/03/2008 1:45 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Quote:
I will never slab another coin, for two reasons: I want the coin, "as is", not enhanced by someones'"opinion", and I see no justificatiomn for the outrageous prices they charge for what they do.  I really enjoy hearing other collector sentiments on this topic, as I'm similarly skeptical. TPGs do serve some useful purposes, yet the slabbing practice has taken on a life of its own, which has muddled truly collector-driven issues. Despite those positives, I find there's one inescapable fact of slabbing: a block of plastic removes me a few steps from my coins. Once my coins are entombed in these tiny coffins, I find them far more difficult to study and enjoy--my main purpose of collecting. Like you, I won't do any more slabbing, unless I must sell a high-end coin. For that very reason, I prefer the soft packaging of ICCS--the coin is a little more accessible. Edited by KurtS
11/03/2008 2:26 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1415 Posts |
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I won't do any more slabbing, unless I must sell a high-end coin. How do you define this high-end coin? I do have a few Canadian coins. How is it shipping them to Canada for slabbing? I worry about such things - can you say paranoid? Finally since ICCS packaging is in a plastic container - is slabbing the correct term? Maybe plasticlabbing? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Quote:
How do you define this high-end coin? By that, I simply mean a coin with a high enough catalog value where collectors should naturally be concerned about authenticity or altered surfaces, such as: Lincoln 1909-S VDB Morgan 1893-S Canada 1948 $1 (I would never buy one raw) Any other coin which is routinely forged, as well as any valuable Asian coin. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
650 Posts |
I have a mixed opinion on TPG, I would feel the pain of buying a copy or a variety that was incorrect, but the added cost of slabbing takes away my ability to aquire. I quess it comes down to the reason you collect. If you have coins as an investment then TPG is a good idea. If you make "collections" slabed coins are bulky and don't display well. Plus I think coins are fun in sets and it's hard to put together sets with slabs. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2408 Posts |
Hi Kurt! "...a block of plastic removes me a few steps from my coins. Once my coins are entombed in these tiny coffins, I find them far more difficult to study and enjoy--my main purpose of collecting" So true. What you need is to be able to open the coffin... That's why all my valued non-certified coins are slabbed. I can easily crack the slab open and observe w/o ever touching the coin.  2x2's are not suitable for long term storage. Other PVC-based albums can be worse. Unfortunately, hard plastic is the best when it comes to protection and long term storage. C.C.C.S. gives a choice between hard and soft packaging. Personally, I'd take slabbed hands down. Marc |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Marc, That looks like a good method! I have a few slabs, and the rest are in air-tites within a safe or humidity-controlled container. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1082 Posts |
What does I.C.C.S. charge to grade a coin?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2408 Posts |
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Valued Member
67 Posts |
ICCS does not want or have a website. The only way to contact ICCS is through Telephone or mail.
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Valued Member
67 Posts |
Try to google CCCS. Their prices are inline with ICCS.
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Valued Member
United States
493 Posts |
CCCS is the new kid on the block in Canada for TPG. They are equally conservative on technical grade. They have a website where ICCS does not, they note varieties on the holders and they have just added a hard plastic slab to their line. The coins in CCCS holders hold value similar to ICCS. |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 45,165 |
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Posted 11/03/2008 1:43 pm
