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Valued Member
United States
112 Posts |
I know PCGS, NGC and ANAC but I see a lot of ICG graded coins in those blue labels. Also seem to notice many of the ICG coins note details like cleaned etc but they might just be coincidence. just wondering what collectors think of ICG graded coins compared to PCGS and NGC. thanks |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
31125 Posts |
Not for me. Use the search box for more info on ICG. John1  ( I'm no pro, it's just my humble opinion )
Searched 5+ Million Cents Since 1971
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6253 Posts |
I love the I Cant Grade Sevice. I often buy their slabs right out of the pail. But in all seriousness they kinda really suck.
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Valued Member
Canada
169 Posts |
Let me put it like this, when it come to PCGS and NGC I don't really like their grading as I find it either too lenient or too inconsistent, however I would use PCGS and NGC almost any day over ICG. I find from what I have seen that the "I Can't Grade" joke about them stand true on many occasions more than I think an "expert third party grader" should have. As far as USA coins, I actually think ANACS is (from a purely non market point of view) the best in terms of grading. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7923 Posts |
If there was a "3rd tier" grading service, that's where ICG would be. They're basically one step above the basement slabbers.
Sets in progress... Mercury dimes, Washington quarters, 7070 Type Set, WLH Short Set View my collection here! http://www.coincommunity.org/galler...hp?cat=10518 ANA: 3183215 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3345 Posts |
ICG does - like ANACS identify more varieties than the big two.
They also slab counterfeit coins in their bright yellow "Educational" label slab, which is good for protection of the coin.
For some idea of scale, their pop report lists 97 1851 3CS. NCG has slabbed 1,325...
-----Burton 45 year / Life ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC Owned by four cats and a wife of 35 years (joined 1983) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8046 Posts |
grading by CCF ranking members here is far and above better than ICG
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Pillar of the Community
United States
739 Posts |
I don't know, have you seen some of the G4-VG8 Indian cents NGC and PCGS are now grading straight? What a deal $36.00 per coin slab. ICG is just fine for me on anything under 200.00 how many critics of ICG have purchased more than a dozen and compared a VG8 or F12 Indian cent or Buffalo to the other 3 TPG's? I have not seen the drastic ineptitude some allude to. I bargain shop ICG Buffalo and Indians and have encountered 2 unlabeled cleaned coins out of over 24 ICG coins. ICG is simply an affordable alternative to the other 3. Will I buy a 1909 S vdb MS in ICG slab probably not. I have seen some solid low grade coins in their slabs, pick and choose I say. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5108 Posts |
I think ICG is OK for circulated coins but they seem a little loose for mint state pieces. I have successfully crossed some ICG coins into PCGS slabs at the same grade, but other MS coins were downgraded a point or two in the process. They seem reasonably accurate on authentication. I am willing to purchase ICG-graded coins if they look good and the price is right. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8046 Posts |
there is where grading the coin and not the slab comes into play. regardless of the TPG |
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Forum Mom
United States
5868 Posts |
The biggest advantage I've seen with ICG is that they slab ancients. Other than that, I actually prefer ANACS. PCGS and NGC market grade and I prefer techical grading. I just don't think that the rarity of a coin should affect the grade, though it would certainly affect the value. Knowledge is the key to collector success!
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Valued Member
Canada
169 Posts |
Quote:
I just don't think that the rarity of a coin should affect the grade, though it would certainly affect the value.  I also don't think toning should have an effect on the numeric grade.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3086 Posts |
ICG at one time was an extremely competitive service. When it first came out it's slabs were one of the ones to seek out due to their high grading standards. In later years, the public began to sour on them due to their taking on the mass grading of modern coins (and perceived generosity of giving out the lofty 70 grade), although their classic coin grading was overall still pretty good. They had some of the best graders and most knowledgeable in the business, including J.P. Martin (who I met a couple of times). I think J.P. stayed on with ANACS when ICG moved to Florida (there was a very odd company switch-over which I still don't understand exactly what happened; in my view the ICG office remained in Denver and renamed itself as ANACS and the ANACS office renamed itself as ICG and moved to Florida, but that's obviously not really what happened). I also was friends with one of the graders, Cameron Keifer, who unfortunately suffered a complete mental breakdown (due to a number of factors, none the least of which was dealing with financial challenges) and committed suicide at a very young age.
Today, I would possibly buy a coin in their slab, but I would scrutinize it carefully and know what I'm buying. I would guess they're still reputable and they're trying to be a contender in a very tight grading service market.
Specializing in 2-3-20 cent pieces and 19th Century Proofs
Did someone mention 3CN?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12931 Posts |
Quote:
The biggest advantage I've seen with ICG is that they slab ancients. Currently ICG does 1600 to present which they all do (unless they've changed and didn't update their forms), the old ICG did ancients as well in the green label slab. ANACS and NGC do ancients as well, but NGC doesn't guarantee them to be authentic though Barry makes his best effort that they are. Quote:PCGS and NGC market grade and I prefer techical grading. All the TPGs grade that way to their company standard. The market grading aspect of it is overblown in general though, it holds back just as many coins for being ugly if not more than the coins it helps for insane eye appeal. The date and MM matters for all of them though as different machines and quality were produced in different places. It's not an issue anymore with ultramoderns. Quote:
I also don't think toning should have an effect on the numeric grade. It's impossible to remove it. It's part of eye appeal which is part of a grade. Quote:
I think J.P. stayed on with ANACS when ICG moved to Florida (there was a very odd company switch-over which I still don't understand exactly what happened; in my view the ICG office remained in Denver and renamed itself as ANACS and the ANACS office renamed itself as ICG and moved to Florida, but that's obviously not really what happened). That's basically what happened in terms of employees though I believe those locations are incorrect. They both got bought out and several of the ICG and ANACS staff basically switched companies. It wasn't a 100 percent switch obviously but there were several that did Not to long after ICG actually ended up filing a lawsuit against ANACS for using their previous knowledge to win some grading contracts away from them. If I remember correctly ICG ended up getting a settlement out of it. There's a bunch of decisions on it if anyone wants to look them up. SLATER NUMISMATICS LLC v. DRIVING FORCE LLC ANACS
Fire A.J. Preller
Go Navy Beat Army
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Posted 12/05/2019 1:32 pm
