Which TPG Service Is Better?

PCGS coins generally have a higher premium. For modern coins their 70 population is usually lower too for what its worth.

Its hard to say more correct grade since part of the process is subjective, but between the two I would say PCGS is a little more consistent overall though both are good.

OK, thanks. Yeah, I knew that the PCGS slabs seemd to do a bit better on ebay. Just wasn't sure if their grading was up to snuff, but apparently it is. Thanks again. Ed.

Grading is so subjective that the only "objective" standard is a rather minimal one - "get my coin within 5 points circulated or a 3-point range in Mint State" - and either TPG meets that standard. Egregious mistakes happen in both slabs (at least, they're egregious to me ), generosity happens and pessimism happens. In any event, all of those adjectives are purely subjective based on the personal opinion of the viewer.

I would generally recommend PCGS over NGC for Moderns; they are more conservative, even accounting for the fact (and we don't consider this too often here or at any coin forum) that NGC is a measurably larger company and grades more coins than PCGS, so their Pops will be larger. Consider the reason why so many of the true rarities can be found in NGC slabs.

All the same, NGC is more generous with top-grade Moderns, but I do not mean that statement to include grades below 69.

The "PCGS Premium" is truth, but I feel that perceived gap in quality does not exist today to the extent that it once did. One reason that gap is lessening: the Internet Age is ushering in a new generation of numismatists (many of them the same old numismatists with a cool new tool) who are more capable of grading the coin and not the slab due to exposure to huge stores of information and shared advice formerly unavailable to them. There was a period during which (IMO) PCGS did simply do it better than NGC, those slabs are still extant and that's the only factual basis left for the existence of the "premium."

Otherwise, just grade the darn coin and pay for what you see.

ANACS does not do well with some issues - Lincolns come to mind - but I wouldn't send a Morgan dollar anywhere else because their in-house talent with that issue is large-gap superior to the other two.

Quite frankly - as you've obviously already determined - the whole thing is a hit-or-miss proposition. As regards authentication, I'd happily trust any of the 3 mentioned above and ICG as well. As regards varieties, I frankly prefer ANACS and ICG to either PCGS or NGC.

As regards marketplace value, the reality is undergoing a sea change as we speak and I honestly do not expect the perceived difference in quality to do anything but lessen going forward. Do not discount the impact the Internet is having on the sophistication of the average collector. I'm going to throw out 5 years as a number (possibly more, probably not less) as the point where the average buyer - even if they lack the personal chops to eye-grade the issue appropriately - will have not only access to sufficient information, but knowledge that the information exists and the sophistication to access it, sufficient to make informed decisions of any issue and judge the coin regardless of the slab.

So if I'm submitting today with long-term hold intent, I'm really not considering "perceived market value" any more.

Here is how I rank them from personal experience, in todays market:

1 - PCGS
2 - ANACS
3 - NGC
4 - SEGS (previously PCI)
5 - ICG

SsuperDdave said it well the top 2 PCGS & NGC are quite competitive, ICG rarely crosses over to either of them, ANACS coins crossover at about 80% or greater in most cases. SEGS I haven't used in more than 10 years, but still never overlook purchasing coins in their holders that could be bargains, because other dealers or collectors won't even consider them, ICG seems most used for modern coins and non circulating stuff (which I don't collect), and never seems to bring sell prices level with any of my top three TPGs.

Buy the coin not the slab, learn how to grade on your own and you'll do okay! For authentication only I rate ANACS as one of the best!

Does this mean that you used to consider PCI to be #4 and you now think SEGS is #4, or are you implying that SEGS used to be PCI? Because SEGS and PCI are two different companies and have no connection with each other.

As to which is better it really depends on what series and what grade range you are talking about.

Yes I know they are/were separate companies, I just read what I wrote, not very clear on my part, sorry for that one I was not trying to be confusing.

I used to rank PCI at #4 before SEGS came along, around the time PCI went under, well not entirely under but they were bought out by David Lawrence, who renamed them Dominion Grading, they didn't last too long either, what with the real competition form PCGS, NGC and ANACS. ICG held on for quite awhile, my friend started ICG and hired some great people like JP Martin as head authenticator, Leonard Standley and James Taylor. They all moved over to ANACS and ANACS moved from Austin to Englewood, CO (suburb of Denver).

Bottom line PCGS, NGC and ANACS are all I would use myself, and mostly ANACS for the stuff I need slabbed, not so much for grading but for variety attribution and authentication. If I had a high dollar coin it would go to PCGS for the simple reason - they usually bring a premium in the marketplace over NGC and ANACS slabbed coins.