Slab Lab Episode 7: John Dannreuther Part 1, 2, 3 And 4

PCGS - John Dannreuther is one of the numismatic world's most highly esteemed coin dealers. An original founder of PCGS, he explains the origins of the company, that in part, began with discussions over Red Book pricing.

"One of Dannreuther's most noteworthy numismatic accomplishments was co-founding Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) in 1986. It began as a book project when he, David Hall, Bruce Amspacher and Gordon Wrubel met after coin shows to discuss writing a series of numismatic texts on each denomination. Instead, they decided the coin business needed guarantees of authenticity and grading to combat the abundance of overgraded coins, altered and repaired coins, and fakes at shows."

Part 1


PCGS' inception was in 1986 and blossomed from the idea of guaranteeing the authenticity and grade of U.S. coins. This revolutionary concept allowed for certified coins to be bought and sold sight unseen, whereas before pricing and grading were subjective based on dealers and collectors needing to view the coin in person. Certified coins enabled increased trading volume in the market, making the hobby/industry much more efficient. Find out how four friends and prominent numismatists developed the grading system, and the original grading standards that evolved in to today's dynamic marketplace.

Part 2


In this episode of Slab Lab, hear all about early market acceptance of PCGS graded coins, the development of "no grade" codes, "details", and "genuine designations", and how to develop and hone your coin grading skills.

Part 3



The final installment of Slab Lab with John Dannreuther, one of the top coin dealers and collection curators in the industry - is HERE. We have some incredible coins on display in this episode, along with JD's advice on how to build a stunning collection. See these coins and the discussion surrounding the 1794 $1 that sold in a private transaction for $12 million in January 2022, a 1954 Proof Franklin half dollar, 1841 Proof Quarter Eagle from the Smithsonian Institution, and a 1921 Satin Special Strike $20.

Part 4