Is It Worth Send Stuff To Dominion ?

thank you for that that makes me fill a little better that I'm not wasting my money again
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What part of that did you fail to understand, Steve? If she had said, "I want to have these graded for resale," my answer would have been to forego DGS for PCGS.

You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but it ought to be better researched than yours was.

I have never used DGS but have heard some nice things mentioned of their service. I'm sure their graders are experienced in grading and attributing your coins. And yes, they are not a "self-slab" garage operation.

Dave, you also are entitled to your opinion. But...

Domain is a "House Brand" for Dave Lawerence. I have heard that name (DL)for many years, but I can't ever recall them ever running a major auction.

I've heard some good things about DMG also (in Coin World) but who knows who is behind that and realistically the chances of it ever being widely regarded as a top tier service are almost zero.

I believe that to direct someone to anything but a top 4 service is very poor advice. If you need someone to "grade and store" ANACS isn't much expensive cost and is INFINATLEY, is a recognized productand is infinetely more widely respected.

DGS is (at this point in time) not even widely recognized as second tier. It is a "house brand", no more, no less. Maybe it will be more some day, but no new grading outfit has gained much respect in many years. Do your homework. There is absolutely no reason to think this will be the exception.

Like you, really good graders ignore the "slab". I can't. While I have no problems with circulated grades, after 40 years of trying I still can't tell a really nice AU58 from a ms/pl 65. And I most certainly can not accurately tell a 66 from a 67. Since there are big price differences for 1 grade at those levels, and I will only take a 64 if it is the best graded for its type/ year, I MUST rely on the grading services. Collecting Canadian coins, ICCS (up here) is the standard. I'll accept PCGS at one grade lower. I'll take NGC at 1 grade lower if it has strong "eye" appeal. ANACS I accept as real and MS/PL if indicated, but there I trust my own eyes with the (refutable) presumption that it is 2-3 grades below ICCS and 1-2 below PCGS/ NGC. I don't know how to view ICG (other than genuine coins). All others (including DGS) would only be bought to crack out to a more recognized service, if I would even consider the purchase.

Sorry.. by "their grading" I meant DGS's grading (Chuck and Rick and the other experts would pass it on to the graders, I'm sure, after specifying the variety). I keep meaning to go through some of their graded coin pictures to get an idea but haven't had a chance to yet.

Just so you know - I understand our experience varies widely - David Lawrence at any given time has two or three auctions running. Each consists of a combination of consignment and dealer-owned coins/currency, usually a few hundred examples. Each of these auctions ends with a net ranging from US$20-30,000 to as much as $1,000,000. The largest auction I can remember from them was the Richmond Collection a few years ago, which netted around $25,000,000.

They've been the dealer of record for quite a few very high-end sales. I don't know if you saw it in the news at the time, but they were the dealer of record for the finest-known 1914-S Barber dime - a coin which sold for $1,900,000 - and there were human-interest stories in the mainstream news about the guy who carried a 2 million dollar coin in his suit pocket on the airline flight to the new owner.

After the fact, of course.

So, when I endorse DGS, it's based on the knowledge that the firm undertaking the effort is one with a very large reputation at stake, and a lot to lose if the effort is perceived as self-serving.

Which is not to say I have complete confidence - far from it. The jury is still out, and will remain so for years. I agree completely with your assessment of what it takes for a grading concern to prove itself.