Generally speaking I've always found them low on mint state stuff- particularly large cents- but recently purchased a MS graded coin in an ICCS holder that was among the worst TPG grades I've ever seen from a reputable outfit. It's a badly hairlined, cleaned XF-details coin given. a 62. #128580;& It was an online auction with bad pictures so I was rolling the dice *a bit* but never been this disappointed in a TPG grade.
Any chance you can upload a couple pics? I mostly stay w/ slabbed PCGS & NGC coins, while ANACS & ICG are 3rd and 4th. Any other slabbed coins, I'd personally want to hold in-hand & inspect myself prior to buying.
ICCS MS-62 is a redflag for me, due to light cleaning or hairlines. The pictures can look great, but in hand I have seen enough questionable coins at that grade to be warry of them. Though I have had nice coins at that grade as well, have even resubmitted and come back as a 63.
Pictures would be great and sorry you hot stuck with one.
Yeah I'll do a video of it: it's grading, so subjective by nature, but I'm pretty confident anyone with any credible experience grading coins and an understanding of grading standards (technical or market, take your pick) wouldn't be calling this a mint state coin.
@coin rejector; I too stick with the 'big 3' TPGs for most all world coins but give ICCS a pass as a specialty grader of a niche I'm interested in. The have a good enough reputation in the world of Canadian numismatics for Canadian coins but this one is truly baffling. Even if we 'overlook the hairlines and telltale old-cleaning patina' it still has wear on the high points. Subjective as grading is as far as a 64 from a 65, or whatever, I'm certain no grader would assign this a MS grade. Last ICCS coin I buy from an internet auction, for sure.
@RPT- I wouldn't do that to the seller. They didn't misrepresent anything, just that the photography wasn't high enough resolution to accurately grade a mint state coin; a risk you take with online auctions. I put this squarely on ICCS for assigning a coin like this a MS grade.
@cdncoins- it does t appear so but it's discussed in the video. These have trivially soft security features so not hard (at all) to replicate, if that's the case OK but it doesn't appear to be tampered with. ICCS is known for being impossible to contact, if anyone has a good source I'd gladly reach out for them to confirm if it's real or fake.
They definitely missed the mark on that one. It's worn and cleaned. As Pacificoin said though all the TPG's have issues. I have a few PCGS and NGC coins that are very obviously overgraded. It can't be said often enough "buy the coin and not the holder".
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning... -from PCGS website
This is just a mile off the mark. Leaves one questioning basic competency and what they're even doing. Overlooking a quirk or being a bit too generous is one thing but a cleaned/hairlined/circulated coin given a MS62? That's true basement-grader stuff.
Overall ICCS is very competent when it comes to grading Canadian Coins . I have supported them since 1986/7 when they started and there have been very few issues . Quite frankly the worst for grading Canada is PCGS closely followed by NGC , especially on 1858 to 1936 material . Every grading service misses on occasion , none are perfect by any stretch of the imagination. To state that ICCS is a basement grader is pretty rich . Also it is very easy to contact ICCS by phone if you call during the hours on the website . Also the advice that I give to my customers is probably apropos in your case . Unhappy with the purchase return the coin and look for a better one .
Well labels do get printed wrong - I've found 2 examples where PCGS has labeled 1970-S Lincoln Cents as "Small Dates" when they were indeed "Large Dates". Your coin sure looks to have wear spots on it. Could the coin have been switched? Who knows. If pictures from the seller are not to your liking then it is best to ask for better pictures.
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Posted 02/20/2026 2:46 pm
