PCGS Vs NGC Grading Coins

Another view and opinion on slabs. I personally do not like slabs for a number of reason, the biggest being you can't really take that coin in hand and really give it the loving look that a favorite coin provides. You can't really roll it around and get good close-up views of the rims, the raw coin and being able to reflect the light as you roll it around and give it a thorough examination. I have been back into collecting coins for 3 months now, after 20 years of being out of the loop, but my love for coins has never left me. As of this date, I will only collect slabbed coins and mint commemoratives in pristine condition. I have started the process of changing over to this new philosophy due to the fact I do not want my descendants to have to dispose of something they know nothing about which would essentially wipe out my forty years of coin collecting efforts. When I move on I want to leave something that will be able to be valued rather easily and the vultures will have a hard time scamming my heirs. I will keep certain coins until I leave this earth, in order to see them, touch them, cherish them and remember the stories that goes to each coin. Even though I don't like slabs, they do have a certain value for a particular persons needs. I have tried for years to get my children interested in coins but to no avail. Therefore, as I am in the twilight of my life, the slab is the way to go for me. I will continue to get MS coins for my personal edification and joy. I hope this long tirade makes some sense to some of my forum counterparts. Best wishes to all.
Berry

"I'm also not certain what you gauge as the "twilight" of life. I'm almost 61 and feel like I've only just begun to understand life although I have already made provisions for the inevitable which could happen tomorrow or 30+ years down the road."

Fred

Well Fred, with respect to age you would have to call me Sir, but old Dan is "ancient" and I would have to call him Sir. I am in that corridor of life right now that the inevitable may happen at any time according to the Actuaries. I still keep on moving though and enjoy my life at this point in time. Thankfully I am in better condition than I thought I would be, so the good life goes on.
Berry

Rick states:

"and although I respect both of those opinions ,, the problem exists IE No absolutes in the grading skills of the TPG's, No consistency, No peace of mind other than resale,, and this has been and still is the marketing system that the TPG's vie for ,, until that focus changes to consistently grading coins, reliable ,service oriented ,Business, then I still contend that to play the TPG game makes you part of the problem rather than the solution.

Rick"

Rick, a solution to this problem could be found, but the only problem would be the cost to implement the system and participation from all levels of the coin collecting realm. We know this will never happen, so therefore the slabs are an accommodation for some, a burden to bear for others and some really don't care. I will accept the accommodation for now and wait for a better system to come along.
I certainly admire your position and also Morgan Fred's stance. We are all correct in our opinions,just thankful a civilized discussion can be held to exchange ideas on this dilemma.

Berry

Rick, you hit the nail on the head. The top TPGs, especially PCGS not only control the market, but are manipulating it. Any time a top executive sits there and lies to me that a coin has been "harshly cleaned" when a die crack which would have been removed by harsh cleaning is so evident under magnification is the time to leave.

However, I'm not certain that education in grading is practical with so many new collectors coming into the field. It takes a lot of practice to learn to grade coins and even with a lot of experience, we're still only second guessing the TPGs. At the moment, we are stuck with the grading services. If there was some means to force them into honest grading instead of market grading and manipulation, then I would be all for it. The only solution I see might be some sort of class action lawsuit. The only long-term solution would be machine grading (computers and scanners) which hasn't really been attempted as yet. Of course, this would be opposed by the TPGs unless they themselves developed and adopted it.