VAMs And Pricing?

'Hypothetically, if I wanted to buy a 1887-O VAM-22A, let's say EDS. Could I trust what the holder says right now?'

Not if it's NGC, the are NOT accurate with their attributions.

Market perception is very powerful whether real or imagined. Among the four top tier third party grading companies relative to vams, the perception among vammers that I know is that NGC is inconsistent in their attributions and not a good value. The perception is PCGS is typically consistent but over priced. ANACS is considered highly consistent in their attributions but without a registry set is not considered a major player. I have not heard one thing good or bad about ICG.

I used to subscribe to the published price guide Dr. Michael Fey put out. He stopped publication of that guide. Without a realized price guide and seeing most vams (not all) sell for 70% of price guide, you will forgive me if I am skeptical of those who say that price guide is accurate.
I understand it is a guide, but prices are down across all market segments except bullion. VAM pricing is no exception.

Please explain why you can buy them on the cheap?

PCGS has ruled the roost for many moons. They have been the standard for accuracy and consistency ... which equates to consumer confidence and commensurate pricing. ANACs was in third place all those years, trailing PCGS and NGC.

Many are noticing the stricter grading standards applied to those new yellow labels. My latest submission of 15 coins was an eye-opener. I missed my guess on every one of them. All were two grades below my expectations ... I usually bat better than .500. Two were "details-graded" that I cannot see a problem with after hours under 15x.

I can still pick up a yellow label ANACs MS63 for the price of a PCGS 61 or 62. It will take time for consumer confidence to catch up and prices to adjust ... in the meantime Russ and I can still get them "on the cheap".

As always, buy the coin and not the holder. These days the grade on the outside of that yellow holder is a true representation of what's inside.

I think that's what Russ was alluding to.

If you can wade through many pages of CU forums, it will become apparent that the top dealers (and I mean all of them), as well as the most astute and affluent of collectors have realized that ANACS is at the cutting edge of conservative grading now, and that PCGS is in the back seat.... Grading fees between the two are not competitive.... market perception will change within a short number of years I think, as many folks are already opening their eyes, and folks will be cracking out to get their coins into the 'new standard' holder for TPGs..... look for submission fee increases, and maybe even registry sets to follow..... ...(that's how I see it unfolding).

Get those yellow holders now, while they are still cheap.

1893S, I like your attitude and feel just about the same, I would ask, where are you speaking about that raw coins cost more than a slabbed one?
You said,

" ....I still say learn to grade yourself if you're in this hobby for the long haul."
BINGO, You are so right, However I see plenty of people who would rather keep the likes of David Hall in the money, then learn for them selves.......

I personally believe that slabbed coins have been ruining the general coin collecting hobby and that it is not going to help the Vammers either in the long run...Just my humble opinion after collecting for 40+ years...