Sending Varieties Into ICCS Vs CCCS

ICCS will attribute varieties in the Charlton catalogue, sometimes for free, sometimes charging a $6.50 fee. However just because they comment on a variety in the flip, does not mean it will be in the ICCS population report.




ICCS remains conservative about which varieties they comment on. Often, if you don't specify the variety, ICCS will just grade it unattributed. Some varieties they just refuse to attribute. This is where CCCS excels, but how CCCS describes their varieties is not entirely consistent.




This was true 4-5 years ago, but not now. Most Canadian collectors and dealers know that CCCS grades are consistently strict, almost too strict. If you have an MS-65 in a CCCS holder, it WILL be an MS-65 anywhere. Canadian dealers still love ICCS, but give the collectors some credit - rumblings are abound about the inconsistent quality of grading over the past three years at ICCS (some may call it grade-creep). In the end, when it is time to sell your collection, it is the eye-appeal of your coins that will count, not what the TPG grade is. If your point is strictly retention of value, and your coins individually exceed $800 or more in CCN Trends, then consider CCCS hard holders or PCGS. Large heavy coins especially, do not fair well in either companies' soft flips, the mylar insert breaks with a single drop.




Yes, rest assured, both services have excellent track records with this aspect of their service. If possible, deliver the coins in person, or take them to a coin show where a well-respected dealer can submit them on your behalf. Ask other collectors for their opinions on which dealer to use.

SPP has given decent advice here.

I only grade what I'm selling. Coins over the 500 dollar mark I generally shoot off to teletrade and choose PCGS slabs because the larger market on that site are US citizens... thus a US grader.

It's not unusual for me to make a deal to build a collection from my own stock and have them graded as part of the deal. So yeah, let's say it's 100 one cent pieces at the promised MS 64/65 or better mark... To me that's a CCCS bulk grading deal.

But now if someone wants five Eddie twenty five cent pieces I'd be more inclined to get them done at ICCS, I actually think they do a pretty good job on the older stuff though I've seen a few dipped pieces in holders with no comments, they all make errors once in a while.

Dunno, like I've said before I only ever decide the moment I need to actually do something about it. That way I can make up mind then without being tied to anyone's grade in the meantime.

Agree here as well. ICCS will only mention the items in the Charlton Standard Catalog, not their variety sections. They are not a variety verification service service. Their standards seem to have slipped regarding large cents, perhaps others as well, over the past few years. If you want varieties, look to CCCS. If you want stiff standards on large cent grading, ie carbon spots and high luster and red % content look to PCGS. If you don't care, send them to ICCS.

ICCS would be your best bet I think..