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PCGS or NGC?
shinywhite
Posts: 346 ✭✭✭
Is it really a question of who is better as to preference? I would really like some insight on this. I have very few graded coins. They are all graded by pcgs. I tend to lean toward pcgs simply bc it's just what's already in my collection.
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I prefer PCGS, but both are preferred...depending on what you collect.
Later, Paul.
PCGS for sure. NGC photo is bad on their site. You can't even download the photo. Most NGC coin sell at discount.
I prefer to drink Koolaid for reasons I won't get into and I have always disliked the NGC capsule.
Buy eye appealing, problem free coins. Learn to price and grade for the quality (not the label).
As for submitting, I prefer PCGS. I like the optics of the holder better, and in most cases, the market tends to favor PCGS for U.S. coins.
Siler coins look better in PCGS plastic. Image better as well. Gold is a toss up.
This is an extremely subjective question and due to where you posted the question, you are certainly going to get biased answers towards one of the two grading companies.
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These has been posted before but just to be politically correct and NOT trash the competition I choose PCGS.
There are some series where it doesn't matter much. Maybe a few where NGC is better but I can't name any.
It matters a great deal on post war cameo proofs. I choose PCGS for those.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
Well, I'm just trying to get the best info available for me. If this many people like pcgs ,then I'll stick with them
Drop by Coinfacts and look at auction results for the two companies (in series that interest you). Often there is a significant difference in price.
Lance.
NGC is tougher on strike designations across the board and this is by definition. For instance, NGC requires top and lower bell lines to be full for a FBL Franklin whereas PCGS and CAC only require the bottom two. NGC also designates PL coinage for all regular issues. PCGS does this for Morgan Dollars and select moderns only.
Good Luck...they both equally suck IMO...but only because they charge for their services...pick your poison and then take it like a man
All things being equal, PCGS coins tend to fetch higher prices. As all things are seldom equal in coins, buy the best coin regardless of the holder.
100% PCGS here.
PCGS because in cards, PSA is usually the go to for vintage while Beckett is king for moderns. Since I switched from cards to coins it just made sense to go with PCGS. I also like the capsules a lot better than the NGC's version. Though to be fair if I wanted to pick up any ancient coins I usually only see them in NGC.
A government accident left me a former man, a potato. That photo on my profile is a low resolution selfie. I like coins.
With gold coins, i far prefer to have a pcgs coin over a ngc coin of the same grade
I have nice, attractive, and properly graded in both NGC and PCGS slabs. I'm not a big fan of Kool-Aid and I buy the coin rather than the plastic.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
In the past, I've collected from both grading services but I have focused my collections on PCGS in the last ten years or so. I came to the conclusion some time ago that PCGS grading is more accurate/consistent. I tend to think NGS maybe is a little more generous in their grading but not by a lot. I rarely find NGC coins that I think are under graded. I also like the looks of the PCGS slabs better than NGC.
This question has been asked and debated numerous times. You might consider doing a search for prior discussions. There is no right answer. As I have written several times.... Grading is an opinion and some opinions are better than others. Opinions can change. And not all coins at the same grade level are equal. Those that have the better look should bring higher prices. What usually remains constant is the coin itself. The opinion of a coin can change over time. The key is to buy quality for the grade. Knowing the series you collect is critical as is looking at coins to appreciate what makes them special in contrast to other coins that are just so-so. People can cite auctions and x TPG went for 20% more than y TPG and then conclude well x must be better without consideration of the coin. The choice in plastic is simply not a substitute for what should be considered which is the quality and eye appeal of the coin.
Best wishes in your collecting...
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
My point is that you are asking this question on the PCGS official forums. Of course you are going to get biased answers. If you ask this question on a different forum where less PCGS aficionados and more NGC supporters frequent, you may get opposite answers.
This is an extremely subjective thing and everyone has his or her own personal answer. And it's been debated over and over and over and over again. Probably doesn't require a new thread. You can go look in the history to get all the discussion you want on this topic. T
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It's hard for me to look past the plastic tbh....but I guess this is to be expected from newbie like me
So I take it you like NGC...lol. but yes I understand what you are saying.
I personally don't give the slightest care. I collect some lower population rarities. And so if you eliminate half the coins because you don't like their plastic, that really leaves you with very few options. I like the look of old circulated silver against the white background of the NGC slab, but really when it comes to buying a coin, one of the last things I consider is who graded it. There are many more important things to worry about.
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I think PerryHall has given the route that leads to the fewest regrets. Buy the coin, not the plastic. I have no particular allegiance, and will happily buy any beaut of a specimen regardless of whether holdered, or which holder ... such as the Merc to your left which its previous owner saw fit to put in an NGC slab.
Good night.
Whit.
I really don't know but PCGS seems to be....the bestest coin grading service.
I still like both services, the people that just like one of the services are called "communists"
I like both services but it seems that more coins are available in PCGS plastic. When I was looking for S minted Walkers from 1934 to 1939; I could not find any good examples, or any at all for that matter, in NGC plastic.
However, some of my best coins are in NGC plastic, such as my 17 S obverse, 23 S, 21 D, 27 S and 18 Philly coins. Those coins are irreplaceable, in my humble opinion, in ANY plastic.
It does trouble me, though, that the market prefers PCGS over NGC, as I don't want that to hurt me when I go to sell.
In retrospect, there's no way I could have built my set, the way I did, without using both services. Both are very valuable and I feel that the quality is pretty even. Regardless of plastic, you must always buy the coin and not the holder.
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My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I appreciate your insight on this topic and also appreciate your candor.
I buy the coin, not the holder. I have both!
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Actually, I think they are socialists, unless they use a gun or poison.
I buy both but they all end up in PCGS holders. So I do buy the coin and not the holder BUT I get them into the holder of choice.
I prefer PCGS for many reasons
1) they are the markets #1 choice. They command more money when you sell
2) the optics are better
3) I like uniformity.
4) I do not like the look of the NGC holder
5) participate on the PCGS message boards & enjoy their members only shows
6) I like the True View Service
Mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
PCGS with a glass of strawberry Kool-Aid !!!
I trust both companies so I buy what I like. After that I have NGC coins put in PCGS plastic because I like to do the registry thing. The only thing that sucks is the cost of having the coins switched over from one slab to another. Depending on the amount of coins in your registry you can ask for freebie grading on two or three coins a year but you pay for shipping.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
Like the Tareyton smokers, I'd rather fight than switch!
There are great coins in both companies’ holders. There are also great coins in ANACS and other holders as well as great raw coins.
Keep in mind that if/when you sell, your coins will in part be judged by the holder in which they reside.
Mark has been channeling me again!
if you have ever spent time looking at smaller US coins, things lie 3CS, 3CN, Half-Dimes and Dimes, the you might understand why the NGC capsule is disliked by some collectors. even on larger things like Quarters and Half-Dollars the coins will be cocked which makes them sometimes hard to view with show lighting and nearly impossible to photograph without annoying shadows. the "Prong holder" now employed by NGC was a very good thing for them to do.
As a relatively new collector (10 Years), the most discouraging aspect I find about the grading services are the premiums I see for signed slabs, or first day issue. You take a relatively high Mintage coin, get some celebrity to sign the darn slab, and you have an instant rarity. Complete BS in my opinion. It actually puts too much power in the grading services hands. This has actually turned me off a bit from the hobby. I have turned primarily to gold and silver bullion.
Always PCGS. I hate the big white slabs of NGC. I prefer uniformity, so almost all my slabbed coins are in PCGS holders.
As stated by a few above, I buy the coin, not the holder. I have coins from both services and a couple others...(ICG, ANACS).... The market does lean to PCGS, and if selling, that should be considered. I will also buy raw coins that I like. However, when/if I decide to slab any of those, I submit to our hosts. I do like the slab more than the competition. Also, I certainly have an affinity for PCGS having been on the forum for so long... I also participated across the street, but it is so slow... Cheers, RickO
TRUE FOR US PRE-MODERN COINS BECAUSE OF THEIR MARKETING EFFORTS, PROBABLY NOT TRUE FOR PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING ELSE - EITHER EQUAL OR NGC IS PREFERRED IN SOME AREAS
AND THE HOLDERS ARE EASIER TO REMOVE SCRATCHES FROM
A GOOD POSITIVE, NGC BOARDS ARE PRETTY MUCH DEAD
ME? I PREFER CAC FOR PRE-MODERN US COINS
BEST, SH
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I have both along w a few ANACS and ICG. It’s a moot issue as I refer to TPG, CW, CDN CPG in pricing coins. Most of my slabbed coins PCGS and they are my preference. Coin Facts and their Inventory Manager are fantastic.
The value of a rare coin is a matter between the buyer and seller, each coin is unique in where it falls in the grade range, I don’t get into TPG politics, and I have customers who prefer one or both major services. I price A and B coins higher than C coins regardless of TPG (C coins may be discounted), stickered coins I may price higher due to their cost / respective CAC bid in CDN.
In summary in terms of pricing makes no difference to me but some coins may be discounted bc of lower cost / or priced wholesale at a show cdn bid plus 10 pct.
I submit only to PCGS at this time. I cross any ANACs / ICG where value justifies slab cost.
PCGS over NGC by a ratio of about 5 to 1.
Look at the market. great collections , ebay, heritage. any venue that sells TPG coins. You will find PCGS is more liquid in the market place and typically sells for more then the other firm and are the most consistent overall.
NGC for tokens, ancients, and world coins.
PCGS for type, date and mm sets.
That’s how I roll
I like both but prefer PCGS a lot more.
I do however like some of NGC’s older holders.
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Perhaps this isn't a great analogy, but to me, PCGS is the gold of TPG's while NGC is the silver.
Silver isn't bad, but I'd rather have gold.
I would prefer that all of my collection was pcgs. But the simple fact is, I buy the coin and I really don’t care if it’s pcgs or ngc. Just stick with the coin and forget about the holder. It always works out for me in the long run. But I do prefer pcgs grading.
Ford vs. Chevy, Coke vs. Pepsi, vi vs. Emacs, PCGS vs. NGC -- Holy wars of consumer opinion that will never be won.
I prefer the look and clarity of the PCGS holder, but will pass on overgraded coins in either.
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I agree with you 100% . The "First Day Issue" or "Early Releases" with signed slabs have saturated the market. Now, I do own John Mercanti signed slabs but only bc I didnt pay any premiums for the coin.