Someone slap me back into reality: I'm beginning to like SEGS more and more.

braddick

I've picked up a few SEGS coins lately and surprisingly each has been a treasure. Great coins (real toning) and not the full retail price I'm used to paying with PCGS and to a lesser extent, NGC.
Now, I know SEGS has their problems- many have been pointed out on this forum, but lately- at least the coins I've looked at, have appeared pleasing and the grading accurate.
I also like the fact you don't see a bunch of "MS70" this or "PR70" that in their holders.

I know the bubble will probably burst, but for now SEGS is on my top three favorite list. What has been your (recent) experience? Is this just a fluke?

lordmarcovan

Hey, I've always liked SEGS, though it has sometimes gotten me laughed at.

1) They have the best capsule on the market (if one could only get it with an Intercept insert like ICG has, it'd be unbeatable).

2) Their customer service, in my experience, has always been friendly and professional.

3) I have always been pleased with the results of my submissions to them- the coins have usually come back exactly as I would have graded them myself. I have even agreed with the results when they "asterisked" my coins for problems (problem coins are noted with an asterisk and a description on the label). Once or twice they have graded my coins 3-5 points higher than I personally would have, but that's better than the other way around, right?

4) They're from my home state.

I used them when you could get $10 submissions (usually by clipping out a submission form from their Numismatic News ad). At any more than that, I'd go to ANACS instead- I don't think SEGS grading is worth more than ten bucks a coin, but at that price level it was worth it, and waaay better than PCI, IMHO. Too bad their liberal grading has cost them their reputation, much as ICG's grading on moderns has cost them a lot of credibility. If SEGS would tighten up enough to repair their reputation in the marketplace, use some sort of spell check when they are typing the labels, and price submissions at $10 or less, I'd go back to 'em in a heartbeat.

Placid

Why do they mark coins "baggy"?

koynekwest

I've said it before-I'll say it again-they're as good as anyone else in the business, and their customer service is second to none as is their slab.

Pushkin

Two of my Indian Head cent treasures are in SEGS holders, an 1873 DDO AU-50 Snow-1 (the King) and a 1877 AU-55 (the Chief). I don't feel guilty about them; they are beautiful coins and they were both purchased at a BIG discounts. They will stay in SEGS holders, thank you very much.

IrishMike

I'm with Pushkin, I have a gorgeous IHC in one of their slabs, that I bought for next to nothing.

DCAMFranklin

Well Braddick, we often disagree but we sure don't here! I ALWAYS stop to inspect a SEGS holder, even when it holds a coin I don't really appreciate. I have found their coins to be VERY consistently accurate in grade. My "crack-out" for re-grade experience with SEGS coins have been nearly perfect. That is over a very large spectrum of coin series, usually classics. They will tend to give a Camoe grade, when it is not warranted. However, it is very similar to what NGC has done in the past.

EVillageProwler

My very limited experience with SEGS is generally positive, but I still dislike their holders. I find the slab to impart a translucent, hazy look to the coin. And, they're so hard for me to crack out.

I have bought a SEGS slabbed coin -- and early dollar -- and I love that coin. It's been cracked out, of course, but I love the coin and hate the holder. So, I bought the slab, kept the coin and trashed the holder.

Same thing with ICG... I hate their slabs because of the hazy look it gives off.

EVP

KoinKollector

Ive been a big supporter of SEGS almost from the start. Rob, right now they still are doing a special, $7.50 a coin, no min or max coins. Also, if you join the "SEGS club" its $7 a coin for 10 coins, but I have heard from a few people that Larry will extend it quite a bit. A big thumbs up for SEGS from me

RotatedRainbows

I have picked up one SEGS coin and could not believe it was only graded 64, it is a super clean 79-S Morgan with SUPER rainbow toning on the reverse and is what could be considered semi-prooflike (it now resides in an NGC MS65* holder). Like I always say there is undergraded coins and over graded coins in ALL services holders (except for ACG) which is why I will look at any coin regardless of holder because you just never know.

FC57Coins

Well Pat:

My experience with SEGS is that they are all over the board. You can get some good coins, but they can also give some overgrades too - as long as the dealer you're dealing with can talk to you about the coin and not the grade on the slab you're ok - for the most part I have to look at SEGS coin very very carefully - but they're not all bad - especially with circulated stuff.

Frank

airplanenut

*slap*

BAD BRADDICK!

supercoin

I've bought a number of SEGS Ikes, and found their grading to be pretty accurate. Including a beautifully toned one that's now in a PCGS holder at the same grade.

I have seen some "super grade" SEGS Ikes advertised for sale (but not in person) that I'd be a bit suspicous of the grade (compared to PCGS), simply because a knowledgable seller would get at least 10X the price in a PCGS holder. For the same reason I'd be leary of expensive high-grade anything in a SEGS holder.

But if I were looking at the coins in person at a show or something... I think a SEGS coin is definitely worth slowing down for a look.

BigD5

It's a fluke. Short and simple. A couple local dealers I know send in the problem stuff because they won't net grade the coins. Just notate the problem.
Of course you can find a decent coin here or there in their holders, but overall...........fluke.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>Why do they mark coins "baggy"? >>



I agree- that's a bit informal and strange. At least they spelled it correctly. I have seen more than a few SEGS slabs with the secondary line of text on the label containing misspelled words.

I think they have a lot going for 'em and I do like them, but until their reputation improves, I'll stick with ANACS.

dorkkarl

are you sure the "mispelled" words aren't just abbreviations? i know the abbreviate a lot, like "lite clng" instead of "light cleaning".

as far as i'm concerned, segs offers totally as much value as pcgs & ngc. you pay for an opinion, that's all you get. i'm sure that pcgs & ngc worshippers would bash any other service 1st chance they get, not sure why they haven't done so in this thread already.

K S

jamesfsm

I sold Braddick one of the SEGS coins.

I don't think the coins in sEGS slabs (or any slabs) reflect on the slabber. It's a reflection on the submitter who is often just looking for a cheap price to get coins into slabs. PCI used to be that beast.
It's now SEGS.

RJB

I will not purchase varities attributed by SEGS. I collect Kennedy varieties and of the several that I have bought that were attributed by SEGS about half were incorrectly attributed. The most recent was a 1974-S that SEGS attributed as an RPM. On this particular date the mint mark punch was itself doubled about half way through the year when the old punch was replaced. So early die stages show the doubling on the S.
Also I have met the folks from SEGS at several shows and have looked through the raw material that they have for sell at their non-SEGS table. Focusing on the Kennedy varieties again I am very careful of what I purchase from them as most of the coins are still in PVC 2x2's and the attributions at times are very questionable. Though I must say that the gentleman that I usually deal with is very friendly and helpful and will usually give me a good deal. BOB

EVillageProwler

as far as i'm concerned, segs offers totally as much value as pcgs & ngc. you pay for an opinion, that's all you get. i'm sure that pcgs & ngc worshippers would bash any other service 1st chance they get, not sure why they haven't done so in this thread already.

I'd be careful about this statement. One of the really important aspects of having a reputable service grade your coins is the warranty that comes with their opinion. I believe ICG and ANACS, in addition to PCGS and NGC, offer reasonable warranties.

I do not know about SEGS, NTC, PCI, etc.

I think the warranty is an important indicator of that service's confidence in its product.

EVP

dorkkarl

anacs, icg, pcgs & ngc offer HALF a guarantee - that a coin will not be overgraded. however, as has been complained about frequently on the forum, they do not guarantee against undergraded coins, which is just as problematic. ie, the bottom line is none of the "big four" offers a true "guarantee", which is that a coin will always be 100% consistently graded. in my worthless opinion, this is no worse than segs or pci or acg or anyone else offering no guarantee.



<< <i>I think the warranty is an important indicator of that service's confidence in its product. >>

i agree, which is why i keep bringing up that point, that the "big four" have 50% confidence in their service, since they simply will not guarantee against undergrading.

K S