How do you feel about ANACS?

coindaughter

Is ANACS the black sheep little brother of the grading companies, or are their slabs well-regarded? I've seen lots of fighting between lovers and haters of PCGS and NGC, but not as much about ANACS.

What is your opinion?

Tonekiller

Good grading, great prices, and they take the time to teach. A+++ IMHO

TBT

wingedliberty

I have never had a problem with ANACS. I use them occassionally, they are not as well regarded as
PCGS/NGC, but are without a doubt #3 and far ahead of any others. Excellent authentication and
counterfeit detection. Excellent grading of type and silver dolls., but the grading on moderns is bad.


Brian.

beorn

anything older.as in not modern,i would trust completely

Pushkin

ANACS - good price, excellent on varieties, but no snob appeal.

Dave99B

I actually like ANACS a lot, and I prefer their slab over PCGS/NGC. I like the smaller size.

I especially like ANACS for varieties, and for circulated material. I like them much less for UNC stuff.

But you have to be careful. They grade some real junk sometimes. And as will all companies, buy the coin, not the slab --- or prepare to be burned.

Dave

Lakesammman

Similar to PCGS and NGC - I like about 5% of their red IHC's.

cacheman

With homework, I haven't had a problem crossing any ANACS coins to either PCGS or NGC.

Placid

Anacs is ok. If you are slabing for selling pcgs or ngc will probably bring a higher price when selling on eBay.

Can you be more specific on what part of grading-certification if you are asking for a specific reason?

ARCO

ANACS seems to be the kid brother to the more prestigious PCGS and NGC. For circulated pieces they are about 80 percent right on and when they are off, it is by maybe a half grade or so. I prefer circulated ANACS coins, and trust them much more than Unc graded coins.

For uncirculated pieces, the market discounts it some from what a comparable PCGS or NGC graded coin would bring. Seems that ANACS is pretty strong, reliable and a worthy grading service.

Tyler

BigD5

I feel the same as most above. Anacs does a good job. They have gone through spurts where their red and red/brown designations, on copper, can be questionable, and their upper mint state grading can be a bit looser than what someone might expect to find over at ngc or pcgs, but nothing bad enough to stop time or anything.
I'm anxiously waiting the return of a batch of coins from them, as we type

09sVDB

Had a AU58 32D quarter cross from them to PCGS. So by PCGS current standards they are good and it is a nice coin.

braddick

<< <i>anything older.as in not modern,i would trust completely >>


Suprsisingly I think ANACS is TOUGHER on Moderns than PCGS or NGC! You rarely, if ever, see a PR70 or MS70 ANACS anything coin. Even PR69's are tough.

dddangerousdan

I like ANACS. I had a franklin that upgraded from a 64fbl to a 65 fbl when I sent it in to PCGS.

DAN

prooflike

I think they are pretty good on non-moderns, just under PCGS/NGC.

I think the PNG survey and ratings are an accurate indication of the tiering and quality of service of the grading cos.

jdimmick

In my opinion,

Anacs is as good on authentication, varieties, attributions, etc as NGC, or PCGS.

But as expressed by others, and I agree, ANACS has a tendency to grade somewhat liberal in several of the series.
Examples:

Barber Quarters, and Half's you will find several Xf-40 that are only vf coins, Walking libertys as well are sometimes found with a half point to point over graded. Xf-40(actually vf-30) Standing Quarters, Buffalo Nickels, Liberty nickels, lists go on.

They also have a tendency to grade obvious cleaned coins that would be body bagged by PCGS, NGC.

Be careful as others have said on red, red/brn Indians, Lincolns. remember PCGS has the only copper guarantee.

And when it comes time for resale, Time after time PCGS coins will bring the higher money especially when coins cannont be examined sight-seen.

I do not want to knock ANACS, I have seen some great coins in ANACS holders, but always buy the coin, not the slab, just passing on some helpful info.

Jim d

merz2

ANACS is as good as anyincludeing PCGS,with the older coins and varieties.

robertpr

All the coins I've seen in ANACS holders looked right on, and I think the reason ANACS coins seem to sell for less is because the best coins usually are sent to PCGS/NGC for grading, and the rest go to ANACS, partially due to their grading of "problem" coins. Now, I commend ANACS for slabbing and net grading these coins (someone has to do it) but I think it has also attracted the lower-end coins their way. Now, if you're an error or variety collector, ANACS is the way to go!

Russ

<< <i>Suprsisingly I think ANACS is TOUGHER on Moderns than PCGS or NGC! You rarely, if ever, see a PR70 or MS70 ANACS anything coin. Even PR69's are tough. >>



Braddick brings up a good point, and I'd take it even a step further. In the proof Kennedy series, I've rarely even seen an ANACS slab at PR66 or higher. But, I don't know if that's a function of tougher grading, or lack of submissions for modern proofs.

Russ, NCNE

goose3

I've never seen an ANACS PF or MS70.

As far as varieties, I think they are the best at attributing.

overgrading...all companies are known to do this occasionally.

slabbing cleaned coins with no notation or net grade....I've seen this only once or twice and the coins were Very rare, but we've seen the same thing in PCGS and NGC holders too.

I've seen more PCGS coins than NGC coins that have really made me wonder just how they got holdered. At the last show, a 1918/7 nickel with a large gouge on the indian. A '56FE with several Large unsightly rim dings. Just to name a couple.

I use ANACS occasionally. They are fast and friendly. For the most part, I think they are very tough on "problem" coins.

One thing that I do Not like is their "net" grading. IMO they are essentially assigning the coin a market value instead of letting the coin stand on it's merits (not theirs). I think NCS will hurt them because of this. In fact, I have a wreath cent I am submitting to NCS soon solely because of this.

IrishMike

A couple of months ago, I saw a heavily caked proof Kennedy in an Anacs slab, I was surprised it was only graded a 65. I came back 15 minutes late and it was gone. I think Braddick is right. I have purchased a couple of anacs IHC's lately and I would have to say they were down right tough on them. But then I have seen some other series that I have question their grading, but overall I think they have some very skilled graders. I like their slabs too, they don't frickin overwhelm the coin.

dorkkarl

anacs comes closest of the plastic companies to being what a "collector" would prefer. why? in order of imporance for me,

(1) they will slab "problem" coins. it is idiotic for a certification company to reject, for example, a 1802 half-dime that has been cleaned. whether their "net grade" is reasonable or not is secondary to the fact that at least they will encapsulate it, giving the coin legitimacy of certification. note that this is maybe segs's best attribute as well

(2) in my experience, having attrib'd literally thousands & thousands of coins myself, anacs provides THE BEST attribution, hands down, sorry but the other services are not even close in this regard

(3) for what it's worth, their free opinion at shows puts them in touch w/ reality, ie. w/ the coin collectors who actually make up the market

(4) mike faraone & randy campbell are just plain good guys, and i enjoy speaking w/ them about coins, or other subjects, any chance i get.

(5) purely subjective, but their slabs are the best imo, simple, economically sized, and crack out very easily, despite offering excellent environmental protection.

K S

Gilbert

ANACS is the NGC/PCGS of variety attribution, in that they have a monopoly (per reputation) on this specialty. You may notice that the "serious" attempts to make inroads in encapsulating coins are aimed at ANACS (going after the ANACS market-share) by offering the services and discounts usually found at ANACS. I suppose it makes sense, but I believe they are firmly entrenched.

Why a monopoly? As DorkKarl points out they have variety attribution wrapped up, and have had for a longgggg time, and I believe starting out as the arm of ANA hasn't hurt. I hear a lot of variety and error dealers supporting SEGS and a one point PCI, but they still have a way to go to capture dethrone ANACS; SEGS and PCI are trying to be all to everybody, whereas, it seems ANACS knows is market and is satisfied attributing varieties, errors and problem coins WELL. PCGS and NGC continue to rehash MS, Proof and Registry type coins, relatively well. Of course, this is all my perception, so ..... And I forgot to add, you will find jewels in each others slabs, but the top 3 all do well in their respective areas of expertise.

BlueCole

The only coin i have slabbed is ANACS--i have a 1864 2 center that i sent in to get attributed for a filled/polished die. Didn't get it, but i got the Corroded designation!!! (that's one of my weakneses--i can't spot corrosion on cirulated copper) But over all i was satisfied. Be wary, though, if you send it in for attribution, you might get it back as something else.

B.