PCGS vs NGC

dlimb2

What is the difference between their grading techniques. What does PCGS see that NGC does not?

ElectricEye

NGC uses specially frosted lenses when viewing Morgan dollars...

ClausUrch

They (NGC) also use "Rose Colored Lenses" when grading Modern Commemoratives.

dlimb2

You guys can not give a better answer than that?

my3cents

I thought this was the US coin forum???

How about this: part of the reason is the marketing job that PCGS has done in promoting their service. They charge more, and you have to wait longer. IMO, that's a large part of the reason that PCGS is widely regarded as "the best".

If NGC decided tomorrow to change their marketing tactics, we could see them equal PCGS in a short period of time, say 2 to 3 years.

I think both services provide nearly the same grading standards.

dlimb2

Thank You 3cents, at least you gave a civil answer.

my3cents

my pleasure There's been many times that I was looking for a "normal" answer here and sometimes, amid all of the ironic, cynical responses, it was hard to find.

But...

it was usually there....eventually.

291fifth

<< <i>You guys can not give a better answer than that? >>



Apparently they can't. I recently lined up all of my PCGS and NGC modern gold commems for a "grade-off". My conclusion is that there is no difference between the two for the grade Proof 69 DCAM/Ultra Cam. I view much of what gets posted here as nothing more than propaganda designed to support the writer's choice of slabs.

Shamika

I don't think that it's a matter of PCGS seeing something that NGC does not, but more the case of how each company interprets and weights a coins attributes.

For instance, NGC may not discount hairlines as much as does PCGS, but NGC may put more significance on strike than PCGS will.

dlimb2

291fifth, I believe that to be very true. Really the only business PCGS and NGC are in ithe business of grading coins. I can not see either one grading coins in error or less objective than the other. THe whole purpose was to create an honest grading system that coin collectors could trust.

Android

I think that NGC grades more to the written ANA standards (however nebulous they are) than PCGS does. People seem to be so enamoured with the "tightness" of PCGS. I often wonder if these coins are simply undergraded. Who is right? Beats me!

ClausUrch

Whoa!, Ya'll should really lighten up a bit and discard the stereotype of the old ruffled boring coin collecting guy that sits in his den with his magnifying glass all day! I can't speak for ElectricEye but he may have been allegorically saying that NGC grades Morgans a bit more liberally than PCGS. I merely alluded that NGC is much more liberal in grading Modern Commemoratives.

Dabigkahuna

So far the biggest difference I see is that NGC is much less particular on border line cleaned coins. That is on 19th century or older coins. IMHO

NGC also seems to have a much less conservative MS70 requirement if you look at some of the pop. numbers in the moderns, especially American Gold Eagles.

This based on my own results in cracking out, crosses and raw grading. I also feel that NGC is seems to be more liberal when it comes to toning. PCGS likes the bright coins.

Oh! The biggest difference! That has to be that PCGS gives you a plastic box and NGC doesn't!!!

Larry
Dabigkahuna

dlimb2

Android, I believe I know the answer, and it has been stated here many times...it would be to buy the coin and not the plastic. Since the mint has changed the way in which they mint coins, there is going to be varieties that have not been attibuted to many coins that are in holders. Once these attributes have been discovered, research can be done as to the reasons this has occured. Then I think many coins that might have been graded one way will be changed. THe only thing I dont like about the grading is that people keep sending in their graded coins and the numbers will never be known as to how many are graded in say MS69. They are just messing up the system.

wallstreetman

I buy the coin and the plastic, if they start sticking the label on the coin, then maybe I wont need to buy the plastic anymore! The Registry is FUN!

Russ

<< <i>I recently lined up all of my PCGS and NGC modern gold commems for a "grade-off". My conclusion is that there is no difference between the two for the grade Proof 69 DCAM/Ultra Cam. >>



This is true. They both pretty much grant the grade automatically, and toss in an occasional 70.

Russ, NCNE

puff

<< <i>I buy the coin and the plastic, if they start sticking the label on the coin, then maybe I wont need to buy the plastic anymore! The Registry is FUN! >>


Wallstreetman... That's the "second" excellent point you've made today!!!! I think you should be rewarded, (or paid), for your making "2" excellent points in one thread!!!!

AmericanSilverEagleCoins

Does either NGC or PGCS list their specific criteria for every coin and how they grade? It would not be fair to compare unless you compare apples to apples. The Frankie issue for instance. NGC looks at 6 bell lines while PCGS only uses 3. Therefore NGC coin would always be undergraded if you apply PCGS bell line standards, but it would be spot on accurate according to NGC srtandards.

I guess a follow up question would be: Why don't they both use the exact identical standard? Based on the Frankie issue I would never submit to NGC since PCGS would always give me a better grade per their standards? I'm sure there are plenty of other coins where one service has a lesser standard than the other.

haletj

No one is perfect, and all grading services make mistakes sometimes, just in my experience ngc makes more mistakes than pcgs.

dlimb2

I believe the grading stadard should be forced to be equal...because if it remains what is the use in getting your coins graded...YOUR WAISTING YOUR MONEY.

Bear

I believe that the best grading service, will be the new to be announced firm

of Lucy & Russ Coin grading service.

nwcs

You know, this whole thread is just plain silly. Just go with whatever you want and ignore what anyone else thinks. After all, the only important thing is the frickin coin!

Neil

291fifth

<< <i>You know, this whole thread is just plain silly. Just go with whatever you want and ignore what anyone else thinks. After all, the only important thing is the frickin coin!

I was in the market within the past week selling/attempting to sell carefully selected, properly graded modern high grade Lincoln Cents. The PCGS and NGC pieces sold easily. The PCI and ICG pieces, which were carefully selected and just as nice as the PCGS and NGC coins, could not get an offer. In the world of moderns the holder IS more important than the coin!

Bear

While this may be a repeat theme, it was not, is not and will be , silly.

Wisdom and insight can be gleaned from all threads. It is only the simple minded

who perceive silliness in all things. You want silly, go play with silly putty.

mdwoods

The Frankie issue for instance. NGC looks at 6 bell lines while PCGS only uses 3. Therefore NGC coin would always be undergraded if you apply PCGS bell line standards

The bell lines do not determine the grade of the coin.

In the world of moderns the holder IS more important than the coin!

True when you go to sell them, that's for sure.

nwcs

<< <i>While this may be a repeat theme, it was not, is not and will be , silly.

Wisdom and insight can be gleaned from all threads. It is only the simple minded

who perceive silliness in all things. You want silly, go play with silly putty. >>

I still say this perpetual discussion about PCGS vs. NGC is just plain silly. Might as well have an argument between people UNIX people and Microsoft people. But if everyone wants to continue wasting their time tilting windmills, I'll leave it to them. I have better things to do like look at my coins.

Neil

dorkkarl

like i said before, coins cracked out of either svc's plastic look better raw.

K s