Grading company comparison

coingirl

Can someone please tell me what the rating is on the grading companies.....
PCGS
ANACS
SEGS
ICG
NUMISTRUST
and PCI

Thank you, I value the opinion of the people here on the board, you all have been so helpful and so knowledgeable... Your opinions are a very good value to those of us who are starting to get serious about their coins.

KUDOS !!!!!

Jenn

ccrdragon

Generally speaking:

PCGS/NGC very good (#1)
ANACS #2
ICG/SEGS #3
NTC/PCI <--- bottom feeders along with ACG (and rapidly moving lower on a daily basis)

I treat anything not in the top 2 rows as a raw coin and ignore the plastic that surrounds it.

FC57Coins

What dragon breath said pretty much sums it up

kranky

I also agree with ccrdragon. But please keep in mind that there are mistakes in every services' holders. If you are buying expensive coins, it's critical that you learn to grade on your own.

What kind of coins are you collecting?

Baley

In general, I regard PCGS grade as either right on, or one point (or grade-step, for circulated coins) low.
NGC and ANACS are usually right on, but can sometimes be either high or low by a point.

ICG and SEGS are usually high by a point and sometimes, two points.

PCI used to be right on or only high by a point, now high by as much as 3 points.

NTC and ACG are almost never right on, usually high by 2 or more points, sometimes high by as many as 4 or 5 points... they will also grade problem coins with no mention of the problem.

for "problem coins." PCGS, NGC, and ICG will bodybag a coin that some of the other services will either net grade for a problem (ANACS), give a detail grade and then describe the problem (SEGS, PCI)

The coins in these holders sometimes trade as if the above were always true, and good deals can sometimes be found in lower tier holders. Also, sometimes, coins in "top tier" holders are sometimes relatively overpriced, because of this bias toward them.

But in general, it is best to buy top tier holders, if the price is right for the grade on the slab.

Shamika

#1. PCGS
#2. NGC
#3. ANACS
#4. Doesn't matter at this point.

NGC and ANACS both have their moments and these rankings are only opinions (mine), but most collectors and dealers will treat these companies in this order.

Shamika

Coingirl, turn on your "profile".

sinin1

what do you want to compare??



price of getting coin graded?

slab design - color coordination?

submission turnaround time?

accuracy of grading?

ease of selling and resale value?

chance of finding a real bargain inside?

dollardude

You hit the nail on the head, Shamika. I have a Morgan 1895-O ACG VF20 that probably is only VG10. I just compared it to my Morgan 1893-CC PCGS VG10, and they are very close. So, my ACG is overgraded by TWO WHOLE GRADES! And, I think it has been cleaned, in which case PCGS would have bodybagged it anyway. I purchased it from another collector as about a Fine. That was my first and last ACG purchase!

Edited to Add: I also purchased a Morgan 1893-S PCI G04, knowing it was probably only AG03. Indeed, I just had it graded by PCGS as AG03. So, PCI is not that great either.

Edited to Add: My ICG experience has also been poor. I also purchased my first and last ICG. It was a Morgan 1889-S AU53 that is probably only XF45.

HOWEVER, for problem coins, you have to go outside of PCGS/NGC. I recommend ANACS for these.

If you look at the major auction houses, PCGS, NGC, and ANACS rule as far as most sales!

kamehameha00

1.PCGS
2.NGC
3.ANACS
4.ICG
5.ACG
6.NuMIStrust
7.SGS
8.NTC