Some ANACS/PCGS Grading Comparison Results

moosesr

I have two 1885 Liberty nickels that I bought in 1995, one PCGS AU53 and one raw that I thought was XF45. The raw coin had some small spots on the reverse, so I gave it a light cleaning. I sent the raw coin to PCGS with the coupon out of my PCGS Grading Book and it came back VF35. About two years later I removed both coins from the slabs and put them in 2x2's. Recently I started to worry about them corroding in the 2x2's (I didn't actually see any corrosion), so I sent both coins to ANACS for grading, I did this because they would accept just two coins for grading and I have also had several ANACS coins cross over to PCGS at the same or higher grade. Guess what, the previous PCGS AU53 was graded as ANACS AU58 and the previously PCGS VF35 graded AU cleaned, Net XF40. I don't have any pictures of the coins or I would post them. I just thought it was interesting about the grading difference between the two services on these circulated coins.

Charlie

dollardude

Getting a grade from PCGS does not guarantee an uncleaned coin. I was just looking at a Morgan 1892-O PCGS AU53 that David Hall Rare Coins had on eBay. To me, it looked harshly cleaned. Link: 1892-O Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS AU53. In general, I think PCGS does a better job on grading and in determining if there has been a harsh cleaning. PCGS will, however, grade lightly cleaned coins by penalizing the grade slightly.

moosesr

Hi Dan, Do you think PCGS probably downgraded the coin to VF35 because of the light cleaning? I really don't think the cleaning is that noticeable, but when considering resale of the coin, do you think it is better to leave it in the net ANACS graded slab or remove it and sell it raw?