How reputable are ICG slabs?

Proof69Eagles

I hear that ICG has the #1 slab in the business, but I wanted to see what the opinions on their grading standards were to everyone? Any info appreciated. Thanks.


P.S. Congrats to the winners of the poorguy1 contest. Alot of beautiful coins posted there. I was drooling for a little bit.

airplanenut

If it's modern, it's almost guaranteed overgraded... they love handing out 70s. With more classic coins, sometimes they're OK, sometimes not.

You will find they are NOT the #1 slab... PCGS, NGC, and ANACS are clearly ahead of them.

Jeremy

CarlWohlforth

I agree %100 with Jeremy.

I did do well with a Type 1 Trime lately. I was able to cross it from ICG MS 63 to PCGS MS 63 and was happy about that. I also have an ancient gold coin in an ICG holder I'm very happy with. However it seems every time I look at Proof Jefferson nickels in ICG holders I'm wasting my time.

JoyofCollecting

I agree with Jeremy.

ER

From personal experience,
Bust dollars: as good as PCGS, NGC
Morgans: overgraded more often than not
Moderns: overgraded more than 95% of the time

Russ

I find ICG's grading standards to be somewhat less than acceptable.

Russ, NCNE

DCAMFranklin

Helpful Link

Helpful Link

paigowjohnny

On a given day you can find nice coins in ICG holders...but like any holder...buy the coin, not the holder and know what you're looking at.

rainbowroosie

IMHO they started out great. If you can find a coin they graded early on, it is probably nice for the grade. With time, lesser coins found there way into high numbered holders. As stated above, buy the coin not the holder.

ohbaby

Stick to PCGS and NGC if you are new to coins or know you can't grade [most of us cannot although we think we can].

razorface1027

ICG = I Can't Grade...Which means____________ (You fill in the blank)

GAT

I have purchased 3 ICGS MS64 Morgans on the bay, submitted 2 to PCGS and they both crossed in grade. They were cracked before submission.

Cameonut

I no longer own any coins in ICG holders - I am not likely to ever buy another. I certainly won't send any coins to them for grading.

Cameonut

GoldCoinLover

<< <i>Helpful Link

Helpful Link



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IMHO, ANACS is #1 for grading problem coins. PCGS #1 on all other coins, NGC second, ICG is fourth. They're below par.

ElectricEye

<< <i>I hear that ICG has the #1 slab in the business >>



You need a new set of people to get advice from...

Manorcourtman

ICG=

Aethelred

The number one service by far is PCGS.
Number two in most areas is NGC.
Number three would be ANACS.
ICG is a distant number four.

If I were giving PCGS 100%, here is how I would rate the others:

NGC - 85%
ANACS - 65%
ICG - 45%

centmaster

Think of it this way: How many IGC coins have you sent to PCGS or NGC and hope they cross, and be thrilled if they do? Now think how many times you have sent a PCGS or NGC coin to IGC to hope to cross? If you answered "never" to the second question like I would, then you would see that common sense dictates here. IGC can claim whatever they want, but it doesn't have to be true.

Elcontador

In terms of mint state 19th Century type, ICG coins I've seen typically have nice eye appeal. However, rough surfaces and an abundance of contact marks for the grade makes me avoid these coins. I doubt any of them would have crossed at the same grade to PCGS or NGC.

The comment re Bust $s may be spot on, as most of these coins at some time were played with anyway. and are rarely original.

XpipedreamR

ICG slabs are extremely reputable. It's the grading of the coins inside that is a little questionable

Proof69Eagles

XpipedreamR,

That is what I was actually referring to when I said they had the #1 slab. I read an article where testing was done on all the different companies' slabs by simulating age and environments and ICG stood up best. I understand from what I read, that PCGS holders didn't do as good as they thought they would.

I believe PCGS probably is the better grading service as most do here. But even still, there are probably coins that slip through at higher grades from all of the TPG's. I have seen an ugly PCGS slabbed MS63 Franklin recently and I just could not believe my eyes that it graded at that level. It has more nicks than the Knicks and was worn in spots.

I only own one ICG slab and it is a MS70 1998 5$ Gold Eagle, it appears the grade is accurate, because I also have a MS69 PCGS 2003 5$ Gold Eagle and you can tell the difference between both coins luster and strike which I looked at under a 30x loupe. The ICG slab stands out next to the PCGS slab. This is why I was asking about the reputation of ICG.

I surely appreciate everyone's input.

WaterSport

Like all the other slabbers...some good days, some not.

WS

dorkkarl

they are very easy to crack out.

K S