ICCS

bosox

Eight days ago I sent a coin to ICCS in Toronto for grading. I sent it registered return receipt from the U.S. I expected to have the return receipt back by now and am getting a little nervous. Was registered the right way to send it international? I'm now wondering if it is hung up in customs or something. If customs stopped it, how do I get it back?

Thoughts anybody?

akdrv

Did you declare value of the registered package?

One of my eBay purchases was sent to me from the US by registered letter with declared value of $160. It was sitting at customs for at least 2 weeks. There was no way to trace it and I was getting ready to start a PayPal refund process when it arrived (with a tax invoice attached).

Your package is probably at customs, give it a few extra days.

ajaan

Return receipts from Canada take forever. I once got one back 4 weeks after it was sent.

bosox

Thanks, guys. The USPS on-line tracker now says my item was delivered 11 days after I sent it.

cacheman

You'll now get copies of your original submission form with their assigned numbers to each of the coins. This is essentially your receipt. You'll then get another letter with the same enclosures but with the grades added. That letter will probably show up before the coins make it through customs. I was puckering for a while too when I submitted a megabuck package for a friend of mine in Sweden...it took awhile but apparently they know what they are doing...good luck.

Luvdawgs

I love your 1859 cents, bosox!

bosox

Thanks. 1859 DP Narrow Nine #9, PCGS MS-64 RB. Bought it for $400 in 1982.

bosox

Oops. DP Narrow Nine #2.

Luvdawgs

What a blazer! Very nice, bosox. I have one, but I believe it's only XF.

bosox

Results!

The coin I sent to them was the coin pictured in my sig line. 1859 Canadian Cent - Double Punched Narrow Nine #2. PCGS graded it MS-64 RB. Their 64 pop is 7 (four in RB and 3 in RD) with one at 65 RB.

I sent it to ICCS for a crossgrade (my first submission ever to ICCS). I was worried because I had heard that ICCS was very conservative on Canadian coins versus PCGS. I got the grade notification in the mail today (the coin will follow via registered snail mail). They crossed it at MS-63 RB. I was hoping for an even cross at 64, but am quite satisfied when I take into account the the ICCS population report. Their latest published pop report (dated 2003) list the MS-64 pop at ONE (listed as a crossgrade, so probably the PCGS 65), the MS-63 pop at ONE (mine probably makes only the second) and the MS-62 pop at 7, with NONE higher.

Actually, the ICCS pop report contradicts itself on the MS-64 example. In one section it lists the 64 pop as one, in another it lists it at zero. I'm assuming the they have cross graded the one at 64.

ajaan

How the heck did ICCS call that coin RB??????????? A coin need only be 90% red to be called RED by ICCS. I think the PCGS designation influenced ICCS.

MyWorldCoinTypeSet

I think the PCGS designation influenced ICCS

I've always wondered if this is how ICCS acquired its' "conservative" reputation - look at the PCGS grade and grade the coin one less. Don't do it all the time, because that would arise suspicion. But do it enough that there are a number of coins with a PCGS grade and a lower ICCS grade.

I'm not suggesting anything, I'm just curious.

syraq

So what kind of crossgrade was that? Is the coin still in the PCGS holder with an extra ICCS certificate?

bosox

Yes. ICCS does not crack out coins from other TPG holders. They send it back in the original holder with a grading certificate that references the PCGS number.

Conder101

Do you have any examples of one of those "crossover" certificates?

bosox

Not yet. I just got the letter notification of the grade. I'm pretty sure its identical to the normal ICCS certificate sealed in the flip without the coin, with the PCGS number noted in the comment area.

MyWorldCoinTypeSet

I'm pretty sure its identical to the normal ICCS certificate sealed in the flip without the coin, with the PCGS number noted in the comment area.

That's it exactly.