Question about High Grade $20 Saints

Longacre

Does it matter if the coin is graded by PCGS or NGC for a high grade Saint? Which generally sells for a higher price, sight unseen? Irrespective of the fact that you should buy the coin and not the holder, is there a bias one way or the other in the Saint market in terms of TPGs for MS-64 and higher Saints? Thanks.

dthigpen

PCGS graded ones often carry a slight premium, for registry purposes.

100proof1957

I think there is a general bias against NGC

RYK

I would like to hear from dealers and collectors who specialize in this area. I would opine that date collectors of Saints, especially if they are Registry participants, prefer PCGS Saints. There are 50 registered circulation Saint sets at PCGS. Four of the top 5 sets in the NGC registry for Saints are 100% PCGS and the other one is about 75% PCGS. I think that this is like other areas where the collectors clearly prefer PCGS coins, but I have little experience in this area.

For the generic Saints, it probably does not matter nearly as much, if at all.

jpkinla

Well, I suppose I am biased as my coins are all PCGS graded. Based on my experience, the PCGS coins will fetch a premium to the NGC coins but I always buy the coin and not the holder. I have chosen to crossover my better NGC coins to PCGS to allow them into my set on the registry but also to increase their resale value. The holder does NOT matter, the coin is key but this only goes for high grade coins and NOT generics. However, even in the generic arena, I find greater demand and sometimes $5/coin differential on PCGS/NGC.

My $20 Saint Gaudens Registry Set

mrearlygold

It all depends on the coin. Some P coins are upgradeable and some are downgradeable. Ditto on N coins.

Tom

saintguru

I will say with a certain degree of confidence that with Saints in particular, PCGS is more critical. Especially as the coins get tougher; I have seen many KEY MS65 NGC coins that would never be in a PCGS holder. Generally if there are two "same coins" in different holders in auction, it seems that the PCGS coin will bring about 25% more...that's been mu observation on a pretty consistent basis.