PCGS OR NGC?

RobJ

Is it true , as I have read elswhere that NGC grading leaves a lot to be desired, or is it a toss up?
Thank you all
RJ

Baley

it depends.

jcping

Buy the coins not the holders

TomB

All third-party grading companies (NGC and PCGS included) leave a lot to be desired.

coinlieutenant

NGC is the devil...remember that...

PCGS is the devil...remember that...

They both screw you at the drive through...

RobJ

GEESH! SI

100proof1957

What everybody said !!!

Russ

<< <i>They both screw you at the drive through... >>



Hey, that's a poem!

Russ, NCNE

aussielover

Way to welcome a new member John.. I mean Tom.. I mean both of ya.


Brian

DNADave

I bought a sight unseen Binion Peace dollar in NGC MS65. I have an ANACS MS62 that looks better. nuff said.

DRUNNER

Some qualification is necessary . . . such as 'buying' or 'selling' ???

I collect/invest in keys and semi-keys in PCGS due to the marketability and my perceived (error?) thoughts that PCGS will remain the most marketable when I sell. However . . .

No one can state enough times on this forum (perhaps due to the influx of new members all the time if nothing else) . . . BUY THE COIN . . . use the holder just as a point of reference. I just noticed in an ad I received via email this morning a set (4 I think) of PCGS-67 1943 Walkers . . . priced from $875 to $1150 . . . all for the same PCGS grade! I noticed as I had sold one in Las Vegas a few months ago for $850 . . . and several dealers passed on it even at waaaaaaaay below sheet as they had reservations on the grade. I agreed . . . I had 3 66s that looked superior to all who viewed the 4 coins.

Point of all this . . . there is a LARGE variation within the grade, even in PCGS. Many NGC coins are also quite superior and accurately and consistently graded . . . but the market seems to perceive PCGS as best when it comes time to sell.

So . .

Become a numismatist and be selective. There are some tremendous coins out there in (almost) all holders. Find the ones that are right for you.

DRUNNER

Russ

<< <i>I bought a sight unseen Binion Peace dollar in NGC MS65. I have an ANACS MS62 that looks better. nuff said. >>



Yes, that single example clearly proves that NGC sucks.

Russ, NCNE

ibzman350

Artist

It seems to me, that I have seen several survays comparing TPGS, and in all of them PCGS & NGC tend to come out about even.

By the coin not the plastic - I agree. However, for those competing in the Registry, the plastic becomes very important. I mean no disrespect to those guys - however people want to enjoy our hobby is fine with me - I am merely stating a fact for a guy looking to build the ultimate set, a PCGS 67 is worth more than an NGC 67, even if the coins are identical.

Therefore, IMHO, PCGS holders may help ensure a coin's value better than NGC when it come time to sell - but comversely, NGC coins may represent a better value to someone looking to buy.

And then there is ANACS...

DennisH

I think PCGS is about 1/4-point tougher on Morgan dollars in Mint State than NGC is... and it used to be more but NGC has tightened up in the last year or so.

With circulated Morgans I think PCGS is at least 1/2-grade tougher.

Bear

The collector is a plank of wood , the TPG Services are the screw.

You know what a screw does to wood dont you. Overall, some grades

on some series are very close in results, while other grades, other series,

or definitions of Cameo and Deep Cameo may have large differences between

the top two TPG. Even at one company, there can be differences in grading

depending on what year a coin was graded, or what which group of graders

reviewed the coin. Grading is a subjective art. By the nature of the bussiness,

TPG is a bussiness and subject to all of the pressures and considerations found

in any bussiness.

pharmer

I find myself submitting colorful stuff to NGC because to me the contrast with the white slab brings out the color more than the pcgs slab, but if it is a coin I think that will grade high and have a commensurate premium, it goes to pcgs no matter what. IMO nice toners get their price whichever slab they are in, ie there is no drawback to ngc. You did not ask this, but it seems to me that nice toned morgans in ICG slabs are keeping up as well in realized prices. As far as buying is concerned, I do as advised here, and buy the coin.

mrearlygold

They both go both ways



Tom

greymars

i prefer PCGS over NGC, if only for the fact that I can register my coins in both the PCGS and NGC coin registries...PCGS does not allow NGC coins to cross over into their registry

IrishMike

I would only suggest that most folks who offer a strong opinion one way or the other would most likely not do well on any sort of grading test, including myself. It's the age old coke vs pepsi arguement with the most vociferous defenders in here of PCGS being those with money invested in the registry. The reality is if you want to put to together a modern registry set you will pay 3-6 times to do it in PCGS plastic. Many of those who did this suffered substantial losses when they tried to resell their sets. So it becomes a question of what the future holds for the appreciation of these sets. I have yet to see anyone make big money on them other than the so-called expert coin dealers who sell to buyers of these coins.

If it makes you feel better to only own coins in one holder then do it, but recognized that you will end up missing opportunities to purchase coins that you may want to keep for a very long time.

A few years back if you had proferred this question it would have started another war, but I have noticed that many collectors here now that were some of the strongest kool-aid drinkes have softened their stance. To me and others its all about finding the nicest coins that you can comfortably afford and limiting your downside risk. Simply purchasing the coin in one holder won't accomplish this.

mr1931S

"To me and others its all about finding the nicest coins that you can comfortably afford and limiting your downside risk. Simply purchasing the coin in one holder won't accomplish this."

I agree with this wholeheartedly. I would add that key to successfully finding, and eventually buying nice coins, is knowing how to accurately grade for yourself.

RobJ

Thanks to those of you who gave me a constructive answer. I wanted to purchase a graded coin so that I had some type of benchmark to go by as I start the learning process. As I am still very young, I feel tha I can become a good grader of coins, in fact my hobby will depend on it. I fully understand the comments "Buy the coin, not the holder" Some of the other comments were stupid and child-like and I see that every day at school.
RJ

Shamika

Remember, a Third Party Grading company (including PCGS) is nothing more than a small group of sweaty guys in a few cubicals spending no more than a few seconds looking at any one particular coin.

At any TPG, consistancy is the goal, not the rule!