Hallmark Grading Company

mtnman

I recently picked up a very nice 1956 Frankie from Russ in a Hallmark holder. Would someone
please tell me a little about Hallmark. Were they bought out by PCI? Thanks.

cape

yes they were and they graded conservatively.

MrEureka

Hallmark shut its doors and PCI bought the equipment. The companies were never affiliated in any way.

PhillyJoe

A small, local dealer still has "PCGS, NGC, Hallmark" sign stenciled on the window.

Joe

nankraut

I used to have some Hallmark slabs about 15-20 yr ago. I think Q. D. Bowers was involved financially with Hallmark when they started. Conservative grading, I thought. But the slab itself was rather ugly looking IMHO. It seems that they don't bring much of a premium nowadays.

majorbigtime

I recall Hallmark, and believe it was a Bowers and Ruddy or Bowers and Merina company--a big flop.

coinkat

I can not recall the last time I saw a Hallmark slab... I gues I am not attending enough shows.

roadrunner

Lee Bellisario did a lot of the grading for them. Lee was with Jim Halperin at NERCG back in the 1970's.....and recently a buyer for John Dannreuther. Haven't run into Lee for a while. They graded as conservatively as anyone else in the late 1980's but they didn't compete well as the 3rd grading service. They came into being as the market turned white hot.....just like all the 3rd tier services have sprung up in the past 2 years. Most of what's left in those holders are some real dogs. But no doubt someone out there has a stash of untouched material. Eventually it all comes out.

roadrunner

Shamika

This company was started in 1987 and went under in 1991. They actually graded very well.

Conder101

Bowers was involved with the company but not Ruddy or Merena.

There have been two other Hallmark grading services. There was a Hallmark currency grading service that came before the HALLMARK that we are familiar with. It folded around 1988. And just very recently a new third tier fly-by-night Hallmark Coin Grading Service HCGS has shown up on eBay. They have already produced two different holder varieties.