First submission to PCGS.....any tips?
Bond007
Posts: 20
Hello all! I'm getting ready to send of my very first submission of raw coins (silver eagles) to PCGS for grading and while I followed their instructions on their forms, I was wondering if any of you vets out here had any added advice for me before I packed these up and shipped them off. I did do a little bit of searching on the forum and discovered that I should at least take some digital photos of the coins. Otherwise, any more advice would be greatly appreciated!
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PCGS, ANACS, & NGC Certified Coins on My Website.
No I'm not kidding.
And, trust me, I am PRAYING!!!!! That goes without saying!
Yuck.
<< <i>Wow! That was fast! Thanks for the speedy replies. This first submission is just my "Complimentary" 8 coins, but I'll be sure to put that on the outside of the box. Registered & insured -- got it! (Which reminds me I forgot to send my coins to Teletrade yesterday "registered" although they did go "insured". Damn!)
And, trust me, I am PRAYING!!!!! That goes without saying!
Don't write "complimentary." Send to "PCGS REGULAR"
<< <i>Don't forget that damned goofy paper tape.
Yuck. >>
I called and asked customer service if it would be alright if I used an Avery return address label and printed the required information via my laser jet. She said that would be just fine. We'll see how that works.
Don't write "complimentary." Send to "PCGS REGULAR" >>
Gotcha!
If I had it to do all over again, that is how I would have done it. Oh well, there's always a platinum membership next year
I personally like to find the HIGHEST grade, not based on hope and prayer, but by calculated assessment under a loupe. I thought I knew MS68 til I sent dozens of Sacagaweas in and never got one. I thought I knew MS67 til I sent STATEHOOD quarters in. I wasn't sure I knew nickel til I sent ONE bison in (MS64). I've done okay with varieties and errors, and had some counterfeits and bodybags. Some of those mentioned cannot be used in conjunction with the 8 freebie offer.
What a lesson.
by the way, since you asked for advice...., yer icon thingy could use some pants and a shirt and shoes.
Joe
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>
<< <i>Wow! That was fast! Thanks for the speedy replies. This first submission is just my "Complimentary" 8 coins, but I'll be sure to put that on the outside of the box. Registered & insured -- got it! (Which reminds me I forgot to send my coins to Teletrade yesterday "registered" although they did go "insured". Damn!)
And, trust me, I am PRAYING!!!!! That goes without saying!
Don't write "complimentary." Send to "PCGS REGULAR" >>
Actually, I think you have to label it "COLLECTOR'S CLUB"
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
<< <i>If you are sure that is what you want to have encapsulated and graded, go ahead. What a first timer might think about doing is finding the "bestestestest" coins he can possibly find. A penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half, sackie, commemorative, and PROOF and see how he stacks up against professionally trained eyes at work. Gold, brass, zinc, copper, nickel, silver, platinum.... variety is the spice of life !
If I had it to do all over again, that is how I would have done it. Oh well, there's always a platinum membership next year
I personally like to find the HIGHEST grade, not based on hope and prayer, but by calculated assessment under a loupe. I thought I knew MS68 til I sent dozens of Sacagaweas in and never got one. I thought I knew MS67 til I sent STATEHOOD quarters in. I wasn't sure I knew nickel til I sent ONE bison in (MS64). I've done okay with varieties and errors, and had some counterfeits and bodybags. Some of those mentioned cannot be used in conjunction with the 8 freebie offer.
What a lesson.
by the way, since you asked for advice...., yer icon thingy could use some pants and a shirt and shoes.
Joe >>
Thanks for that great piece of advice! (All of it -- as you can see I did change my avatar too!!) My step-dad's dad started him collecting coins, but it didn't really "take" with him. Regardless, my step-dad did introduce me to coin collecting as a kid. I'd kind of dabbled a little here and there, nothing serious at all. Then, I started getting really interested a couple of years back and began assembling a Registry Set of Silver Eagles. Just this past year I began upgrading that set and expanded it to include MS First Strikes as well. I've done pretty well making it all the way up to 6th place. Unfortunately, I'm kind of in a wait and hold status until someone decides to sell a 1986, 1987, 1993 or 1994 PR70DCAM. UGH! Of course, the 4 hardest and most expensive coins in the set to find (excluding the 1995-W PR70). But, I can be patient. So in the meantime, I'm passing the time by collecting other PCGS graded coins or raw coins and trying to learn more about grading, gathering different examples of what's what. I'm not sure what direction I want to go in next, but now that the collecting bug has hit, I just can't stop!!!! Much to my wife's chagrin.......
Ya know, I sold those proof eagles from 93,94, and 95 for a fair price on ebay, then looked at the price guide and thought I should have submitted mine. Oh well, we live and we learn. Thanks for your contribution to the boards and am looking forward to cointinued communications.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
-Mark Twain
<< <i>Why would you waste $25/coin having SAEs graded? >>
I did it....got a few PR70 (reverse proof) and PR70DCAM (regular proof) out of "wasting" it
(got some MS68/PR68 as well
Generally, I agree with you...if you want MS69 or PR69DCAM for your collection, then get it already slabbed. They generally go cheaper than cost+slabbing fee+shipping.
For the thread question.....tip I have had, and I have only shipped 2 times for grading......call PCGS Customer Service during normal business hours and run through what you have and your plans for shipping...they will let you know if you have forgotten anything or if all sounds good. They have been good to me both times on that (one time was 3 years ago and one time was 2 weeks ago)
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
<< <i>Hi Bond, I am Joe. Thank you for joining the boards, too and congrats on that awesome registry set you have started. It's a tough game to play, for sure. I wasn't really offended by the avatar either, I was mostly kidding about that
Yeah, I did pick up on the "tongue in cheek" humor.
<< <i>Ya know, I sold those proof eagles from 93,94, and 95 for a fair price on ebay, then looked at the price guide and thought I should have submitted mine. Oh well, we live and we learn. Thanks for your contribution to the boards and am looking forward to cointinued communications. >>
Thanks man! I'm really kind of excited about playing this "tough game". I was seriously disappointed when I missed out on an auction a couple of weeks back for a 1986-S PR70 on Teletrade. I underestimated the competition and didn't place a high enough max bid and then had something come up and couldn't hang out till the end of the auction. Oh well! I'll get another chance some day, I'm sure.
Oh, and my name is Jamie.