When Heritage shopped around the Stecher Gold Collection, how did the TPGs differentiate themselves?

Longacre

Does anyone know what goes on behind the scenes when a major auction house shops around a fresh collection to the various TPGs for holdering? In another thread that I started about the upcoming Stecher Collection of gold coins, someone from PCGS responded that they were whipped up into a frothy frenzy upon seeing the originality of these coins, and it was a pleasure to sonically seal them in plastic.

What exactly can a TPG do to differentiate itself from the competition? In the best case, PCGS could offer to grade the collection for free. I am sure that NGC would match that offer. It is not like the TPG can make promises as to grades, or otherwise hint that their grades will be better than the competition's grades. Other than the fee to holder the coins, what can a TPG do to convince an owner of a major collection to choose its holder or another's?

flaminio

Why would Heritage shop it around? Everyone knows PCGS is the best, and gets the best prices.

PhillyJoe

I would think each service would produce a long list of previous collections they have slabbed as references.
Simple enough.

Joe

Julian

According to the other thread, Ron said that he had dealt with Mr. Stecher, probably a son or grandson. I do not believe that Heritage had the coins encapsulated. I think that they were already encapsulated when Heritage got the consignment.

ARCO

I would think that the competition would boil down to PCGS or NGC. Probably a rep or two from the company visiting and making assurances, based on preliminary viewings, that the coins would make it into holders en mass, with PCGS probably being the first choice.

Mass holderings do seem a bit dubious to me. Great from the TPG's position, but allowing too much bias in the grading process.

Tyler