Grading Ancients

covers

From my very limited experience, the grading of ancients by NGC seems totally worthless. By ICG - seems ok if coins are judged only on an "as struck" criteria. However, the market, at least from what I see, is also sensitive to centered, full, strikes and none of the services seem to grade based on those aspects. Meaning, in short, when I look for a quality coin, I eliminate 95% of the "uncirculated" graded by NGC and 85% of the AU55/MS60 grades by ICG.

I understand why, but the above leaves slabbing as almost without merit for the way I collect. Some of the foreign dealers use "FDC" which is usually a little more meaningful for the aspects that matter to me.

Am I crazy?

SYRACUSIAN

I once bought almost by accident, a Heritage lot of seven ICG graded Roman denarius. It was an amazing high grade set, that I've asked Don to sell on my behalf so it'd never reach Greek soil and cause me any troubles, it's not as if I collect them anyway. The lot went from Heritage, to coinpictures for imaging and to Don for resale and we all made money on it. I later learned that it's extremely hard to get an MS grade by ICG, and that lot had 3 or 4 MS examples I think. If I wanted to buy more, I'd rely more on descriptions by knowledgeable sellers that I've learned to trust.I've never bought an NGC ancient coin, but I saw that the Millenia ancient lots were in NGC slabs.

JZrarities

I really like how ICG grades Ancients - too bad they don't do that anymore since JP left the Company...

Most of mine are slabbed (not for the grade) but just to preserve the Toning and Color (aka the "Look") and they fit in with the rest of my slabbed coins.

ajaan

ICG was really tough on give MS60 or higher grades on Ancient coins. The coins syracusian had were really extraordinary.

500Bay

ANACS has said they will begin slabbing ancients as they did when thy were ICG (the people at least). Still waiting...

Hussulo

Very nice coins guys. I realy like the Nero JZ