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High cost of slabbing fees for mint errors...

As a collector, I can appreciate the need for TPGs within the current market place. However I am often discouraged from submitting coins for grading due to the high cost associated with slabbing, particularly the cost of error coins at PCGS. While I understand the error coin marketplace in general is a smaller circle, and attribution can at time be more challenging. I would be more inclined to submit coins for submission, if maybe a true-view photo was complimentary. I have a few error pieces that do have true view photos, and I find this a necessary when so many of the Error certifications are bland of information concerning the type of error.
What are your thoughts regarding the cost of grading/authenticating mint errors at TPGs?
What are your thoughts regarding the cost of grading/authenticating mint errors at TPGs?
WTB... errors, New Orleans gold, and circulated 20th key date coins!
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I used to submit errors regularly ATS until they added an extra fee. It is simple, opportunistic greed IMO, especially since ATS does 99%+ of them with in-house employees.
Our host, in contrast, uses an outside authenticator (correct me if I'm wrong FW) to whom they send the errors, incurring some amount of additional shipping cost. Seems to me they could reduce the cost of certifying errors by hiring someone to do it in-house at their facility.
Nowadays, I usually only submit errors if I have something worth four figures or more and I want it entombed for its protection and/or if the error's authenticity is questionable and thus needs to be verified by a third party for potential resale.
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
Hoard the keys.
<< <i>PCGS has it's own variety section. No extra shipping. >>
I am not referring to variety attribution, I am referring to genuine mint errors such as off-metals, broadstrikes, double struck coins, or struck thru
<< <i>
<< <i>PCGS has it's own variety section. No extra shipping. >>
I am not referring to variety attribution, I am referring to genuine mint errors such as off-metals, broadstrikes, double struck coins, or struck thru >>
Yeah, two different things here. Varieties (overdates, over-mintmarks, doubled dies, etc.) are all done in-house. Last I was aware, striking errors are sent to FW for attribution and then back to the host for grading and slabbing.
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
I have more than a few varieties and I'm trying to figure out the most cost effective way.
I would love to have them properly attributed and crossed to our host... but at nearly $100 a coin?
I greatly appreciate this forum and the service they provide, but no thanks...
I don't need to spend money for somebody to tell me what I already know, because I attributed them before I picked them... simply to stretch my collecting dollar.
Upon resell, there might be an issue... but I have professional photography skills, a microscope w/camera, and there are enough specialists, resources etc...
Everyday a couple of specialist cherrypickers get into bidding wars at Ebay over coins with aweful pics.
List it and they will come!
I don't think you will lose all of that much value.
Enjoy the coin... not the label!
The cost of doing so is prohibitive.
So for now all my money goes into buying metal and not plastic.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
WS
However, if its a 4 figure coin or even a 3 figure coin, I'll send it in.
The name is LEE!
I guess I don't understand the business side of it but it seems like simple errors with some notation like "off center" without asking for percent or other simple errors and maybe all CPG varieties could be done at a lower fee. I'd think it would result in many more coins being sent in.
Maybe it's asking too much, I'd be happy if they just added a few more big varieties to the list of ones that can be sent normally.
It's simply shortsighted. PCGS would make much more money slabbing a large number of coins at a lower price than a few at an outrageous fee.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Yeah because low margins is what every business strives for. Why don't you let these guys worry about running the business and you guys collect your coins?
Maybe start haveing "no slabs" coin shows.I will not spend 150 bucks for someone to tell me I have a dime. That's just common sense.I just purchased a slag inclusion error penny that will never see a slab.I enjoy the hobby so I'll just keep on collecting and learning.