Are Some Graders Greater? Rate the Graders

Onastone

I've got graded coins from NGC and PCGS. I also have slabs from ANACS and ICG too. Going through my coins, I even discovered a couple from IGS and I don't even know where those came from... Reading many of the comments here lead me to believe the highest standard is PCGS and if you have a CAC sticker, that's top notch! But how would you rate these grading companies? How do they really compare and stack up against each other? Do some collectors really crack their coins out of slabs and send them to other graders for a possible higher grade? I really do enjoy my raw coins but love to see how they score too. I seem to remember when I was growing up, seeing coins in little cardboard holders stapled together with clear cellophane protection and a handwritten grade on them.
So back to my original question, How do you rate the graders?

logger7

It's the business manager that calls the shots on grades; if they say "loosen" or "tighten" the graders follow suit.

blitzdude

In some cases it depends on the coin series being graded. They tend to change drastically between companies.

Insider2

I grade coins. Obviously, some professional TPG's are better than others. TPGS finalizers are probably the best at what they do. However, very many of the top graders in the country don't work for a TPGS. Examples: JA, Laura, Halperin, etc. and my apologies for the hundreds who post here or not that I have not mentioned.

As far as what TPGS to use, that depends also and the reasons to use each company have been expressed. PCGS and NGC are considered to be the top two and they have their friends and detractors here.

Elcontador

Depends on when a particular coin was graded and what series.

For a number of years, stretch, I closely looked at Braided Hair MS 64 and MS 65 Half and Large Cents. PC coins were 1/4 to 1/2 point nicer to my eye.

Capped Bust Halves - NGC really screwed up re grading 65s five to ten years ago and prices reflect that.

Other series in various grades - You can get a nice NGC MS 66 Liberty Nickel cheaper than a PC coin, and it could very well look just as nice, sometimes better. Ditto re an MS 65 Barber Half.

You need to look at a lot of coins and have an idea when they were graded to have an intelligent idea about this.

Onastone

Thanks for shedding some light on this, it's a lot more complicated than I thought, when graded, what series, shot callers, finalizers.....I'm thinking I need to learn more about what goes into grading a coin so I can see more of what the graders are seeing.

DollarAfterDollar

When a coin was encapsulated makes a huge difference on coins "off the market" for a long time. While a PCGS coin may bring a slightly better sales price, NGC coins are often graded even more stringently. For FBL, full bands, etc. NGC is hands down more accurate.

ANACS has historically been a little inconsistent on circulated coins, so there's that. I've cracked and received upgrades on IGC and ANACS Morgans that were mint state.

Today, the gap is so small that to bypass anything you really like because it's in "the wrong holder" is not very bright.

ricko

Excellent inputs above.... Just remember, that grading is an opinion since there are no documented standards. Yes, with two graders and a final judgement, there is a consistency to these opinions. That being said, we constantly see disagreements with grades here, and crackout/rebmissions that get a different grade - ergo, no hard standards. Until computer grading is established, this will continue. Cheers, RickO

Smudge

Several others have tried and failed and for good reasons such as overgrading and lack of consistency among others.

Treashunt

@MANOFCOINS said:
The gap has closed the last 3 years
PCGS and NGC Approximately equal Sl edge to PCGS
ANACS and ICG Approximately equal but not far below the above two, within striking distance.

agreed

oih82w8

From the cross-overs that I have sent to our host, NGC has been, for the most part, loose with their grades, normally by a full grade, sometimes two. ANACS crossed over to our host depends on the generation of holder the coin is in, small white slabs being the most under-graded. Your mileage will vary.

Kkathyl

Grading is Subjective and part of the price difference is the price you pay for grading, not what you get. The larger graders have individuals who specialize in types of coins, Morgan Guy, Copper Guy, World Guy, Metals Guy. But in the end if the coin is a 64 its a 64. Any scarce coin that you want, I think it would not matter who graded it, if available you will buy it even if in a home made grading slab. (authentic of course) That being said you get other things when you use say PCGS. True view pictures, follow up questions answer, and product protection.

BillJones

When it comes to grading hitting the market with respect standards accepted over the past 20 to 30 years is the most important thing, followed by consistency. If you are consistently over grading everything, that doesn’t count. There have been firms who were doing that.

There are coins in “second tier” grading service holders that are just as nice as the coins in “first tier” holders. The trouble is, those services are not always consistent in their standards. There are some grading services that are almost always wrong, and they have been relegated to the numismatic scrap heap. Those services were mostly set up for reasons other than accuracy or consistency. They were started to fool the almost totally uninitiated collectors.

A couple services tried to break the “glass ceiling” and the powers at be did what they could push them down. I saw it when it was happening circa 2000. I am sorry that those companies didn’t make to the top because competition is better for collectors. It keeps the top companies on their toes.

coinkat

Rating a grader is simply not a substitute for understanding the coin

mannie gray

There are "good" coins in "bad" holders, and plenty of "bad" coins in "good" holders.
I scour shows for the former.