Cert numbers and PCGS numbers

RYK · August 19, 2012 3:35AM

I have noticed, more and more, that dealers are providing PCGS coin numbers and certification numbers in their online inventory listings. Heritage has been providing this information for quite some time. Having the PCGS coin number allows me to quickly look up the coin in CoinFacts, be it a raw or slabbed coin and no matter the slab brand. Checking CoinFacts is now the first thing I do when I consider buying any coin.

The cert numbers for PCGS coins are great because they increasingly can be used to get a PCGS photo of the coin (which may be considerably different from the dealer photo) and often allow the potential to trace the history of the coin through auctions or a recent registry set. In the past, some sellers would probably not want you to be able to trace the coins through recent auctions, but most reputable sellers probably realize that once the buyer has the coin in hand, they are going to check Heritage auctions and other resources to see if and when the coin was sold.

More information and more transparency makes for more enthusiastic buyers, IMO, and hopefully, additional sellers will follow the trend for providing these.

curly · August 19, 2012 3:44AM

I agree.

Zoins · August 19, 2012 3:44AM

<< More information and more transparency makes for more enthusiastic buyers, >>

I agree and support this effort.

<< Heritage has been providing this information for quite some time. >>

While I appreciate this, I've been noticing more HA auctions without cert numbers or slab photos. Is this a change they are making?

barrytrot · August 19, 2012 3:47AM

I wholeheartedly agree with you RYK and for me it yields a much quicker "yes" decision on my part.

Taking out the uncertainty, or reducing it, helps me buy easier and probably more

BAJJERFAN · August 19, 2012 4:04AM

<< 

<< More information and more transparency makes for more enthusiastic buyers, >>

I agree and support this effort.

<< Heritage has been providing this information for quite some time. >>

While I appreciate this, I've been noticing more HA auctions without cert numbers or slab photos. Is this a change they are making? >>

There was a time when they were using stock photos for generic inexpensive widgets and buyers were unhappy when they weren't getting the coin pictured. Mayhaps they got tired of the complaints.

earlyAurum · August 19, 2012 4:56AM

I agree. I really like seeing the coin in the slab too. I also use Coinfacts as my main reference for pricing and pedigree research.

Zoins · August 19, 2012 5:35AM

<< 

<< 

<< More information and more transparency makes for more enthusiastic buyers, >>

I agree and support this effort.

<< Heritage has been providing this information for quite some time. >>

While I appreciate this, I've been noticing more HA auctions without cert numbers or slab photos. Is this a change they are making? >>

There was a time when they were using stock photos for generic inexpensive widgets and buyers were unhappy when they weren't getting the coin pictured. Mayhaps they got tired of the complaints. >>

This is for fairly unique coins well into the 5 and 6 figure range. I know there are widgets in that price range but a cert number and slab photo would be appreciated in that price range, especially if it's not a widget.

breakdown · August 19, 2012 6:00AM

Bill's been doing this at Numismatic Americana for a long time and I agree it shows good foresight by any dealer -- as buyers, we are going to see the cert if we buy the coin so better to get all the information out in the open beforehand. I wish Stacks/Bowers would do it for their auctions...

mozin · August 19, 2012 6:48AM

<< Bill's been doing this at Numismatic Americana for a long time and I agree it shows good foresight by any dealer -- as buyers, we are going to see the cert if we buy the coin so better to get all the information out in the open beforehand. I wish Stacks/Bowers would do it for their auctions... >>

I second that for Stack'sBowers to do the same for their auction lots.

MsMorrisine · August 19, 2012 6:48AM

lots of work, although for high end coins I'm sure it is worth it.

for the busy slab seller, just a photo of the whole front of the slab would work.

Perhaps as tech savviness of the dealers increase over time, the written and searchable inclusion will be more wide spread.

MidLifeCrisis · August 19, 2012 7:19AM

I agree with RYK.

I also think full slab photos are nice to see on dealers' sites. They give an additional perspective to a coin and can influence my decision to buy.

Lakesammman · August 19, 2012 7:52AM

Glad to see it happening - makes researching a coin that much easier.

I also think full slab photos are nice to see

Agree - more likely to make a sale, especially to a slab collector.

Walkerfan · August 19, 2012 8:09AM

regarding the cert numbers

BryceM · August 19, 2012 8:29AM

I like all of these changes, especially the increasing number of coins with photos that show up when checking the cert number. More information favors those savvy enough to look for it. I will say though, that having previous auction info available to the public can be a bit of a wet blanket if the previous sales weren't too strong. Over time, this could act to increase the number of crackouts / regrades if it's desirable to recreate annonymity.

The need to house a nice collection in a SDB is a bit of a drag. Sometimes it seems like all we have available to pore over is a bunch of photographs.

swhuck · August 20, 2012 4:08AM

<< 

<< Heritage has been providing this information for quite some time. >>

While I appreciate this, I've been noticing more HA auctions without cert numbers or slab photos. Is this a change they are making? >>

With the exception of certain generic coins as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, every slabbed coin lot in one of our auctions should include an image of the coin in the slab and therefore of the certification number. We're well aware of how important this information is.

For better coins in Signature auctions, the first image you see on the search page or when you go to the coin's individual web page may be of the coin without the slab. This is by design. However, the slab image should be available by clicking on the small thumbnail.

There is an outside chance that an image of the coin within the slab may not appear in the first day or two of the auction, but I'd be interested to know of any other specific examples of slabbed coins where no image of the slab is shown.

Zoins · August 20, 2012 9:14AM

<< 

<< 

<< Heritage has been providing this information for quite some time. >>

While I appreciate this, I've been noticing more HA auctions without cert numbers or slab photos. Is this a change they are making? >>

With the exception of certain generic coins as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, every slabbed coin lot in one of our auctions should include an image of the coin in the slab and therefore of the certification number. We're well aware of how important this information is.

For better coins in Signature auctions, the first image you see on the search page or when you go to the coin's individual web page may be of the coin without the slab. This is by design. However, the slab image should be available by clicking on the small thumbnail.

There is an outside chance that an image of the coin within the slab may not appear in the first day or two of the auction, but I'd be interested to know of any other specific examples of slabbed coins where no image of the slab is shown. >>

Hello Stewart,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. The coins I'm thinking of are the ones in the 2012 October 18-21 US Coins Signature Auction - Dallas #1175 sale. The sale currently says it's in a "preview" state so I'm not sure if that means the slab photos won't be shown until a later date.

For example, the Pittman-Kaufman 1844 'Little Orphan Annie' Dime doesn't appear to have a slab photo in the upcoming auction, but it does appear to have one in a prior auction.

To me, it appears none of the coins in sale #1175 have slab photos. Am I missing something?

Best regards

Cougar1978 · August 20, 2012 9:31AM

I agree and even use my I Phone to look up coin values and info. Excellent post RYK.

I think dealers are starting to realize people are doing this and providing this info. It irritates when an online dealer does not show the slab for me to get this info and can be a reason he won't get my business.

swhuck · August 21, 2012 1:37AM

<< 

<< With the exception of certain generic coins as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, every slabbed coin lot in one of our auctions should include an image of the coin in the slab and therefore of the certification number. We're well aware of how important this information is.

For better coins in Signature auctions, the first image you see on the search page or when you go to the coin's individual web page may be of the coin without the slab. This is by design. However, the slab image should be available by clicking on the small thumbnail.

There is an outside chance that an image of the coin within the slab may not appear in the first day or two of the auction, but I'd be interested to know of any other specific examples of slabbed coins where no image of the slab is shown. >>

Hello Stewart,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. The coins I'm thinking of are the ones in the 2012 October 18-21 US Coins Signature Auction - Dallas #1175 sale. The sale currently says it's in a "preview" state so I'm not sure if that means the slab photos won't be shown until a later date.

For example, the Pittman-Kaufman 1844 'Little Orphan Annie' Dime doesn't appear to have a slab photo in the upcoming auction, but it does appear to have one in a prior auction.

To me, it appears none of the coins in sale #1175 have slab photos. Am I missing something?

Best regards >>

No, you're not missing anything. Because the coins in this auction are still in preview state, this means that we're still in the process of adding images and descriptions. In these cases, the photos were taken very early for the purpose of using them in print ads, and we added them to the site early because we could. The slab images will be added to the site closer to the time that the auction opens for bidding, which is scheduled for the latter part of September.

Timbuk3 · August 21, 2012 4:24AM

Totally agree !!!

Bochiman · August 21, 2012 4:39AM

Hey Stewart,

I don't normally go out of my way for things like this, but I did want to tell you I think it is cool that you are on the forums and answering questions, and being quite helpful.
Thank you very much for that.

Zoins · August 21, 2012 7:01AM

<< 

<< 

<< With the exception of certain generic coins as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, every slabbed coin lot in one of our auctions should include an image of the coin in the slab and therefore of the certification number. We're well aware of how important this information is.

For better coins in Signature auctions, the first image you see on the search page or when you go to the coin's individual web page may be of the coin without the slab. This is by design. However, the slab image should be available by clicking on the small thumbnail.

There is an outside chance that an image of the coin within the slab may not appear in the first day or two of the auction, but I'd be interested to know of any other specific examples of slabbed coins where no image of the slab is shown. >>

Hello Stewart,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. The coins I'm thinking of are the ones in the 2012 October 18-21 US Coins Signature Auction - Dallas #1175 sale. The sale currently says it's in a "preview" state so I'm not sure if that means the slab photos won't be shown until a later date.

For example, the Pittman-Kaufman 1844 'Little Orphan Annie' Dime doesn't appear to have a slab photo in the upcoming auction, but it does appear to have one in a prior auction.

To me, it appears none of the coins in sale #1175 have slab photos. Am I missing something?

Best regards >>

No, you're not missing anything. Because the coins in this auction are still in preview state, this means that we're still in the process of adding images and descriptions. In these cases, the photos were taken very early for the purpose of using them in print ads, and we added them to the site early because we could. The slab images will be added to the site closer to the time that the auction opens for bidding, which is scheduled for the latter part of September. >>

Thank you for the reply Stewart. That makes sense and was my speculation, however it's good to know now. I appreciate your answer and participation here

Cert numbers and PCGS numbers

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