Collectors (Not Dealers or those solely looking toward resale)...

RKKay · September 26, 2003 12:50AM

Why do you buy a coin in an NGC slab and cross it to PCGS?

LucyBop · September 26, 2003 12:50AM

Maybe to put it into the PCGs Registry????

you think?

dpoole · September 26, 2003 12:53AM

Because the marketplace pays more for the coin in a PCGS slab than in an NGC one.

RKKay · September 26, 2003 12:53AM

Thanks for clarfying, Lucy. Also aside from Registry people.
But dpoole, that is again looking toward resale. Is there any other reason?

dorkkarl · September 26, 2003 12:56AM

never done it.

K S

RKKay · September 26, 2003 1:02AM

DK - You may not, but there are at least a few pattern collectors I know who refuse to buy a coin unless it is in, or can cross to (at the same grade), a PCGS holder. Other than for resale or blind faith that a coin is worthless unless it is in a clear slab, there is no ostensible reason to do so, unless they look prettier that way.

ccrdragon · September 26, 2003 1:07AM

No. I buy coins, not holders...

wondercoin · September 26, 2003 1:22AM

"but there are at least a few pattern collectors I know who refuse to buy a coin unless it is in, or can cross to (at the same grade), a PCGS holder."

At the moment, roughly 7% of my pattern nickel collection is NGC and 93% PCGS. I have not submitted any of the NGC coins for cross in my collection, nor have I submitted most of the PCGS coins for upgrade (I did recently submit 2 of the same pattern to see if I could discover if they were thick or thin planchets (since I have a buyer for the dup), and in the process I was OK with PCGS designating them CAM if it is warranted). If the NGC portion went up to 50% in my collection, I would have no problem provided the coins were all there. I would have no problem keeping patterns "raw" as well, except that sure makes things easier for ones heirs if the coins are already slabbed.

But, here is an example why I might ask a pattern seller to cross an NGC coin as a condition of the deal. Let's say a seller had an NGC-PR67 pattern I personally thought was only a PR65/66 and the coin was being priced at PR67 money to me. Now, instead of saying to that pattern dealer "I want your coin, but don't like the quality for the price and therefore drop your price by 33%", it is much easier to ask that the coin be crossed as a condition of the deal. Then, when it does not cross, a more suitable price can possibly be discussed in a better atmosphere. Sometimes, a deal can not be made after a failed cross - I even know of situations where the NGC coin simply heads off to NCS to be conserved in order for the coin to be "more saleable" for the grade for that dealer. I would love to own the coin in its natural state, but, of course, I have no control over what the dealer does from there after a deal is not closed. And, of course, this is no attack on NGC, as I pass on mountains of PCGS coins every auction where I am not interested in the quality for the price. Is this unreasonable?

Wondercoin

mgoodm3 · September 26, 2003 2:00AM

I don't do it. then again I've never sold a coin.

Russ · September 26, 2003 2:09AM

Because the NGC slabs won't fit in these blue boxes I have.

Russ, NCNE

Placid · September 26, 2003 2:10AM

I like the pcgs holder better. I prefer to just buy coins already in pcgs holders but if I find a nice coin for a good price in a ngc slab I will buy it and cross it.

bigindie · September 26, 2003 3:08AM

If someone is building a set of, say, Lincoln Cents, for instance and all but one or two are in a particular service's holder, that person may want to cross the oddball coins -- just for the sake of continuity.

Keyrock · September 26, 2003 3:14AM

I buy the coin regardless of holder, prefer to have a pcgs one,

Greater liquidity with PCGS

but assuming I will never re-sell a coin, I don't like the NGC holders, I think they are lousy. I've seen many coins sitting in the holder at an angle, hard to see the rim. A 11D quarter eagle is a bear to look at in a NGC holder when it is sitting in there in a angle, hard to look at the D. This is the real reason I don't like their holders.

Lakesammman · September 26, 2003 3:17AM

I'm into coin photography. The NGC plastic inserets are thicker. The coin is often tilted in the insert. It's hard to eliminate that tilt. Also, the thick insert throws a shadow, making even illumination difficult. PCGS coins are much easier to photograph and look nicer as a result. Since my coins are locked up and I enjoy looking at them on my computer, this is important to me.

Russ · September 26, 2003 3:23AM

Tim brings up some excellent points. From an imaging standpoint, the NGC holders are flat lousy. The worst of any on the market. They are particularly bad for smaller coins because the insert is much thicker than the coin and thus the coin is recessed too far beneath the plastic.

Russ, NCNE

braddick · September 26, 2003 3:40AM

A little nitch of collecting is the discovery I DO know how to grade (sometimes!). Crossing a coin over is a validation and is exciting. Not 'Rollercoaster' exciting, but thrilling in its own way.

Searching coins for upgrade and selecting the few YOU believe have a chance and then (eventually) getting them back with PCGS agreeing with you (again, somtimes!) is fun.

It doesn't define the hobby for me but again, it's a small nitch within it.

puff · September 26, 2003 3:59AM

I don't buy coins in NGC holders for a couple of reasons. But the #1 reason is because from what I've seen in the NGC holders in the series that I collect, (Walkers), I have compared some of the Walkers with the assigned grade to the ones I have in PCGS, and I have found only a few that I thought were graded with the accuracy as the PCGS coins. But keeping in mind that I only collect mint state Walkers, it may be that in the circulated grades NGC may grade them just as well.

The 2nd reason why I collect only PCGS coins is because I don't store them in boxes. I keep them in "Eagle albums" so when I want to take them out and look at them I can see a page of 9 coins at a time, and since I only collect originally "toned", and of the best quality I can afford and with great eye appeal, I am looking at a different coin of each date and it is unique because of the different color. If I had a NGC coin mixed in with the PCGS coins, it would look out of place. I like the continuity.

The 3rd reason I only collect PCGS Walkers is because if I should decide to sell my set, and start collecting a different series, etcetera, I will realize a much better price.

All of that being said, I have nothing at all against NGC, and there must be a good reason why a PCGS graded coin will bring more money than an NGC coin of the same assigned grade! So when it gets right down to the nitty grity, it's different strokes, for different folks!

Catch22 · September 26, 2003 4:54AM

If money wasn't a concern, I would swap all my generic slabs for PCGS slabs. I just like them better than anyone elses. NGC slabs are ugly and do nothing to enhance the appeal of a coin...imho.

ScarsdaleCoin · September 26, 2003 4:58AM

Im a dealer...but I will give you a good reason..... three cent silvers look better (imho) in the clear pcgs holder than the white NGC holder

jdimmick · September 26, 2003 6:05AM

Same coin in a PCGS vs an NGC holder will bring much more money at resale! especially key-dates.

Also,
I like my collection to be in all the same holders, an I prefer PCGS coins. (and I am not a registry set chaser)

Collectors (Not Dealers or those solely looking toward resale)...

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