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sgs slabs??

imageI am a amature collector and recently bought some slabs from sgs. I was very pleased with what I got. They were all cameos but i'm not sure if they met the ms70 grade. I looked at them all under a lighted magnifier and saw no scratches, dings or any other imperfections. I hear alot of bad talk about sgs. Please advise!!
Thanks granpagraf
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Comments

  • I think most responses will suggest not to buy coins in these holders unless they are in hand at the time of purchase. probably at least 3-4 grades over, if not more
  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    Welcome.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • Thanks for the welcome! I hope to gather good info. on how to buy and what to look in the world of coin collecting!
    granpagrafimage
    imageCollector Of All U.S. Gold Coinage!
    Antique Soda Bottles And Antique Soda Related
    Advertising, and many other collectables!
    Life is too short, I might as well buy Gold while I'm still around!image
    image
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭


    << <i>imageI am a amature collector and recently bought some slabs from sgs. I looked at them all under a lighted magnifier and saw no scratches, dings or any other imperfections. I hear alot of bad talk about sgs. Please advise!!
    Thanks granpagraf >>



    Welcome to the boards!

    The key statement in your post is They were all cameos but i'm not sure if they met the ms70 grade. The coins did qualify for the MS70 grade as SGS defines it. Each grading company has its own standards, and they aren't necessarily the same. You can't assume an MS70 coin from one service will meet the criteria for MS70 at another.

    The general consensus is that SGS is more liberal in their grading. That doesn't make them "bad", it just means you need to understand the grading system being used. If you are happy with your coins, and don't care about making money from them, and you know that you're not overpaying for them, then enjoy your collection. If you are concerned about future value, then try selling a couple and see what you can get.

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • nwcsnwcs Posts: 13,386 ✭✭✭
    welcome! SGS slabs don't enjoy the level of confidence that any of the recognized ones have (PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG, PCI even). Do a search here on SGS and you'll learn more.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    Man, there's a lot of dancing going on.

    SGS sucks. They aren't even a real grading company. They are nothing more than a fancy holder.

    Russ, NCNE
  • flaminioflaminio Posts: 5,664 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Man, there's a lot of dancing going on. >>

    It's all ACG backlash. Nobody wants to be named in the next lawsuit when some TPG goes ape-shiat.

    But like Russ says -- SGS is useless. Sorry, granpagraf. Stick to PCGS, NGC, ANACS, and ICG; and you won't go too far wrong.
  • If I need a proof 65 I buy an SGS proof 70 and crack it out..I believe they just open mint and proof sets and make them all 70s..some coins look very good and a lot don't look that good..image
  • MyqqyMyqqy Posts: 9,777
    Man, there's a lot of dancing going on.

    image

    Yeah, this isn't the time to tell him that "if he is happy with the coins, that is all that matters"....
    My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable !
  • the one thing that i have found useful about SGS slabs is that they are often cheaper than unslabed moderns. i needed a few proof sackies for my Dansco album and the SGS Slabbed PR70 sackies were cheaper than some of the raw ones, so since I was cracking them out anyway, it was a good deal.


  • << <i>Man, there's a lot of dancing going on.

    SGS sucks. They aren't even a real grading company. They are nothing more than a fancy holder.

    Russ, NCNE >>



    Quit mincing words Russ and tell it as you feel it...image
    There is nothing more powerful than the power of goodbye
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    Maybe my answer was off-base but I answered as I did because the OP appears to be new to collecting. I tried to address the question from the point of any TPG, not just one specific TPG, hoping it would cover more ground that way.

    Didn't want to have a scenario like: Is ABC grading good?
    Next thread: Is XYZ grading good?
    Next thread: What about...

    What it comes down to is that a handful of TPGs are the most consistent and the most accepted. Many others use a different system for grading which makes comparing grades to the top-tier services impossible.

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

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