What is the story on SEGS?

Ljr1964 · August 5, 2005 1:45AM

Started seeing SEGS holders on Ebay. Liked the "top" view idea. Are they a good outfit? Is any other service using these holders?

Newmismatist · August 5, 2005 2:00AM

SEGS grading is sporadic - sometimes dead on, they do have good variety attribution, but often the grades are optimistic for what the coin is. They trade at substantial discounts from the top tier grading services - You have to look very carefully at SEGS graded coins as many will not cross to either NGC or PCGS.

Russ · August 5, 2005 2:02AM

Their holders are the toughest to crack out.

Russ, NCNE

dorkkarl · August 5, 2005 2:24AM

the story is, larry briggs, who is a utterly brilliant world-class numismatist, screwed up by not having good busines principles, & pandering favors to his friends when they submitted coins. the plastic slab he designed is extraordianary, w/out question the finest capsule on the mkt.

had he modeled his business properly, i have no doubt segs would be #1.

note: the above is my OPINION

K S

vega1 · August 5, 2005 2:28AM

Using the search function will probably yield a large amount of info and opinions from previous threads on this topic.

JadeRareCoin · August 5, 2005 2:39AM

I can tell you one thing for sure: Larry Briggs is a numismatic genius, as dorkarl stated. His knowledge of coins and currency (U.S. and foreign) is ubiquitous and deep. I have met very few people who can compare to his numismatic prowess.

braddick · August 5, 2005 2:48AM

<< <i>I can tell you one thing for sure: Larry Briggs is a numismatic genius, as dorkarl stated. His knowledge of coins and currency (U.S. and foreign) is ubiquitous and deep. I have met very few people who can compare to his numismatic prowess. >>

And, when you call SEGS, more times than not it is Larry Briggs who'll pick up the phone and talk to you.

Whether you're interested in using SEGS products or not, he loves to talk coins.

Edited to add: If you plan on simply keeping your coins for awhile SEGS isn't a bad way to go. If your coins are to be re-sold anytime soon SEGS slabbed coins are a bit problematic.

orie · August 5, 2005 3:15AM

I culled one(MS64) on ebay last night. Had a huge carbon spot on the reverse that I didn't see when purchased off ebay for $40. Sold with a picture of the reverse and got $6.

Be careful, my friend.

koynekwest · August 6, 2005 7:38AM

I know Larry personally-I don't know if I would consider myself to be one of his friends, tho. Probably not, as he has been brutal with his grading on my stuff-more of a chance of an undergrade rather than an overgrade. I agree that SEGS could have been a top notch service.

jdimmick · August 6, 2005 7:49AM

Usually segs coin have to be treated as raw, but on an occasion, I will find one that is extremely nice for the grade and/or undergraded to current standards. The problem is, that you have to break them out and submit to one of the top tier to maximize the money especially if selling on-line as people will not aggresively bid them.

Few weeks ago I had a perfect original 1942/1 Merc graded Vf-20 by SEGS. Every thing you want and more in a circ merc. IMO, looked vf-30. The gentleman I sold it to broke it and submitted it to PCGS and it came back Vf-35. I would have broke and submitted myself except for the fact that thier is little spread on this date. He need it for a PCGS set!

ms70 · August 6, 2005 7:50AM

<< <i>What is the story on SEGS? >>

I dealt with SEGS once. Never again. You know more about the TPG business than anyone there does.

PerryHall · August 6, 2005 9:39AM

Not a top tier company but definately not to be grouped with ACG, NTC, and PCI Gold.

matteproof · August 6, 2005 9:48AM

I love the design of the SEGS holder and always have. I also very much like Larry Briggs (the company's founder). I think he is a superb numismatist and a true Seated Liberty specialist in the extreme.

I have cracked out a few half dimes from SEGS holders and submitted them to pcgs and they came back the same or better! I submitted one to pcgs for a “crossover” and it came back a “dnc.” Next time, I’ll crack it out. Maybe they “dnc’ed” it because it is SO hard to crack a SEGS slab and the pcgs graders didn’t want the hassle – so they just dnc’ed it. Trying to crack a coin out of a SEGS holder is no picnic. That is one TOUGH slab to crack out a coin. It has this “rubber” like thing inside the slab which is very resistant as is it's strong outer shell too. MUCH harder to crack than pcgs, ngc, anacs, matteproof

roadrunner · August 6, 2005 10:01AM

All the above comments are certainly believable but SEGS rhymes with dregs for a reason. Unless you are an expert in your own series be very wary of SEGS coins. One can find good deals and bargains in any TPG holder, SEGS included. But in the long haul, if you don't stick with top TPG's, you're gonna get creamed unless your name is Jim Halperin or something similar. Being a world class researcher and specialist says NOTHING about one's grading skills. And more often that not, you don't find the 2 skills in one person.
Kam Ahwash was a splendid researcher and one of the founding fathers of the LSCC movement. Yet, he couldn't (or wouldn't) grade MS coins properly. It didn't matter to me why, I just know that was the case.

roadrunner

KurtHorn · August 6, 2005 11:08AM

The SEGS holder is the worst in my opinion. No comment on their grading. Just that - as has been mentioned here elsewhere they are very difficult to crack. The only coin I have ever ruined cracking was trying to get it out of one of their damn holders.

mrearlygold · August 6, 2005 11:27AM

I just bought a 1795 Half Eagle in a SEGS holder. I'll start a new thread momentarily and post a picture for you all to take a shot and see if you can grade a scanned SEGS and get close.

Wife is scanning and removing the grade from view.

Tom

What is the story on SEGS?

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