How is ANACS grading?

FISTer · March 25, 2012 2:16PM

A few coins that I'm interested in online were graded by ANACS, they are Jefferson nickels that were graded full step MS67. How is ANACS on grading, specifically how are they on FS designations? More lenient than PCGS/NGC?

Goldbully · March 25, 2012 2:20PM

They are not lenient as you might suspect.......they have a long standing reputation to preserve.

lasvegasteddy · March 25, 2012 2:21PM

depends on anacs holder...small lil ones?
do they have a genie's lamp on them?

generally speaking
it's always...buy the coin not the holder...that is first rule of thumb...reguardless of who entombed it
anacs does receive it's earned respect from the top 2 newcomers...anacs lead this movement

truly
study those images supplied and seek return options when talking top-tier/lofty grades or designations

RedTiger · March 25, 2012 2:29PM

It is best to look up the results for coins of interest on the various auction archives (ebay, Teletrade, Heritage). A person can compare and contrast how coins in different holders at the same grade average out to widely different prices. Others can tell a person how wide the price gaps can be, but first hand doing tends to have more impact.

coinman23885 · March 25, 2012 2:30PM

I agree with buy the coin and not the holder; with this said, here has been my experience (others' experiences may differ):

Old small white holders - generally conservative; the older blue holders with the ANA logo (the magic lamp) on the reverse tend to be on par with NGC and PCGS grading of the same period. The smaller white holders with the green label tend to be conservative and will likely cross at or within a point of the holdered grade here or ATS now.

Gold Holders/Small Blue Holders - the grades on these are variable; some are accurate while others are lacking. I have seen a couple of problem coin pieces in graded holders. I also have concerns about the security of the holders; I have seen people remove coins from them and place other coins (obvious coins so not to defraud) just to make a point. I tend to stay away from these unless I know the seller, and/or I have had the opportunity to inspect the coins in hand with a generous return privilege.

FISTer · March 25, 2012 2:38PM

Ok, thanks. I've asked for some better pics and he has a very long return policy so we'll see after the pics.

lasvegasteddy · March 25, 2012 2:48PM

<< <i>Ok, thanks. I've asked for some better pics and he has a very long return policy so we'll see after the pics. >>

yeah jeffs in 67 fs...that's a very picky top end coin...i know some (very few) prance around above this
you'll pay for them if they fit in grade/designation accordingly
if a seller can't image these proper they should have a return service going

for a new member..you're doing this right too...

just bear in mind also...if end result you're to go after pcgs registry set in 67 fs....crossing others into pcgs holders isn't a best of plan as you're best just looking at pcgs holdered already

pitboss · March 25, 2012 3:20PM

I find that they do a good job in grading but others prefer PCGS and NGC because buyers tend to pay more for them.

Their price to grade is a lot cheaper though.

So its your decision when you buy.

Compare coins for yourself.

mozin · March 25, 2012 3:20PM

I don't know about the moderns, but otherwise, ANACS encapsulated coins don't make it. Buy PCGS, and no problems.

FISTer · March 25, 2012 11:13PM

My big concern with crossing is retaining the FS designation. I definitely want to cross, and it would be to PCGS as I like the holders better and they are more lenient on the FS designation (than across the street it seems.) At the price I'm willing to pay I can lose a grade, but not the FS. I'm still waiting on better pics, the guy said he's not the most computer savvy.

RedTiger · March 25, 2012 11:35PM

<< <i>My big concern with crossing is retaining the FS designation. I definitely want to cross, and it would be to PCGS as I like the holders better and they are more lenient on the FS designation (than across the street it seems.) At the price I'm willing to pay I can lose a grade, but not the FS. I'm still waiting on better pics, the guy said he's not the most computer savvy. >>

Buy them in the holder that you want them to be in. Pay the full boat money. Crossing is an expensive and often low probability game. At 67 FS, the odds of crossing are maybe 10% from ANACS to PCGS. Maybe 15% if a person counts 66 FS as a successful cross. As I understand it, you are just starting on these coins. If that is the case, you don't have near enough grading expertise to tell, even with better pics, even with the coin in hand.

lcoopie · March 25, 2012 11:35PM

unless you are an expert who can grade coins by photo
(no one can)
and if you want a PCGS coin,
just buy it in that holder

FISTer · March 26, 2012 12:09AM

I would definitely prefer buying in a PCGS holder; the issue is I really like one of these coins, regardless of what holder it's in. I've made him an offer for one of the coins, I'll worry about crossing at some point down the line... right now I just want to see if the coin is as attractive in hand; if it is than I'll be quite happy paying what I offered.

DennisH · March 26, 2012 12:57AM

In my experience with Jeffs, no one grades them as strictly as PCGS does (although PCGS seems to be more lenient on the FS designation.) If you have a PCGS Registry set and your strategy by buying anyone else's MS67FS is to cross it over, I will predict disappointment now. I've watched a fellow high-end Jeff collector try this maybe 25 times over many years; I think he's gotten 2 to work.

roadrunner · March 26, 2012 1:11AM

It's irrelevant on how ANACS grades as they have little to no standing in the current market place. It's all geared towards PCGS right now with NGC continuing to lose ground.
If you like the coin buy it. But don't expect welcome arms when you take your ANACS coins to dealers for offers. They will be buying them as if they were raw and erring on the
very conservative side.

Sonorandesertrat · March 26, 2012 2:07AM

"Buy them in the holder that you want them to be in. Pay the full boat money. Crossing is an expensive and often low probability game. At 67 FS, the odds of crossing are maybe 10% from ANACS to PCGS. Maybe 15% if a person counts 66 FS as a successful cross. As I understand it, you are just starting on these coins. If that is the case, you don't have near enough grading expertise to tell, even with better pics, even with the coin in hand."

"It's irrelevant on how ANACS grades as they have little to no standing in the current market place. It's all geared towards PCGS right now with NGC continuing to lose ground.
If you like the coin buy it. But don't expect welcome arms when you take your ANACS coins to dealers for offers. They will be buying them as if they were raw and erring on the
very conservative side. "

SoCalBigMark · March 26, 2012 2:10AM

The most money I ever lost on a coin was trying to cross a full step jefferson.

lcoopie · March 26, 2012 2:14AM

last very mild warning
don't

good luck

SeattleSlammer · March 26, 2012 2:14AM

I still really dig the old small ANACS slabs with nice coins inside. But they're not as easy to find anymore since many holding nice coins have been crossed.

roadrunner · March 26, 2012 3:39AM

<< <i>I still really dig the old small ANACS slabs with nice coins inside. But they're not as easy to find anymore since many holding nice coins have been crossed. >>

Yup. Those early gold foil hologram holders are the exception. I've yet to find a bad coin in one of those holders. And in every case so far have found coins
somewhat more conservatively graded than post 1998 era tpg coins. I don't think I've ever lost money buying one of those early ANACS holders. All good memories.
Now my last 3 transactions in post 2000 holders weren't all that fond (MS65 Lib nickel AT, PF65 UCAM seated quarter - altered surfaces, 1866 AU55 quarter - AT).
Fortunately, those coins were still decent and bought right. I was lucky to break even on the group.

INXS · March 26, 2012 3:41AM

Ever since ANACS became the TPG company of the "tele"-marketers I have to wonder if they(ANACS) didn't fall back to their ICG ways of turn, burn and out the door. JMO.

IrishMikey · March 26, 2012 4:17AM

One warning about Jefferson nickels -- I have seen War Nickels "go bad" inside all three
services' holders over time. Black spots, toning turning dark, and so on. I think the
wartime alloy was more unstable than the normal copper-nickel composition.

One of my best "steals" was a coin in an old ANACS holder, so don't let the type of holder
scare you. Be sure you really love the coin before you pull the trigger, a true MS-67
Full Steps Jefferson nickel should be a "WOW!" coin.

Barry · March 26, 2012 7:08AM

I used to like them, back in the small holder days. After the guy who performed with Carole King at the Troubador took over, they lost all credibility with me.

cmerlo1 · March 26, 2012 9:41AM

I use them for less-valuable varieties. They have an excellent reputation in this area.

bronzemat · March 26, 2012 9:45AM

I still buy coins in ANACS holders, the company doesnt bother me in the least.

anablep · March 26, 2012 10:21AM

I was a big fan of ANACS coins, especially in the small, ANA holders. Most of my Morgan collection was in that type of holder. I'm now moving them into PCGS to protect the value of my collection. I just don't see the resale potential in the ANACS holdered coins (even the old small ones) compared to PCGS. It pains me to say that and to reholder my better coins, but from an investment standpoint, its the smart thing for me to do. From a sentimental point of view, it really does pain me to move the Morgans out of those historical old holders.

I'll still look for coins in the older ANACS holders, but finding anything nice is getting harder, especially in the last 3-4 years or so. I do plan on keeping a select few coins in the old holders.

2manycoins · March 26, 2012 10:43AM

ANACS does a good job with error coins

leothelyon · March 26, 2012 11:46AM

The only super nice Jeffs (JN) left to collect in ANACS holders are in private collector's hands or their heirs, those coins that have not been crossed to PCGS.
It wasn't until PCGS started grading Jefferson nickels did we see an influx of new money and a deeper interest to search out those profit bearing gems.
This new interest also brought out higher superior coins which in turn caused many ANACs graded coins to drop a point or two.
Every so often an old collection of unsearched ANACS coins will surface, usually through ebay.
But the grading of Jefferson nickels depends on the experience of the collector whether they can recognize what's to be expected as they work through the series.

Harry779 · March 26, 2012 9:57PM

Lately I think they are very tough on silver coins.
I sent some variety coins in and they all were graded at least one grade below what I and others felt the coins should have come in at.

How is ANACS grading?

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