As I've posted before, I'm an avid collector of Canadian coinage. I trust my grading skills but still prefer to purchase certified coins, unless a real unslabbed bargain pops up. At any rate, I was wondering what grading company is prefered by other collectors of Canadian coins? ICCS is my favorite - the coins are very conservatively graded, sometimes 2 MS points or more below what I would grade them. NGC second and PCGS a distant third - I actually prefer old ANACS slabs over PCGS.
If you are a good grader, you have no need for certification. And, yes, Canadian coins are wonderful to collect.
Aww what happened to your signature "De gustibus non est disputandum"? It looked so great under your last post. then I got side tracked and when I came back it was gone. I have to say I prefer PCGS. I've heard a lot of complaints about ICCS, and when I started collecting a while ago they sort of soured me against them. I'm warming up to ICCS however. I don't have any complaints with them, but I would like to see them set up a website similar to NGC/PCGS where you can do registry sets and some other fun interactive things, just more Canada focused. EDIT: I currently have more ICCS graded coins then PCGS
I'm not a big fan of any TPG and, due to inconsistencies in the last couple years, ICCS would be on the bottom of my list. They have certified coins that weren't coins, fakes, and their grading creep has led to some very liberal grades. They have been very remiss about adding anything in the remarks section, unless it can be seen at arm's length. As such, many cleaned, polished, or corroded coins come through with a technical grade and NO comments. I prefer CCCS (another Canadian grading company that actually has web access and a registration sytem) where they will diligently put in the proper comments, maintain a very conservative grading system, have wondefful hard slabs, and they will certify errors and varieties that ICCS won't touch. PCGS is a close 2nd.
While I like ICCS, I have to say that they are extremely foolish not to have a web site and the ability to verify coins on a database thru the site. They should also go to hard slabs. I haven't noticed gradeflation on their part.
I don't hesitate to buy coins that are in an ICCS holder. Unfortunately, the ICCS holder doesn't fit well with my raw coins and it doesn't fit well with my raw coins. Because if this, I break them out & put the coins in my collection. I'm sorry to report that this happens essentially every time I get an ICCS coin. (Sorry ICCS). I have no issues with ICCS grading or consistency. However, I've probably only owned about a dozen of their slabs so my experience is really limited.
K-TOWN: ICCS appears to be technical only and doesn't add or subtract points or stars for eye appeal the way NGC and PCGS do. The latter services substantially grade up for luster and toning, while grading down severely for light scratches and rim dings on circulated items. As a Canadian token collector, I want ICCS' knowledge of strikes for my certified pieces. As a small dealer, I prefer NCS for U.S material as top, and PCGS comes in ahead of ANACS and ICG for 'ease of sale'
