I was told by my coin dealer that they used to be very strict so old anacs slabs are even better than modern-day PCGS/NGC. Is this true? Thank you for your advice.
I would say that in general, the old small ANACS slabs are more accurate than the new ANACS slabs and that often they were on par with PCGS & NGC. I say this from my experience with such slabs. Here are some examples of coins I believe are accurately graded. I think all three would cross into NGC holders at the same grade.
Well, its a long trip down memory lane, but my early ANACs grade examples for uncirculated coins, had only MS60,MS63, and MS65. And as you can see on another threads the grade was split obverse/reverse. So a MS63 obverse could be right on, or really a current grading grade of MS64. And an old MS65 could be a MS66 or higher. Also now, the obverse seems to currently have more impact on a final grade than the reverse, so an old certificate for 65/63 could be an upgrade. That said, don't think that people haven't been pursuing such cherrypicking since the expanded grades have come about. Most of the slam dunk have already been dunked. You might get some from private collectors, but most dealers worth their name, know how to grade, and if it is still in an ANACS slab, there is most likely good reason for it. The obvious is that one has to know how to grade accurately with today's standards to succeed at it IMO.
Wasn't the old ANACS also more lenient when it came to judging DMPL Morgans? I've been told that the standard they used for reflectivity was 4"-6". Isn't the standard used by NGC & PCGS more like 6"-8"? I've only cracked one DMPL Morgan. It was an 1898-O that ANACS graded MS63DMPL, and I thought it would upgrade to MS64DMPL. It came back MS64PL. Chris
Yes they were more lenient on that. But on some series of coins they were the toughest TPG going. And just try to find a 70, MS or PF, in an old ANACS slab. You talk about looking for hen's teeth ! You'll find the teeth before you find one of those
The old ANACS Photo Certs used the split grade MS-63/65, when the slabs started in 1989, all eleven points for Mint State were used, plus they add all of the designation of FSB, FS, FH, FBL, and others. Today all of the small white holders have toned the silver coin in it. There was something in the label that did this, I like the look that the rim toned has done, you can really see it on the Morgan Dollars, not sure if you can see it on the dime though.
I think back in the day only the best coins were graded and that's why so many have outstanding eye appeal. Also in my opinion the holder gets much less attention because of its smaller size and the neutral color - the coin is important, and not the 'special edition/first strike' label.
I spoke with ANACS within the last week or so on their reholdering the small holder or Blue holder coins; and they said no dice on that. So anything but the gold ANACS holder has no guarantee, I'm not sure if they include anything but their gold holder coins in their population report. And no crossovers in any of the ANACS coins pre-gold holder, just break 'em out and send them in because they will not reholder in their gold holders, only their blue ones. New business management did not want to assume risk associated with old holder coins, not that the guarantees mean much anyway, it seems they all wriggle out of inconvenient guarantee submissions. "Hey it looks OK to us, pal, what's your problem?" . Yes there are some winners in the old holders, but not many that matter as the big two remain the leaders probably by 99% and where most of the submissions happen.
Possibly true IF you can find old small size ANACS slabs that no one has looked at in 20 years or so. Otherwise there is a very good chance they have been picked over and anything that would cross or upgrade has already been picked out.
I think the same logic can be applied to the PCGS OGH coins. I have seen people pay decent premiums for those coins without (seemingly) looking at the coin. The majority of them that will upgrade...probably already have been.
