I think there are really only two major players PCGS and NGC but there are a couple others like IGC and ANACS but would generally call them a tier two TPG but i know some people use them to protect there coins but using them to increase value maybe not as much. For me anyway i have always preferred PCGS as the value of there slabbed coins always brings a premium over NGC and the others, plus i have never liked NGC slabbed coins just think ther to bulky and plain jane but that,s just me, here,s a couple examples i polled out of my collection. really like the OGH, there pretty cool So what,s your favorite TPG
I view TPG's differently than most others. They aren't an avenue for profitability to me. A TPG exists to protect my coin for future generations and render a professional judgment on the grade. That's all and nothing more to me.... And in that vein, I am an ICG guy simply due to the cost.
PCGS is my personal favorite but I have bought a small gold coin in a CAC holder too (yes I don't care it's not a real TPG I think their holder is nice ).
I had a brain fart here and completely forgot about CAC only holders would for sure put them in the same conversation as PCGS and NGC.
If I were to use a TPG today it would be which ever one Insider (Skip Fazzari) is associated with. I think it's ICG? In the 80's he was with INS (International Numismatic Society). I sent them coins for authentication. It was always very professional and on time. And they always gave me free grading.
NGC for three major reasons: - one of my first collections was a FBL Franklin collection, and the NGC requirements for FBL are far stricter and far superior in my opinion. The PCGS requirements just don't meet my standards. So, I was NGC only. - my next collection was Prooflike coins. At the time, PCGS only designated PL Morgans, and nothing else. NGC was the only major TPG to designate PL on any coin that deserved it (Anacs did too, but they weren't allowed on the Registry) - my next collection was foreign coins. NGC has always been more widely respected with foreign material. Only in recent years does it feel like PCGS is gaining ground, but even still, I like NGC better. And, as a Registry player, NGC just straight up did not allow PCGS foreign coins into the NGC Registry. So, based on what I chose to collect, NGC was and still is the clear winner for me.
