Grading Companies

Which of the grading companies is better for Civil War related tokens & such from that time period? I have been using ANACs recently, and it's a higher cost for these types of coins due to having to research them. Any and all suggestions are appreciated!

 

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My guess would be NGC.

 

ANAC would be my choice, good luck.

 

I like, and slab with, PCGS.

 

To each their own, assume mostly based on experience and to some extent, reputation and value. That said, have noticed more recently that many NGC values listed on their website (for coins in their holders, of course...same as PCGS) are higher than PCGS, and some not just by $10 or $20. Also, I've changed to preferring the white, 4-prong NGC holder, now. I'll address the pros and cons I've found with actual grading experience issues for a later post.

Also, a curiosity, I see way more coins cocked (not straight-up) by more than a little, turned one way or another, etc, in PCGS holders than in NGC holders. Had a seller say it can happen with certain vibration/handling during shipping, but I find this explanation a bit far-fetched knowing how secure they seem to be (far from the old rattlers or the 2x2 snaps), and anyway, why so many more cocked coins in PCGS holders than NGC...? I think it happens before shipping...somehow...and isn't caught. Maybe am missing something. Anyone...?

 

So, is this a re-post (Mar 2006) that no one comment on? Like the info but a little confused by the original post date.

 

OK, I'm confused - why a 15 year old post.
Stay safe
Semper Fi
Phil

 

@GDJMSP

Doug: Any different thoughts 15 years later?

 

They can put whatever values they want, doesn't mean their coins aren't selling for less which they are

 

Alas . . . (some thoughts)

1. nobody grades the graders.
2. no outside service determines the proficiency level of the TPGs nor their evaluators.
3. I do not think the evaluators sign their work (opinion.)
4. I do not believe the experience, ability, not the competence of individual evaluators is available to the customers.
5. While (we assume) TPGs do intra-agency evaluations, it is unknown if there are any formal inter-agency evaluations. This is beyond the rare occasion that some individual might send the same coin to more than one TPG. That is not a formal comparison.
6. As far as I know, TPGs do not provide any specifics on their evaluations that might show how a grade was determined.

 

The above are CORRECT. I have tried at both NGC and PCGS to find out about a grade given to a couple of coins that came back extremely low grades and on one coin the coin came back as "unable to conserve", I broke it out and sent it to their competitor AFTER i rinsed it in distilled water sent it in an it came back MS67???? I called PCGS to attempt to find out why and the response I received is "it is up to the individual grader" I just hope he/she doesn't get anymore of my coins to grade.
Stay Safe
Phil

 

i like ICG, they have always treated me right as well as my coins. i know this thread started in 2006 (thanks paddyman98) but i wanted to throw my 3 cents in and bring a little light to ICG. everyone has their own experiences with grading company's. ive used them or bought slabbed coins graded by them all and i like ICG. good luck to yawl

 

Actually, you could consider CAC to be a grader of graders in that they accept or reject the assigned grade on a coin. Technically, they are not grading the graders, but they may be considered a grader of each coin they assess, so they are grading the grader on a per coin basis.

Of course, everyone doesn't agree with all the CAC decisions.

 

I can only offer an opinion given to me Mr. Charles Hayes who was in many ways my mentor. Charles owned the only creditable coin shop in Springfield, MO for 39+ years and was known as one of the most trusted and forthright individuals ever to trade in coins. Charles told me of the first time he had ever heard of CAC and he was at a large coin show in Chicago when a representative of CAC was going form booth to booth offering the Beans for $5.00 and telling those that purchased them that it would only increase the value of their coins. I have no way of knowing the strength of Charles' statement but knowing him as I did, I have every reason to believe him. He to my knowledge never purchased a coin with the green bean. I own two of them and ONLY because I was able to purchase both of them at then Greysheet prices. None of the individuals I correspond with or have dealing with purchase CAC stickered coins for anything above Greysheet or Bluebook prices.
Stay safe
Phil

 

In my opinion, CAC does not evaluate TPGs. At least I have not seen anything to support that they do. They basically only offer an opinion on a previously graded coin. Not too different than if I sent a coin to more than one TPG, or the people posting here asking others if they think a grade on a particular coin was correct.

By "grading the grader," I mean a separate entity who may determine if the TPG has demonstrated the ability to evaluate a certain coin within standard industry-accepted guidelines. I do not think the various TPGs use identical and documented acceptance criteria when arriving at a grade. Each TPG uses its own. Plus I am unaware that they provide information on how they arrived at a particular grade for an individual coin.

I think the TPGs should be audited by an outside party to determine if the TPG is using industry-accepted criteria, following its own procedures, documenting results, and demonstrating the proficiency to grade any particular coin.

 

If I’m not totally out to lunch, CAC only accepts coins graded by PCGS and NGC. So, in a way, they have evaluated TPGs.

 

I've graded for ANACS, NGC, and two other TPGS (including the FIRST ONE at INSAB) that are no longer around. Presently I grade at ICG. IMO, the grading by the four major TPGS is pretty much the same. The big money charged by the top two for grading and conservation is because they can get it - their slabbed coins are more popular. Their are incorrectly graded coins (many with their problems ignored) in all TPGS slabs and that includes those with a bean!


BJBII, posted some thoughts:

1. nobody grades the graders. The graders are monitored internally.
2. no outside service determines the proficiency level of the TPGs nor their evaluators. True, but CAC tries and YOU "the public" are the real watchdogs.
3. I do not think the evaluators sign their work (opinion.) Internal records record the graders.
4. I do not believe the experience, ability, not the competence of individual evaluators is available to the customers. The ability and experience is available to ANYONE who works at it. Graders learned their craft before turning professional.
5. While (we assume) TPGs do intra-agency evaluations, it is unknown if there are any formal inter-agency evaluations. This is beyond the rare occasion that some individual might send the same coin to more than one TPG. That is not a formal comparison. ?? At times, some different TPGS's show coins to other services.
6. As far as I know, TPGs do not provide any specifics on their evaluations that might show how a grade was determined. All services have a review service. At least one service (ICG) commonly discusses coins with customers. I've talked with several today and in two cases asked customers to send more coins in FOR FREE so I could help them. The top two services do not have the time to mess with you.

Phil's Coins, posted: "The above are CORRECT. I have tried at both NGC and PCGS to find out about a grade given to a couple of coins that came back extremely low grades and on one coin the coin came back as "unable to conserve", I broke it out and sent it to their competitor AFTER i rinsed it in distilled water sent it in an it came back MS67???? I called PCGS to attempt to find out why and the response I received is "it is up to the individual grader" I just hope he/she doesn't get anymore of my coins to grade."


Phil's Coins, posted: "I can only offer an opinion given to me Mr. Charles Hayes who was in many ways my mentor. Charles owned the only creditable coin shop in Springfield, MO for 39+ years and was known as one of the most trusted and forthright individuals ever to trade in coins. Charles told me of the first time he had ever heard of CAC and he was at a large coin show in Chicago when a representative of CAC was going form booth to booth offering the Beans for $5.00 and telling those that purchased them that it would only increase the value of their coins. I have no way of knowing the strength of Charles' statement but knowing him as I did, I have every reason to believe him. He to my knowledge never purchased a coin with the green bean. I own two of them and ONLY because I was able to purchase both of them at then Greysheet prices. None of the individuals I correspond with or have dealing with purchase CAC stickered coins for anything above Greysheet or Bluebook prices."

Many major, long-term dealers I knew refused to use TPGS's or CAC. Most do now. You don't need beans if you know how to grade and buy slabs you agree with.

 

You need to stop posting this libel BS story. CAC has never offered to sticker any coin you gave them for 5 bucks. The sticker has never been for sale. AT best they were soliciting SUBMISSIONS which is entirely different than what you keep posting.