So I have quite a few 1973 Ikes and other better examples that I want to send to grade. I see that ANACS has a special on moderns and dollars until 4-21. Is there any disadvantage to using ANACS? I generally thought they are reliable but everyone seems focused on NCG or PCSG. I also want to slab a few of the FOA coins.
Nothing at all wrong with using ANACS. I have sent them several of my better coins that they graded fairly.
ANACS is generally seen as the "second tier" to PCGS and NGC. Where ANACS shines is variety attribution. ANACS will attribute virtually all minor varieties and VAMs (ANACS recognizes Poliquin IHC varieties, for example).
long story short... PCGS-highest resale premium-shortest list of varities and non uscoins... NGC good resale premium, cover most well know varities and tokens... ANACs=lower resale premium but will grade and slab almost all varities and tokens. oh ICG= no resale premium, good for verifiying "genuine" and rough idea of grade
I have as well, and I've been very pleased with their grades given to my coins!! Not only that, they are the oldest ANA affiliated company around. Check out the link! https://coinweek.com/education/coin-grading/history-first-third-party-coin-grading-service-anacs/
I sent ANACS several coins, (VAM'S), a couple of years ago. I pre screened the VAM variety on which they agreed, and very pleased with the grading results. I highly recommend them for varieties.
Don't get me wrong I got nothing against ANACS.. i've used them more then the other 3 combined.. (ok NGC the only other one I generaly use lol)
PCGS. ANACS is fine with the specials on low value coins though. Just be aware they will sell for less than PCGS counterparts
I prefer NGC with PCGS second, but right now, they are both on my list. For the most value at resale and liquidity, use PCGS.
Nothing wrong with ANACS, just that a coin graded at a given grade in an ANACS slab will sell for less than the exact same coin at the same grade in an NGC or PCGS slab.
I see ANACS used more for authentication than just grading but wouldn't shy away from buying a coin in their holder. Buy the coin, not the holder.
I have yet to submit any coins to TPGs, but if I did I would prefer PCGS or NGC. Now, I have purchased coins slabbed by PCGS, NGC, and ANACS. I look at the coin, and if it is appealing to me I'll pick it up if it's in a slab from any of those three.
Unless things have changed NGC is about the only one that slabs ancients to any significant extent, and while they will grade them they do not guarantee authenticity for ancients.
For Canadian coins I'm with PCGS or ICCS I feel they grade better than NGC + ANACS. Almost every Canadian coin graded by ANACS or NCG that I have sent to PCGS has come back with a lower grade or detailed cleaned. This is why I prefer PCGS for my coins I get an honest grade from them in my opinion for Canadian coins to be graded.
In terms of ancient ancients it's really still just them. ANACS will do them too but don't get anywhere near as many.