How many coin grading companies are there?

All know of are the following: PCGS, NGC, and ANACS. How many have I missed?

 

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Legitimate ones or just in general? There's 100s of basement/home slabber ones that are worthless

 

PCGS and NGC are usually considered the top 2, followed by ANACS and ICG.
I don't pay any attention to any of the others. As baseball21 said, the rest are generally worthless.

 

One member here is at ICG and he gives out deals for CT members... right @Insider

 

All are worthless. Nothing to bother with. Don't concern yourself.

 

@Abramthegreat,

If you read between his lines, the well-known, "expert" numismatist (Congorgi) has a great deal to to teach all of us here. I believe I can tell he is a very intelligent, long-time major coin collector with decades of experience in the business. He is so modest that no profile exists for him here; but I'll bet he owns the finest coin accumulation on his street. Therefore, I doubt he has the need to use any of the grading companies. They are of no concern to him so that's possibly why he didn't chose to answer your question. I have become very fond of this helpful fellow and now follow and look forward to his posts.

I think by tomorrow night you will have some posts from other helpful members.

 

WTH...no emojis and colored text to make some unintelligible comment?

I hate your communication (lack of) skills, but respect your experience.

You arrogant tool.

 

Is SEGS still around?

 

Coins in PCGS and NGC holders generally sell for the most money. Their certification costs are also higher.
The market also respects ANACS and ICG graded coins.
There are others that did some decent grading in the past, but currently I don't believe any others have any real credibility.

 

For me, just PCGS or NGC. Depending on the coin series, one or the other are the best game in town.

 

there's a lot or really good coin grading services around the world in various countries, LCGS, CGS in UK, ICCS in Canada. they aren't "top tier" with nice slabs, but they aren't basement graders either.
those type of companies, as far as "visual aesthetics" put them below ANACS or ICG, but the grading is solid in my opinion of the ones I've seen, not that I'm a professional.

I'd say if it's a grading service located in a country other than the U.S. you've never heard of, don't write it off as "overgraded basement grader" automatically. Just about anywhere on the internet if you ask about grading companies the answer will be "PCGS or NGC, top tier!" they pay good money for that marketing, and so do the people submitting coins to them. Is a Lexus better than a Toyota? Acura better than Honda? Not in my opinion, but people believe it's a premium brand and even swear by it, marketing gave it that appearance also, in my opinion. If it's not those top 4 well known/better known companies from the U.S. be vary wary of them.

 

Agree as they currently are...as the process currently is/has been, etc...but the companies are only doing what they know, in the old ways it's always been done, etc...not so much on them as on the industry and governing body(ies) plus the VIPs who essentially call the shots/have influence on them with the all-too-archaic, subjective and inconsistent, co. by co., grader by grader, day-by-day and mood-by-mood process...badly in need of revision.

 

CoinCorgi, posted: "WTH...no emojis and colored text to make some unintelligible comment? I hate your [lack of] communication (lack of) skills, but respect your experience. You arrogant tool."



I find that emotions such as envy, jealousy, or low self esteem affect the way we view others. It is a personal thing that can only be fixed (hopefully soon) from within. English comprehension is different. Let me try to help anyone having a problem understanding the obvious messages in the way I post...

These two examples should convey the same message to any person over forty who was educated in the United States and has acceptable communication skills:

1. I find that some posts on Coin Talk are completely worthless!!

2. I find that some posts on Coin Talk ARE COMPLETELY WORTHLESS!!

Which do you think is more fun to write and conveys my thoughts better?

As for TPGS, many of you forget THAT MOST FOLKS DON"T KNOW as much as you do about coins. TPGS's provide some level of protection to them. Is that worthless?

 

Just ICG. All others are 3rd tier, basement or out of business.

 

Lots of TPG but the most important grader is YOU. You like it, collect it. You don't, sell or pass on it. Poor, Good, Better, Best.

 

"Mountain Man, posted: "Lots of TPG but the most important grader is YOU."

I agree! Unfortunately, many U's think they can grade. Until they actually test their opinion with the "market or TPGS's" a few times, they'll never know.

 

Counting the basement slabbers and flyby nights, I know of around 160 companies. Most no longer exist, and in the US you only really need to know about PCGS, NGC, ANACS and ICG. There are maybe another dozen legitimate companies around the world but they don't have the market share of the four companies previously named.

 

There was a basement grader called NCG...I know because I bought a coin early on in my collecting career because I thought it was NGC. Turned out it wasn't a particularly expensive coin so I was alright. I think there is also one that uses the letters in PCGS, but the order is different.

 

?
Thanks!

 

Putting a @ in front of a member's name summons them...Bettlejuice, Bettlejuice, Bettlejuice...