PCGS cert verification problem

Just wanted to ask the forum if anyone has had issues verifying certification numbers on the pcgs site or while adding coins to their registry.
I bought two coins from a local well respected dealer today and when I got home I tryed to add to my registry inventory. An error came up saying certification number is bad. Then I tryed the verify cert function and it came back cannot display certification information..
The coins appear genuine, and the slabs fit nicely with my other pcgs slabs( I know this is just one of many diagnostics for counterfeit slabs.. just curious, thought I would get some opinions before taking this issue back to the dealer I bought them from..
here is one pic now the coin is 1880/9-S

 

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Interesting, I agree the coin and slab look genuine. What I find strange is, it says "That Cert is not available for display." on the cert check. But usually when you enter a wrong, or bad cert it will say "That Cert Number was not found in the database.". I'm not really sure, maybe the coin was recently graded and the info isn't available yet? Maybe someone more familiar with PCGS will know.

 

Thanks...I think you may have something with the graded recently idea, and a funny thing I also bought a 1879-S in MS-65 that is only a couple hundred #'s off the 1880 and also came with the same error message..maybe the dealer just got them back...

 

Have you sent an inquiry to PCGS about this? I'd do that while you wait for CT members to opine and before you return to your dealer. Also, the database could currently be down ror maintenance or any number of reasons.

Let us know what you find out. I use the cert verification a lot when researching slabs for coins I'm interested in buying, before bidding. I'm sure others do as well and would appreciate whatever you find out about this issue. Thanks.

 

There is a lag time before they are put into the data base.

guy

 

Here are some better pics of the two coins...

 

If it is a new slab, wait a week. It will get entered. If it still does not come up, call PCGS customer service. They are very easy to deal with.

 

Also just an idea is that if it's in someone registry could it be holding it for them?

 

yet another possibility...If I cant add them by the beginning of the week I will call PCGS..

 

Here,s what sometimes happens, You buy a graded piece and the
Person that you buy it from doesnt remove it from there registry
And cause,s a duplicate entry, Simply e-mail PCGS and provide
Proof your now the owner and it will get added to yours fairly
Quickly

 

Just what Duke said, two posts earlier...

 

thanks to everyone who responded. I sent an e-mail to PCGS notifying them of the problem I am having. What kind of proof do you think they'll require..photos of me holding the coin with a current newspaper like in a kidnapping...:mouth:

 

Since i have several PCGS registry sets and this has happen to me
On more then one occasion and since Duke is not currently member
Of PCGS yet! As we hope to welcome him soon, I was letting bigjpst
Know from my own experience what the verified procedure is!!:kewl:

And thanks again Krispy for adding your 2 Cents:mouth: Would those
Be copper or steel ones??

 

Whether he's a member or not, he seems to clearly understand the workings of and potential issue with registry sets that may be the cause of the OPs concern. As you know, being a member with sets, PCGS are very explicit about their rules concerning the removal of items from one set once sold or no longer in your possession. I'd wager this is not the issue the OPs coin(s) are having and that it's more likely they are newer and not yet updated in the database.

Now for your odd, off topic inquiry about copper and steel, neither do I collect, but instead the nobles: silver and gold, my dear fellow... along with some paper, which of course is your realm, not coins, where you oddly hang out a disproportionate amount of the time gawking at the wares.

 

Thanks for reminding me
One day I'll send to a TPG'er. But for now I'll just hold lots of them pregraded when I buy them.


As for the problem. I'm thinking my idea might just be the problem putting them on the registry but I just don't know.
I'm thinking we'll know on Monday when PCGS reply's to his email.

 

...as far as the verification issue, i just wish PCGS would copy NGC and provide

a photo verification to go along with the certified number. maybe one day they

will. it's nice to pull up a verification number (right now NGC) and

find a photo to see how the coin looks before a purchase. jmo :kewl:

 

Someone still having the coin in ther registry set should not prevent the certificate information from coming up.

 

I just experimented and if you put in ANY eight digit (or shorter) number that does not correspond with a coin in the database, you get the message "That Cert is not available for display".

If you put in a longer number (or include letters) you get "Not a valid cert number".

 

Conder is correct -- the certification verification is separate from a coin not being avaailable to add to your registry. You can check the certification of a coin, regardless of who owns it.

 

well I called pcgs today and spoke with customer service. I gave the person I talked to the cert#s and he verified the coin date/mint/variety matched the certs given. he asked me to send them pics of the complete slab front and back so they could verify the coins were still in pcgs holders before updating the database. I tried to ask what the issue was, whether or not I should worry about a problem with my coins. he did not seem to concerned...as if he really didn't want to tell me(maybe simply someone forgot?) who knows..I will recheck the certs on the website in a couple days to see if it is resolved... thanks for all the input.