which of the two is better will be debated probably long after I'm dead. they are both considered as reliable as you can get.
Which ANACS? The old small slabs (or the older pictured coins) are probably quite comparable to NGC & PCGS. Pretty much the newer they are thereafter, the worse they are. Present slabs are probably still under consideration.
The particular grade on a slab, regardless of PCGS or NGC, is only as good or true as the person or group of people who reviewed the coin and assigned it the grade. Both PCGS and NGC have stellar world-class graders. Maybe your coin was graded the day after the PCGS Christmas party, or the NGC summer bar-b-que. Hung-over graders are probably a little grumpy? In short, I have a couple hundred of each, and I will say I have seen egregious errors from both sides. Some series are considered much higher quality from NGC (e.g., full steps designation as 5FS v. 6FS is only differentiated by NGC, and FBL designation of Franklin Halves is more strict from NGC than PCGS). On the flip side, prices usually reflect that PCGS graded coins go for higher prices. Though, some of that price inflation could be due to the fact that PCGS only allows PCGS coins in their registry sets, while NGC allows both PCGS and NGC. I also know of coins being cracked out and sent from one TPG to the other (in both directions) and they come back both higher and lower sometimes. Long story short, and I know it's been said a million times, buy the coin not the plastic.
I personally like NGC the best. The coins appear nicer in their slabs. They have an awesome free appraisal service for any coin that is graded by them. Also they have scans of any newer coins they grade online to ensure 100% authenticity.
ICG is not the same company it was a few years back, ANACS is improving, PCGS and NGC have there days
It's tough to answer with out knowing why you are interested. If you are asking because you want to buy a coin in an NGC slab then I would say they suck. Buy the coin and not the slab, I don't think any of the grading services do a good, consistent job, so I do not trust any of them. If you are asking because you want to slab a coin before you sell it, then I would slab it at NGC.
Both are excellent...but I wouldn't say there is a clear #1. I think when talking about some specific types of coins...one might be a little better than the other, but overall they are equal. However, all else being equal...it seems (at least to me) that PCGS slabs command a little more money.
I find that SEGS is better than even ICG and ANACS. It's my 3rd prefered slab. At the top, currently, probably NGC- I enjoy the viewing pleasure of the new 4-prong "sideview" holder. Whoever says "Buy the coin, not the slab" is correct, but you want to be able to appreciate the coin within a proper slab, correct? I find the 4-prong holder is the best way to do so. I've also found, from recent submissions, that they are MUCH MORE consistant with their grading than PCGS (The gangster firm). Though, I know this is an arguable topic. -Brian
