PCGS or NGC? Which do you think is best?

I searched for a thread on this, and one may exist that i could not find. But I am curious what others think is the better grading service between the two. I had a dealer at the Raleigh coin show this past weekend tell me that many dealers prefer PCGS because they graded higher and weren't quite as strict as NGC is getting. I personally like the NGC holders and think they are much more attractive with the coins in them but I have obtained coins in both NGC and PCGS holders because of the coin, not the holder. Thanks for your input.

 

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There are many threads about this topic. Here is a good one.

http://www.cointalk.com/t206022/

 

thanks for posting that link, I voted for NGC with PCGS acceptable

 

I voted plastic is acceptable once I determine the coin is acceptable.

 

I didn't vote at all. The rouge in me forbids it. :devil:

 

Wow, I just reread that entire thread. I need a beer!

 

Tx for the link. I thought there might be one somewhere but could not find it.

 

I vote for whomever Mike Mezack thinks is the best.

 

I like ngc more because of the star designation.

 

I'll give you my preference as a full-time dealer and my preference as a collector.

As a full-time dealer who specializes in gem and near-gem type as well as problem-free, circulated type my strong preference is for PCGS. I have some collector clients who prefer coins be in PCGS holders vs. in NGC holders and other collector clients who require coins be in PCGS holders vs. in NGC holders. However, while I have some collector clients who prefer coins be in NGC holders vs. in PCGS holders, I have no collector clients who require coins be in NGC holders vs. in PCGS holders. Additionally, as the price of a coin goes higher, the preference or requirement for a PCGS holder becomes stronger. At below $500 or so per coin there is minimal demand that a coin must be in a PCGS holder; from $500 to around $1,500 or so per coin there is a fairly strong demand that a coin must be in a PCGS holder; above $1,500 or so per coin it is a near requirement, among my collector clients, that a coin must be in a PCGS holder. Also, the higher the price, regardless of the holder, the more likely a CAC sticker will be expected or desired.

When I do dealer-to-dealer transactions, which make up the bulk of my business, there is a preference for a coin to be in a PCGS holder. However, unless the coin is being looked at specifically for a collector client who requires a PCGS holder, this preference is not a requirement.

As a collector I have a strong preference for coins to be in PCGS holders. I realize that the market makes coins in PCGS holders more liquid and perhaps more valuable, too. Since I cannot tell what will happen in the future and can only look at the past and present, I send any coins for certification to PCGS, but will buy coins in both PCGS and NGC holders.

 

depends on the series

 

Personally, I think the biggest flaw for NGC is that they refuse to designate major varieties for free like PCGS does. For example, I bought a 1823 Capped Bust Half NGC VF35 off ebay for $150 as a buy it now. It was CLEARLY the broken 3 variety, but because someone didn't pay NGC the extra $12, NGC marked it as a regular 1823. ...... Now, if you had submitted that coin to PCGS, it would have come back as an 1823 Broken 3 variety. They fix things like that for you for free (because it's a major variety), even if you miss it when submitting coins.

PCGS certifies what they call "major varieties" for free, but charge $24 per coin for what they consider minor varieties. NGC asks for an extra $12 for all varieties.

But to answer your original question, I have found that people pay insanely high prices for PCGS coins. If you are getting them certified as a future investment to later cash in on, go with PCGS. (IMHO).

But

 

NGC are better when submitting PCGS are better when buying slabbed coins- this is because many NGC ms65's could never make 65 in PCGS.