Well, to begain with, what does "Third Party Graders" mean ? . Is that because there are three main graders, PCGS, NGC, & ANAC ? Anyway what I am wondering about, since I have never submitted coins before, is how do you send them to the grader in protective enclosures ?. If you use some type of airtite's does the grader send the container's back with the graded coin's ? Dave
"Third Party" in any situation generally means someone outside of a transaction/argument/dispute/research/whatever that is neutral and has no steak in the outcome of the [whatever], and is therefore objective and trustworthy. Basically, PCGS isn't supposed to care what grade is assigned to your coin. Meanwhile, there's an old line about dealers and their coins: When he's buying it, it's an AU55 -- when he's selling it, it's MS63.
IMO, services such as PCGS and NGC are more about the marketability of the coins. There are a lot of collectors out there who will buy for the number on the slab and turn their noses up at "raw" coins that are in nicer condition and pay a premium for the coin in a PCGS or NGC slab. The term "Third Party Grading" doesn't necessarily have to include the coin being encapsulated.
In regard to your unaddressed second subject, TPG's would like you to submit your coins in 2 1/2" square mylar flips (SAFLIPS) so that they can quickly and easily handle the coins without risk of damaging them. They will not assume responsibility for mishandling or chemical degradation of coins submitted in any other kind of holder.
