Cannot understand why. Perhaps they like the ANACS slab over ICG's. I hated the old label and have finally become used to the finger grips on the side. Both ICG and ANACS don't bring as much money; yet I consider them to be equals as the little 2.
All of the TPGs have their niches and special features. Some people like the square shape and top label of SEGS' case. The ICG notch is actually their patented design feature (now expired, https://patents.google.com/patent/US6029807A/en) ANACS will authenticate more varieties than others The harder vs softer plastic of PCGS vs NGC. etc. But when it comes to market preference (i.e. $), like it or not, it's clearly PCGS, NGC, and then everybody else.
You can't place much stock in the "old" ANACS grading. They gave me a grade of AU55/55 on an uncirculated large cent I had bought. When I asked them to tell me where the wear was, they asked me to return the cent and then sent it back with the grade MS60/60! I submitted it many years later to PCGS and it came back MS64! A GSA 1883-CC Morgan I submitted to ANACS came back with the grade of MS63/63. NGC later certified it as MS66 Prooflike! As for the major certification services, I found recently that Heritage Auctions will not sell coins in ICG holders. If you send them one, they'll require that it be sent to either NGC or PCGS. They'll do that for you, by the way. Usually when you hear someone refer to the big three, they're referring to PCGS, NGC/NCS, and ANACS.
I use a hammer but I have seen vices and large clippers used. Has to be faster than a Dremel! I find it is also dependent on the settings of the slab sealer. I've opened a few old PCI holders w/ a fingernail!
The only way this statement is correct is by omitting one of the four major grading services. IMO, ANACS is not a big anything. They are a second tier major service along with ICG. I also think ANACS does just as good a job as the "Big" two. IMO, each of the TPGS has carved out a piece of the pie. To the best of my knowledge, none of the four major TPGS put a numerical grade on Uncirculated "Details" coins; however, I pulled out three ICG "Details" coins just now. One VF-35 Details, Cleaned. One AU-58 Details Scratched Reverse. One G-6 Details, Corroded. Two have the old ugly label and one is the newer baby blue color.
Sorry insider but icg is just one step up from a basement slabber. They were able to comply with the hard standard ebay rules when they got strict is the only thing imo that makes them "market acceptable" Anacs on the other hand is just the opposite, they are just one step down from the big 2 and that is mainly due to their changing hands and standards so violently over their tenure. I have absolutely no idea why anyone would submit to icg. I don't care how good or bad they are at accuracy as a tpg's reputation is 95% market acceptability and icg just doesn't have enough while anacs does just not as much as the big 2. Anacs has made huge strides to attain the number 3 slot while icg is perfectly happy being "just good enough for ebay" Ever see an icg slab at a major auction house besides ebay? What does that tell you
John Roberts is one of the best in the business but IMO, any numismatist SUCH AS YOU can put a VAM on a coin using VAM World and the Silver Dollar Encyclopedia. I saw Randy Campbell's (ICG) dog-eared, marked up, full of notes and added pages at a coin show once. He is a senior grader at ICG.
I shall look. My best recollection is only NGC and PCGS. I do know that until NGC started a "Details" program, Heritage sent problem coins to ICG for "Detail" grading. That must be at least six years ago though. I sent almost a dozen Top 100 coins to Great Expectations two weeks ago and asked for ANACS because they don't charge for attributions. NGC and PCGS do. I'm cheap!
Thanks for the input. With all the reading and ears to the ground I do, I never heard of the "Big Three" before.
Please do. Actually I think heritage did used to have icg slabs I know they still accept anacs though. And what do you mean? I just sent my fist anacs sub in for some talon head ikes (which as I hear only they attribute. See they have a specific market share) and I had to pay $7 for attribution (since I knew the variety) and $12 for research attribution on a 42d war nick ddo that I think is unlisted. (Another specific to them offering)
They are the only company who will slab - in a special, "for educational" label - contemporary counterfeits. But isn't that how smaller animals survived alongside the dinosaurs? Specialized niches?
REALLY B! Well color me red. I have 2 colonial electrotype CC's I've been wishing I could get into a slab and labeled as such. Looks like I'm gonna make my first icg submission Although I'd rather have them at least in an Anacs slab but hey I'd like my talon heads in a pcgs slab so give and take I guess
I have every confidence in ICG's capabilities with Classics, and none at all in their capabilities with Moderns.