PCGS vs, NGC Holders

I'm new here, so please go easy on me. I'd like to have your thoughts regarding your preference between PCGS grading and its holders as compared to NGC grading and its holders. PCGS has announced that the top 20 highest priced coins that sold at auction in 2016 were in PCGS holders. (I note that 15 of the 20 were from the Pogue Collection.) Although no one is saying that a "better" holder makes the coin "better," does one holder bring more "value" to a transaction than the other? Is PCGS viewed as superior in the coin "industry"? Frankly, I like the look of the NGC holder better, but I'm new so what do I know?

 

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Welcome, Oldrdawg!

I'm an ancients collector and the Ancients Forum is where I spend most of my discussion time. Your post caught my eye in the recent topics column so I thought I'd stop in and say hello and contribute my two cents.

NGC and PCGS are outstanding certifiers, graders, and encapsulators! I use NGC for my ancient coins that I want certified and slabbed. I like the look of their labels and cases etc. ANACS has some excellent slab capsules also (the yellow label version). The ANACS slab is designed in such a way that you can read the label from the top when the slabs are stacked or arranged vertically in a carrying case.

 

In a nutshell... PCGS typically brings more money. Sometimes it NGC though. It's an apples to apples comparison but PCGS comes out on top overall currently. If you like the look of NGC go with them. They each have their subtle differences when it comes to coin series or toning or attribution etc but overall PCGS is the better company with more accurate grading standards imo. ANACS is good too especially for morgans and varieties but they typically bring less money than PCGS or NGC.

 

I've been told that ANACS is not as popular because in the past they somehow got the reputation of over grading coins, which is unfortunate because I now consider myself a Morgan collector.

 

I like the PCGS holders better than NGC holders, but that's just a personal preference. As far as market acceptance is concerned, I'm not going to step on that landmine other than to say that volumes have been written and rambled about who is better and why, usually backed up with anecdotal evidence. It's the Ford vs. Chevy feud of coins, if you will. Just learn what the coins are supposed to look like and buy nice ones.

 

US gold prior 1933 PCGS
Other US denominations NGC
This is just my own personal choice.

 

ICG baby!!!

 

Lots of prior threads on this subject. In my opinion and experience: PCGS is top dog, followed closely by NGC. ANACS is a distant third, followed by ICG.

I send GSAs to NGC, because I do not like the PCGS re-entombment. ANACS grading is pretty tough these days, but there was a period of time when they were not, and their reputation still suffers. ICG is the place I will send old coppers showing signs of light cleaning or pitting. they won't admit it, but they will "net grade" these old coins if the problem is subtle.

In case you did not know, PCGS, NGC and CAC were all founded (or co-founded) by numismatic legend John Albanese. If you ever have a chance to attend a coin show where his company has a table (might be a CAC table, or it might be Albanese Numismatics)---GO. You will see some of the most beautiful Morgans imaginable (among other coins). amazing rainbows, super-high grades (67-68-69 for business strikes). He's been uniquely positioned to see and acquire the best of the best of the best.

 

I strongly prefer the clear look of PCGS slabs. Would like NGC slabs more if they would at least change the prongs to being clear but on bigger coins it isn't as much of an issue as say a 3 cent piece.

Modern toners PCGS is the only choice, you can find lots of stories of NGC details grading them even when right out of a mint sealed box. Overall the two will grade most coins the exact same. When talking big picture there are some things in the NGC standard that I just don't care for but others may prefer and nothing wrong with that.

 

The slab design makes little difference to me. It's the coin inside that counts.

As far as the market goes, it's most receptive to PCGS and NGC. Whether that's a snub to ANACS or ICG depends upon the view of the individual collector and the coin under consideration. But the market is the market, like it or not.

 

I prefer NGC heavily. In fact, I am slowly having my PCGS slabs "crossed" to NGC, just for a consistent look. Why?

1) Aesthetics - I dislike the look of the PCGS slab with its multiple surfaces. NGC presents in a single plane, which I prefer.

2) Customer Service / Attitude - Anybody who repeatedly has to sell me on how superior they are, IN THE FACE OF TOO MUCH EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY, takes a reputation hit in my world. Also, the NGC staff is more "approachable".

3) "Official TPG of the ANA" - ALMOST enough for me right there.

 

Thank you all for your thoughtful insight.

 

The only problem I have with ANACS is they now ship by UPS smart post, it took a weeek to get my last order from them. I live in PA>
Now PCGS shipped my last order USPS Priority Mail, 2 days from California.

 

That really shouldn't carry any weight. All that means is they bid the most for the right to say that. It's no different than being the official beer of the NFL

 

Well it DOES carry a lot of weight with me. I support the ANA HEAVILY with both my time and funds, and I like to patronize others that do.

 

For current holder designs, I like PCGS. But for older holders, I like the NGC no line fatties, particularly the holders with the gold embossed logo on the back before the holograms. I also really like the small white ANACS holders before the barcodes were added.

But when all is said and done, I judge the coin in the holder and don't care what holder it is in. If you follow that when buying a coin, you can get some really good deals.

 

I understand what both of you are saying and I agree that the ANA is a good organization and it is good that ngc supports them. However it is always possible that in the future pcgs could offer more money than ngc for that title. So I personally wouldn't allow it to make a huge long term impact on how I collect. I also don't think that purchased titles should add any credibility to their grading quality.

 

I like the NGC holders better, as my personal preference.

Which one grades better, that's like asking what teacher grades your English paper better, each has their good days and bad days.... it's a crap shoot.

 

Completely agree. That very easily could change to ANACS when the contract runs out or something of that nature. NGC made the business decision that it was worth whatever fee they paid, the other companies disagreed with the valuation and one day they may all feel differently then they did at the time of bidding

 

[somewhat related/somewhat not] I've run across a few threads of similar subjects with 11cent-dime/ANACS-isthebestever guy and seen it alluded to a few times... What ever happened to him? Did he ever sell his dime?