Featured My experience with one of the Top 4 TPG's

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I know that at least PCGS uses a numerical code in the 90's for problem coins. It is where the two-digit grade would be in the serial number. It will usually reflect the FIRST and most obvious flaw to them. There can always be more than one reason.

 

Like "altered surfaces"?

 

Their new proposed grading scale:

 

Hey, that's infringing on my CAC-killer business plan! Why just three levels of bean (with the bottom one being "no bean at all"), when you could have FIVE levels?

Of course, as Nigel Tufnel showed us, you don't even have to stop there...

 

I can hardly wait for the “Hello Kitty” grading scale.

“Wassamatta with us kitties?”

 

ICGs real perception problem lies with the fact that they stick to their little corner. If they were going to tons of shows like ANACS does they’d be very popular for low value coins with their quick turnaround times and a better holder than ANACS in my opinion.

What they do works for them though so I doubt they’ll change it

 

I agree about the holder. I do like the ICG better than that quarter-round ANACS monstrosity. ICG seems to make it to FUN every year and every ANA show. Not sure about Whitman shows, but the big two dominate there. The promotional ANACS slab that is dimensionally similar to the PCGS slab, but obviously a different plastic, I’d like to see more of. All in all, my favorite slab is the simply elegant and un-fussed with NGC.

At regional shows, like at Monroeville PAN shows, ANACS has the show to itself.

 

First of all, in a quickie assessment, he is going to err on the low side. If he overestimates, his customers go nuts. If he underestimates, his customers will be happy.
Second, you might be a tough grader.

 

Sounds like you agree with the grades assigned by ICG?

 

ICG goes to Baltimore as well, other than those they basically just stay in FL.

I'm with you, the ANACS holder is my least favorite by far and feels like its the lowest quality plastic out of the four of them. I do like their PCGS style slab a lot better than the current curved one. I prefer the PCGS one optically especially on small coins where the white prongs get in the way a lot, its really just the whole white prongs thing that bothers me with the NGC slabs. Though overall the new PCGS ones have the best clarity plastic wise, but both companies have very well made ones.

Agreed with the small shows too, there's a lot of shows where ANACS does cheap grading specials that none of the others set foot in where they have the run of the place.

 

I'm not sure, but I do think he made a valid point that people would be furious if things came back way lower than they were told at the submitting table. They probably do undergrade everything during evaluation

 

Another reminder to "Buy the coin not the holder."
Thanks for sharing OP.

 

I love this coin club and learn so much each day by reading everyone's posts. Thanks for talking about the code numbers given by coin grading companies! It makes clear "cents" that a code number would be added so that a major reason for coin's flaws could be somewhat clarified.

 

I am the ICG grader who looked at the coins in Sarasota. This post provides me an excellent opportunity to explain the inner workings of ALL TPGS as they pertain to grading. It will also become a topic for my Numismatic News grading column so THANKS! I wish more folks took the time to do tests such as this!

I have looked up the ICG internal records and will be able to post my show opinion, the owners opinion, my grading opinion in the office, and the grading opinion of the ICG Finalizer (a 40+ year professional numismatist). It will take a while to write what I have promised as so many factors are involved. Folks interested in my comments will need to wait a few days.

So as not to keep you waiting, I see nothing in the above post that needs to be defended either concerning myself or ICG. I understand the reasons for each grade and after I write my comments, I believe members will understand how things work - "in the real world." For now I'll leave you with these thoughts.

1. There is a sign on our table that ICG show opinions are just that and not binding.

2. Your personal grading standards are not the same as mine, not the same as others, and not the same as those of the TPGS's. Buy the coin and not the label.

3. There are examples of over graded, under graded, correctly graded coins in EVERY MAJOR TPGS SLAB.

4. There are examples of coins with obvious problems that are straight graded in EVERY MAJOR TPGS SLAB.

Finally, as the OP wrote above, I tell it straight with no holds barred no matter if a coin is "raw" or whose slab it is in!

PS Nonsense, such as jokes about ANY particular TPGS is not tolerated on the PCGS forum. I found that out the hard way when I posted what I thought was another humorous interpretation of what the ICG initials stand for and received a severe warning!

To be continued...