PCGS charges around $25 for this service: [TABLE="class: servicetable, width: 99%"] [TD="colspan: 3, align: left"]VARIETY ATTRIBUTION (View listing of eligible coins) Please note: If you are submitting a previously graded coin for Variety Attribution, you are responsible for the corresponding reholder fee.[/TD] Service Fee + $24 Add 3-5 days to turnaround time [/TABLE] while NGC charges $12: "Upon request, NGC examines coins for recognized varieties and certifies with applicable designation. Choose a grading tier according to coin value and desired turnaround. VarietyPlus attribution fees apply when this service is requested - regardless of whether or not NGC determines your coin to be a recognized variety. See www.NGCcoin.com/VarietyPlus for a complete list of varieties we recognize." Why the disparity in pricing? Also, how do you know if it is worth your while to get this done? Why don't the grading services do this automatically as an option if the submitter or dealer checked a box saying if according to your price guides it would be financially advantageous for me to get this coin attributed, do it automatically? Thanks for feedback on this issue.
Why ? A couple of reasons. First and foremost most of the graders are not qualified to identify and attribute varieties and errors. Both NGC and PCGS often use outside sources for this, and they have to pay them. Secondly, it makes them more money to do it this way. It almost seems like people seem to think the TPGs are there to help them. They aren't. They do not exist to help collectors at all. The sole reason that the TPGs exist is to make money. And they do that by doing things that collectors cannot do for themselves. TPGs are just like the plumber you call to fix your sink, or the A/C guy you call to fix your air conditioner. They are a service industry and their sole purpose is to make money.
I called PCGS on an order where a VAM 10 Morgan dollar needed to be attributed. They were about to ship the order back to me unattributed when I was asked what the variety was that needed to be substantiated. I thought that was their job--"it's for me to know and for you to find out".
Owle - they make it pretty plain what the responsibilities of the submitter are. Either here - http://www.pcgs.com/varietyfaq.html - or on their submission form. And yes, you are supposed to know what it is that you are asking them to do.
It's you're responsibility to designate which VAM you want attributed. If you omitted it, do you really think they can afford to take the time to search? Suppose it was a 1921-D Morgan? Chris
They used to have two tiers, Variety confirmation and variety attribution For confirmation you told them what variety you thought it was and they would confirm that variety yes or no. This was cheaper than variety attribution where they go at it blind and determine what the variety is for you. Probably one reason for the difference is that PCGS really doesn't want to get into varieties. NGC got into them earlier than PCGS and does more of them. They are also more accurate than PCGS, but that isn't saying much. They still get it wrong a lot more often than they should Which is why at NGC does NOT guarantee attributions. They charge for it but if they get it wrong, "Oops too bad".
If fact I believe both TPG's have a quite extensive checklist of what you are to supply before submission. They require VAM #'s, CONECA #'s, etc. as almost all varieties have been documented by someone and are known to collectors and TPG's alike under these cataloging systems. Also from the original post I get the feeling there is some confussion as to why PCGS is charging $24 and NCG $12. Unless I'm not understanding PCGS or NGC's websites the $24 is only for their grading that's why it's plus the service fee for the attribute regardless if it's handled by their graders or an outsider. NGC is $12 just for the attribute that's their service fee you still have to pay for the grading based on their tier levels. So for example a Wisc. quarter with low leaf requires at least $17 (economy modern 20-something day turnaround) to grade from NGC plus another $12 (and more turn around time) to get them to look for and agree to the low leaf variety.
No, the $24 is the fee for variety attribution. Not the grading. "The cost is $24 added to the level of service utilized. For example, if you chose a Regular service level ($30/coin) plus variety attribution, your grading fees would come to $54."
Both NGC and PCGS are notorious for mis – attributing varieties. I have about a half dozen from each service that are wrong. Someone mentioned that they send the coins out to someone else for attribution, which is incorrect. Mike Faraone attributes coins for PCGS in house and David Lange does the same for NGC in house. At PCGS you will only get the coin attributed if it is listed in the Cherrypickers’ Guide or one of the other reference books they use. All other varieties, they will keep your $24 and just put “Minor Variety” on the label and not tell you which number it is. Sort of like keeping you guessing. What we have done, is once the coin is graded, we send it off to Dr. Wiles (CONECA) who will link his notes on which die variety and stage it is to the certification number on the slab for only $7 per coin regardless if it is in the Cherrypickers’ Guide or not. If the coin is something he hasn’t seen and worthy, then Dr. Wiles will give the coin a new listing in CONECA’S files. So we get more information at a cheaper price then PCGS, and in my opinion, more reliable information at that. A link to our variety set can be seen below. http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=1165
As an error coin dealer, Ill tell you that it is beneficial to utilize all 3 of the bigwig grading companys. NGC, PCGS, and evem ANACS. Use Pcgs for the big money errors, NGC for the newer/modern smaller money errors, and ANACS for the mint errors that the pcgs and ngc wont attribute. I also sell a lot of raw ungraded errors also. Before sending a coin in for an error attribute from a tpg, post pics here on Cointalk and ask us if we think its worth it.
Thanks. So basically you have to have all your ducks in a row when sending in coins needing attribution. You think it is variety A and it may be variety B, or none of the above. You have to figure out beforehand whether it will be worth more before asking for the attribution, best done at a show with the experts.
Not sure if this accounts for all the difference in price, but NGC does not guarentee their variety attribution while PCGS does. As to why they don't do it automatically, they don't know before they attribute if it will be worth their time. Take an 1851 large cent. There are 40 some odd varieties with the vast majority of them not being worth a premium, while two or three of them can easily triple the value. Their is no way to tell before they actually attribute the coin if it would be worth it. I take your approach, attribute at home and if I need confirmation then I talk to someone. In the case of large cents I just ask the experts...
