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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Carthago, post: 2288853, member: 76111&quot;]I actually am appreciative that one of the major coin grading services has a dedicated ancient service that serves the needs of a market that wants their ancients slabbed.&nbsp; I don&#039;t like buying slabbed ancients for a variety of reasons and break out any that I do buy, but I think it serves a market desire and probably opens up ancients to new collectors so for that reason alone I&#039;m supportive of it.</p><p><br /></p><p>I do think their evaluation of the condition of the coin is sometimes quite poor.&nbsp; For those of you who are buying graded and slabbed ancients, you <u><b>must not</b></u> rely on the description and grade on the slab alone in your decision.&nbsp; I have screwed myself royally by believing the slab grade is correct when bidding sight unseen.&nbsp; I want you to learn from my mistakes.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Here is a developing case and point.&nbsp; A lot being offered in the upcoming NYINC Heritage auction can be seen in the link below.&nbsp; It&#039;s been graded by NGC as Choice XF★ 5/5 - 5/5.&nbsp; I would assume that means it&#039;s essentially perfect with exceptional eye appeal because it&#039;s got the ★ modifier.&nbsp; As an ancient coin collector, however, I don&#039;t know what XF means but I would assume that means EF in English.&nbsp; I wish NGC would use the language ancient coin collectors use, but I digress...</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://coins.ha.com/itm/roman-republic/ancient-coins-roman/l-cornelius-sulla-felix-as-imperator-84-83-bc-ar-denarius-17mm-399-gm-12h-/p/3044-224006.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://coins.ha.com/itm/roman-republic/ancient-coins-roman/l-cornelius-sulla-felix-as-imperator-84-83-bc-ar-denarius-17mm-399-gm-12h-/p/3044-224006.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515" rel="nofollow">http://coins.ha.com/itm/roman-republic/ancient-coins-roman/l-cornelius-sulla-felix-as-imperator-84-83-bc-ar-denarius-17mm-399-gm-12h-/p/3044-224006.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515</a></p><p><br /></p><p>This coin has surface damage and I doubt it would be considered EF (if that is what XF means) by most.&nbsp; I think it could be argued too that it&#039;s not a perfect 5/5 strike.&nbsp; This coin was sold by CNG last year and described accurately as &quot;Good VF, toned, some old scratches on the obverse.&quot; and it sold for $500.&nbsp; On the CNG photo, you can see the scratches on the obverse which are not insignificant for a perfect grade coin.&nbsp; I wonder what type of premium this coin will end up bringing because it now has been vouched as virtually perfect by the slab?&nbsp; I&#039;m going to watch this one for fun to see.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, feel free to buy slabbed coins if that&#039;s your gig, but don&#039;t rely on the grade.&nbsp; Heritage and most other dealers will not point out something in conflict with an NGC grade if it&#039;s higher than it should be.&nbsp; If you buy a slabbed coin at auction, your options to return it are probably limited though you may have a better chance buying it retail directly from a dealer.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>You will learn the hard way if you don&#039;t learn the right way.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]458686[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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