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Message:: [QUOTE="johnmilton, post: 3794609, member: 101855"]According to the current market, the PCGS-CAC approved combination is the "gold standard." Like all grading service buyers, you have to look at the coin. There are overgraded pieces in all brands of holders. The "fly-by-night outfits" are almost all over graded. I rate PCGS as # 1 for U.S. coins. I have found them to be the most consistent and conservative. Part of the problem for NGC is that many of their better coins have been crossed to PCGS. The NGC mistakes stay in NGC holders, and that pulls down the general perception of the service. I rate NGC as #2. Some of my best coins are in NGC holders. NGC does grade more coins than PCGS because they are #1 in foreign and anceint markets. Generally I think they are better graders of foreign materail than PCGS. I would also give them the edge for tokens. I would rate ICG as #3. I have found them to be less conservative overall than the leading two services. Nevertheless I have found some nice coins in the holders. As it is for NGC in the U.S. market, their better coins get crossed to PCGS. I liked the old ANACS. They did some solid conservative grading. I'm not as impressed with the new one, but I have to admit that I don't look at a lot of their material. As for the others, good coins can befound in them, but ownership changes and some sloppy grading have left them back in the pack. My advice is to treat them as you would raw coins.[/QUOTE]