I always hear to grade the coin, never the slab. I agree with this, however, I really like how ICG is encapsulating their coins. Apart from the sonically sealed plastic holder, the use of the Intercept Shields really impresses me. I can't see how any other grading service can better protect their coins from outside variables (all things being equal) than coins protected with this relatively new technology. Also, coming from the color measurement business, I always felt that a clear or white plastic takes away from the true color representation of the coin. Since black is absent of color (no color is reflective from the light source), the color you see from the coin is more true that those that are surrounded with a translucent or white plastic. I know other services that use a black background, but the use of black color ALONG with the additional protection is something I am hoping PCGS or NGC will adopt to their slabs...soon! As for grading, many dealers in the past stated that ICG stood for "I can't grade" but I must tell you, that the most recent "grading report cards" have been very positive to ICG...especially for their consistency. I also see that Heritage has started to auction their graded coins where in the past, they only auctioned PCGS, NCG and ANACS certified coins. I bring this up since I have purchased raw and slabbed coins on ebay whereby I felt I paid a hefty premium for PCGS coins over other services. Lately, I have acquired some ICG coins and put the same coin with the same grade next to PCGS and found these samples to be right on with each other...the big differance is that the PCGS coins were almost twice as much! I know, I know, buy the coin, not the slab...but when the market dictates a premium for PCGS over other services, I don't mind telling you that my experience with ICG and their Intercept Shield slabs is accurately graded with what I believe an ultimate, better protected slab!
Well ICG is the up and comer in the coin grading market. They are solidly in the top four. Most people have seen past the marketing of the big two.
Explain the "grey-sheet" Ths is pretty interesting, but I am not sure how to read it. Who is doing good and who is not? I can guess, but exactly what does this indicator provide? http://www.greysheet.com/cdn/cdnccmi.asp
The indicator is percentages of prices offered between dealers of sightunseen certified coins. These numbers change pretty frequently and really do not provide the best information. As an example, PCI has a rating higher than Anacs. Yet in the market place, very few PCI coins are traded sight unseen. I have used PCI at shows only, and only for authentication. If we offer to buy or sell a raw key date, we will get it fast tracked by PCI at the show. They offer a two hour turn around time. The next best service offered is same or next day. Most dealers and collectors agree on the top four services as they are listed in the indicator.
Well the certified coin market indicators from the Coin Dealer Newsletter put ICG right up there with NGC and PCGS (82% for PCGS, 81% for NGC, and 86% for ICG). ANACS trails badly at 57%, although the market still seems to consider them a top tier grading service. To me, this puts ICG right up there, thier grading seems on par with the "Big 2", and they appear to hold their value. Also, being sold by Heritage is a sign of "top tier" acceptance as well. Looks to me like its shaking out to be, in terms of market acceptance, the Big 3 (NGC, PCGS, ICG) in the top tier, ANACS in a second tier, and the rest being a very low tier. I would rather buy raw coins than any coin slabbed by a lower tier service. The lower tier slabs seem to always be overgraded (relative to ANA grading standards) and inconsistently graded. The question becomes overgraded by how much. If you buy one of these, you basically have to ignore the slab and grade it yourself, so you might as well consider it a raw coin.
These indicators only apply to sight unseen. Where Anacs really shines is the attributions. If someone is looking for varieties, the other top services leave a lot to be desired.
