So in the past I used to use ANACS for cheap coins that weren't worth sending to PCGS. After dealing with their long turn around times on specials, poor grading in my opinion, and paying for conservation services where coins would be ignored that clearly should have been conserved I was done with them. @Insider always talks up ICG and I had never used them before so I decided to give them a shot. I am very happy to say that ICG will be getting my business from now on for things that just aren't worth the PCGS fee. The turn around time was great, the grades were as expected, and I can't say I have any complaints. So you were right @Insider ICG is a lot better than they get credit for and I now rank them above ANACS in my opinion.
I've used them for some of my hobo nickels and was very satisfied with them. I have a couple of carr items and a couple more hobos I'll be sending in soon.
Thanks. Anyone reading the different coin boards knows I talk up all 4 major TPGS. There are good reasons to use each one. I do rank ICG above ANACS and NGC over PCGS; however, most consider PCGS at the top and ICG at the bottom. The best things about the second tier services is the cost of slabbing and the FREE conservation services at ICG (AFAIK still was free as of last year).
Skip at ICG was great when I inquired about slabbing my Henning nickels. I don't plan to sell these for at least until I retire in about 20 years. I will also use them again for my broadstrikes because of his manners and professionalism.
Sounds like a very nice fellow, but even better imo is the fact that this isn't another bash thread with folks simply assuming the worst and/or repeating negatives they've heard elsewhere. Very nice, gentlemen!
The special they just did was 10 days, but they finished and shipped in 9. Had them back in hand in under two weeks
They were peace dollars. It’s been a few years. Currently I have been looking at some gold pandas that have red spots on them. I’m thinking about trying them but haven’t pulled the trigger as the seller wants crazy money for the coins right now.
Any decent conservation service can take those spots right off with no harm done. The only time you'll know they were on the coin is if there is some black foreign material near the center of the spot - generally because it is a tiny strike thru. This either remains on the coin without the reddish ring around it or there will be a tiny crater where the debris fell out.
Yeah I’ve sent a couple of raw ones in and have done well. The issue is they have been given a grade of 67 or 68 and need to be a 69 to be worth while. I believe they have been down graded due to the spots but the owner wants strong 69 money for the coins. The upside does not cover the cost if they don’t cone back straight 69’s. I’d much rather buy them graded by ngc in 69 holders and have no risk. I’ll let they guy sit on them for awhile.
I like to treat red spots and white spots with less weight than contact marks but they do influence eye appeal. Read the ANA definition of MS-67 in the grading guide for Morgan dollars.
I just bought a 1885 O Morgan in an ICG holder. MS64. The coin has nice cartwheel luster. It's a little "deeper" than the typical frosty "O" mint marked Morgan. I judge the grade to be appropriate. It has very nice album rim toning on the obverse and reverse. The reverse rim toning is that beautiful blue. It also is sharply struck. The hair over the ear is full. Not easy to find those with an "O" mint mark. I just bought a new dino lite with coin box for pictures. When it arrives, I plan to practice my photo capability using this coin.
