Is anyone of the same opinion that I am regarding the above service? I think they are more consistant than both PCGS and NGC and are just as stict. I think currently they are even more stict then both the other services when it comes to pre 1933 gold. I also like the holders, the fast turnaround, and I think that J.P. Martin is probably the most competent grader in the country. I know that thier coins don't command the same premiums and that perhaps they are too quick to hand out MS70's on Modern coins. I am strictly referring to ICG in terms of pre 1933 gold coins.
Personally, although I do have some ICG's in my inventory, I do view their grading habits as secondary. It's not that they grade any less than the others, it's totally to how they are viewed as a whole in the industry. They just do not command the value as PCGS AND NGC. I put them in line with ANACS.
My inventory of ICG coins is rather limited (~10). However, they range from dead solid on to over graded by at least a point. So, no, I am not in agreement with your opinion of ICG.
Of course you should also consider the fact that the new ICG is the old ANACS, and vice-versa (pretty much, anyway).
I was referring to coins submitted to ICG as opposed to those found on bourse floors and on Ebay. Of course most ICG coins encountered now will be dead on at best and the rest over graded All the good ones would have been crossed over to PCGS. Why would anyone keep a PQ coin or even one that is solid for the grade in an ICG holder if that coin were worth a simple 30 dollar crossover fee? I'm trying to point out that I believe ICG is very accurate and consistant. Additionally, they have no motive to over or undergrade as they don't play low pop report like PCGS or even NGC does to a lesser extent.
I find them to be dishonest to the point of being cheats. At a show their rep tried to get me to submit an obviously cleaned coin (32 s quarter) when he knew that they would body bag it. Do not trust them. That being said if I see a good coin in their plastic for a fair price I will buy it.
I have a few ICG graded coins in my collect. I have one that I feel they over graded. I feel they gave the coin too much of a grade for the awesome strike and killer luster. In the end it has too many marks to be the grade assigned. Its a 27 S peace sollar if your curious. I like the coin and the price was right.
Just like any grading company some are over graded or slabbed when they should not have been(at least not without scratched, cleaned, etc.). I have a few coins graded by them - most are accurate and sometimes you can get them at good prices. Just my opinion.
JP works for ANACS now. And he is one of the top authentication experts in numismatics, but he is not regarded the same for his grading. Not that his grading is bad - I'm sure he'd be welcomed at any of the TPG - but I don't know of anyone who would call him "the most competent grader in the country".
Their rep? Their reps frequently don't know anything about coins. If one of their graders told you to submit it, that might be a problem, but their reps are just customer service people who are not knowledgeable about coins.
I think they overgrade modern coins. I have a proof nickel from the late 50s, I believe (1959???) that they have graded PF-70. I don't know what their definition of PF-70 is, but mine is no visible defects with 10-power magnification. This coin no way meets my criteria.
For modern coins, there should not be any disturbances with under 5x. But with older coins all grading services are more lenient. I have a Morgan dollar graded MS68 by NGC. It's a very nice coin but I can see small disturbances without any manification. I have also seen many MS68 Morgans on bourse floors. Most looked really nice but I cold see marks with the naked eye. Now think about how perfect an MS69(just one grade up) silver eagle looks to the naked eye. You would not see anything without a loupe.
No, this was an obviously cleaned coin, and he was manning their table at a coin show. He looked at the coin. btw this was a quite a few years ago.
i think they do a good job on the morgans and peace dollars. i use them (icg) and anacs.been happy with both.
So far I have been happy with the coins I have purchased from them with grading being dead on in every case. It is the "market perception" of ICG slabs that makes them #3 or #4. Remember, buy the coin not the holder.
This was a good answer to my question!! I was asking about ICG in terms of grading. Not value, market perception, resale value or anything else. My opinion (with submitting) is that the are more consistant than either PC or NG. Of course some will say they are one grade below. This is most likey do to the fact that any coin of significant value will be crossed if it is solid for the grade. This leaves only the worst of the ICG's that are left for the boarse floor and ebay.
Richard, I agree with you. And considering a secondary-industry (CAC) is being built around the other two in response their years of inconsistency and loosened grading criteria, I don't think ICG is a bad choice...at least, for an honest grade (especially, on silver dollars)...
