PCGS Says Counterfeit BUT NGC & ANACS Have a Different Opinion On June 26, 2023, I submitted (6) Lincoln cents to PCGS for grading. They graded all the coins counterfeit. Over the course of 20 years l purchased 3 coins from reputable coin dealers and found two coins in circulation. I find it hard to believe PCGS did an accurate assessment of my coins. I’ve been collecting Lincoln cents for over 70 years. I am not an expert but I believe I can tell if a coin is counterfeit or if it has been altered or if the impressions on a coin were man-made, or if they are mint errors. Before I submitted the coins to PCGS I attempted to recreate the errors but they cannot be made without damaging the rim or changing the shape, thickness or weight. The coins I submitted to PCGS were 1974 D error, 1982-D unplated, 1983 D plating error, 1990 unplated, 1994 unplated and 1995D unplated. After receiving the counterfeit grad from PCGS I decided to spend the money to send the same coins to NGC and ANACS for grading I decided to send the same coins for grading (3) to NCG, and (3) to ANACS. NGC graded the 1974-D AU 58 BR, 1982-D mint error MS62 BR,1983-D AU details-bent BR. ANACS graded the 1990 N9 not genuine, the 1994 N9 not genuine the 1995 D 58 struck on an unplated blank. Is it possible that PCGS could make such a gross error in grading all of my coins as counterfeit? Or did they do a rush job, found one that was questionable and labeled the rest counterfeit. This is not the first time I had a issue with PCGS. In 2006 I purchased a complete set of MS 69 Silver eagles from 1986 to 2006 all graded by PCGS from a dealer on eBay. He had a good reputation and the photos of the coins looked good as far as I could see from the online pictures. I paid $650. But when I inspected the coins the front and back were covered in a spray of white dots. It was as if someone spit on the coins. I attempted to return the coins to the seller but he insisted they were as described a set of MS69 silver eagles. I called PCGS and asked how could they give an MS69 grade to the coins when the aesthetic look was ruined with white dots visible to the naked eye. Eye appeal is by far the most important characteristic of a coin. I relied on PCGS to verify the grade of the coins. PCGS response was too bad, if you don't like the coins you shouldn't have purchased them. PCGS stands by their grade and he hung up. I used eBay return policy and received a refund from the seller. Will PCGS give me a refund of the $250 I paid from them. It may seem foolish to spend the extra money to have NGC and ANACS grade the same coins. But based on the results I feel it was well worth the time and money I paid to have (4) genuine coins that PCGS labeled as counterfeit. Can you really trust coin grading services or is coin grading subjective and all this hullabaloo about coin grading just a bunch of malarkey Tony
I only trust, use, and purchase NGC graded / slabbed coins. I don't even bother with any other companies.
Lets see if we can break down the coins pictured. If I am wrong then I am sure someone or many will correct me. This one I see as maybe a clogged die. This one could be a partial missing plating, but I suspect that it was removed by a tool. I say altered. The 1990 and 1994 are environmental damage. The 1995 is most likely been stripped of the plating. PMD What does the slab say about the 82D? It surely looks zinc to me.
I have no opinion on the cents, but the white spots on your eagles could have been milk spots which are not uncommon on bullion and may not have been there upon grading. I don't think any grading company guarantees that coins will not change after grading. PCGS does not owe you a refund because you disagree with their assessment. You paid for their service. They provided it. Because another company thought differently is of no importance. Coin grading is absolutely subjective. There's not a coin site or there that says otherwise.
It's not unusual for different TPGs to have directly opposite opinions on grade and or authenticity. In fact there have been many times that I have seen the same TPG contradict its own opinion on the exact same coin. Authentic one time, not authentic the next, or vice-versa. Same thing with grade, this grade one day that grade the next. Same thing problem coins, problem free one day, problem coin the next day. So, who do you believe ? Well, that's up to you. But I can tell ya this, I have seen both NGC and PCGS authenticate a coin, the exact same coin, as being authentic when I can prove beyond any shadow of doubt, with verifiable documentation, that the coin is a counterfeit. Point being, there are times when you can't believe any of them.
