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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Tom B, post: 1991920, member: 11854&quot;]If I recall correctly, both SEGS and ICG started within a short time of one another, perhaps within a year of one another, in the late 1990s.&nbsp; There was considerable optimism at that time with their entry since PCGS was not quite the powerhouse that it has become.&nbsp; NGC was considered much more on a par with PCGS, though their grading &quot;dark days&quot; of the mid-1990s hurt them, and ANACS wasn&#039;t viewed with nearly the skepticism that they are today.&nbsp; Additionally, the old PCI holders had many nice coins in them and had a market presence that was accepted as legitimate.</p><p><br /></p><p>It was hoped by many that both SEGS and ICG would add pressure to the certification businesses and lower submission costs while increasing quality.&nbsp; The SEGS holder was looked at with excitement given you could see what the coin was in the holder without removing it from the box.&nbsp; When they started, SEGS seemed to have a lower profile than ICG and the grading standards of ICG appeared to be on par with PCGS.&nbsp; Unfortunately, over time the grading standards at ICG seemed to morph into something more liberal and the definition of market acceptable at SEGS looked to be different than that at NGC or PCGS.&nbsp; Within about two years of opening shop, both SEGS and ICG lost market share within most numismatic niche markets.&nbsp; ANACS and PCI did, too, and NGC lost some traction with respect to PCGS in classic coinage.&nbsp; The bizarre business switch in the mid-2000s for ANACS and ICG, along with the re-invention of PCI has led each of these to struggle mightily in the eyes of many dealers and collectors while the definition of market acceptable for SEGS seems to have precluded a broader acceptance into the hobby-industry.</p><p><br /></p><p>Some of this is opinion while others bits of the above are from memory and the dates might be off a bit.&nbsp; Regardless, I do not believe SEGS can be considered as a fly-by-night company.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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