I have 2 Lincoln cents I would like to send in for certification. One is a 1915 and the other is a 1928. Both are beautifully toned and members of my coin club said I should send them in to a 3rd party grading service. I am concerned though that the toning is "too" nice and the grading service I chose to submit them too will reject them as artificially toned, even though I am pretty certain they are not as they were given to me by my Aunt who has had them for many years. Can someone suggest a grading service that is more tolerent of color and not so quick to label a coin as artifically toned when it is not? I would like to chose between ANACS, PCGS or NGC. Any ideas would be of great help to me. Thanks everybody!
The only thing that really matters is the look of the coins. But there is no way to know with any certainty if any TPG will accept that look or not. You can post pics of the coins and we can offer opinions. But in the end it will be what the TPG, any TPG, thinks at that given moment when they look at the coins. So about all you can do is send them in and take your chances.
I personally believe Anacs would be the least likely to reject the color. Then NGC, and finally PCGS. What am I basing that on? Absolutely nothing except I tend to see more "questionable color" slabs come out of PCGS.
In the past NGC seemed to be more lenient towards toned coins but lately I have had coins that did not grade at NGC grade at PCGS so I think the pendulum has swung the other way. It's still as Doug says...a shot in the dark as to what either service will conclude on any given day but if you have the ability to post images here...I and others who have submitted a lot of coins might be able to give you some educated opinions on the likelihood of the coins being certified?
Post some pictures. Getting colorful copper through any of the TPG's these days is a crap shoot. Regardless of the toning method, it comes down to market acceptability. I have to agree with Krypt, PCGS seems to using more sense than NGC these days.
Simple fact is that ANACS doesn't charge a membership and prices are lower would make them a logical first choice for a new submitter IMO.
Post some photos if you can get a good shot of the toning. Pick the grading company that you prefer having the coins slabbed in. Don't concern yourself with which one might be more lenient. I have to agree with what GDJMSP posted above. Post some photos if you can get a good shot of the toning. Here is a Lincoln cent that I sent to NGC.
That's the rub, though. Its not "market acceptability", its TPG view of market acceptability tempered with their own legal constraints, worries of lawsuits, and personal tastes. Every corporation will do what is best for themselves, with thoughts of what the collectors want very secondary. Sorry, end of rant. Chris
Ok. Well, thanks for the input everyone. I will get some pics taken. I've photographed coins before and copper is always tough. But, I will do my best and post them. May be a few days, but I'll get it done. Thanks again.
+1 And they have good customer service. I questioned a coin taking a long time. It was located and shipped that very same day.
Your trouble is, you think. Therefore, you are. According to the TPGs, they should do the thinking, not us. Therefore, we are not. I think.
