Thank God my PCGS Membership is up... who should I use to grade coins instead?

I've used both NGC and PCGS to grade coins. I generally don't see a whole lot of differences between the two. I'm definitely no expert and when I do get a submission back I'm generally disappointed that some coins didn't receive straight grades or higher grades. Is it them being wrong or just a reaffirmation of my poor grading skills? Most likely the later.

Instead of getting my old man panties ruffled I instead try to figure out why my bubble was burst. I pay the extra $5 for imaging of each coin and usually figure out quickly why my coins got the grade they did. Did I learn something? Yes! Did I waste my money? Maybe, but it's my money

Why do I bother even submitting coins to the TPGs? There are a number of reasons. I like the NGC registry since it's a good way to organize and inventory my coins/sets. I've switched to PCGS since I like the look of their holder better.

If ICG would provide a registry service like NGC which would include ICG coins along with the big 2 I'd consider submitting my less valuable coins to them.

 

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Oh the stories I could tell. But I won’t beyond saying there’s a reason they call it the grading game.

 

wxcoin, posted: "Why do I bother even submitting coins to the TPGs? There are a number of reasons...."

IMHO, the #1 reason why all of you should take at least a small group of your best coins and have them graded is because of the junk that is submitted by long time "experts-in-their-own-mind" collectors! You owe it to yourself to make sure you are not throwing money down the rat hole for your "gems."

Look, the second tier services are cheap and fast. Nevertheless, for $$ you can become a member for one year at a top service and they give you a few free submissions.

 

I use NGC and ANACS... and I pay no subscription to either... If you have an ANA membership(much cheaper then an NGC membership) you can submit to NGC for normal cost for as long as you have an ANA membership. (fill out 1 form with your ana membership number on it.) I won't pay for a PCGS membership, I used to have a local shop that handled PCGS submissions... but they gone now

 

I would pay for one every single submission if they would let me. If you get the one with 8 vouchers and use it at the regular level it actually saves you money. Saves you even more if you sell the shirt that comes with it

 

i don't play the grading game never sent any of my coins in if i want a graded coin then i buy one

 

That's true. Appreciate the insight

 

Yeah that's my experience. Call me paranoid but I'm pretty sure someone there is out for me there, because the grades I've gotten on a majority of coins submitted are a notch or two below any reasonable persons range, or better yet when compared to their photogrades. The whole "their busy" argument is laughable, they're an expensive service and anything other than consistent, mostly fair grading is unacceptable and anyone saying otherwise is in the wrong. Period

 

I couldn't agree more, and hearing people say otherwise is beyond laughable

 

Well despite only thinking I got an "ok" deal on my coin, I'm assuming you're one of those knowledgeable buyers. So I'm curious what your assessment of the coin in the pictures I attached is?

 

@Kevin Farley

Did you ever get your other rare finds authenticated. Over the past year or so, you've posted the following:

1896 Proof Morgan
1921 Zerbe or Chapman Proof Morgan dollar
1909 VDB matte proof Lincoln
1909SVDB Lincoln
1966 DDO-001 Lincoln

There was quite a bit of discussion regarding these coins. Just wondering how you made out

 

Barbers are not my series, and it's hard to read the luster on a pic of a toned coin. But I'll play...I like it, looks original, old scratch under chin, grade somewhere in the mid AU range.

 

Oh made out fine. What? You think cause a couple idiots come around and talk smack I'm supposed to be discouraged or feel foolish or something? Lol, I know how pathetic you and people like you are on here. If you had a shred of intelligence you'd be embarrassed for yourself, not worrying about how I feel

 

The coin that is the topic of this thread has lost most, if not all of it's luster. The surfaces are dull. The person that cleaned the coin really did a poor job.
I agree with the PCGS grade. It's not an AU coin.

 

Well if it's been cleaned then you're absolutely right, it's not AU. It's AU Details

 

AU requires a certain amount of luster. I'm not seeing that with this coin.

 

Like this PCGS AU55? How's the luster on this one? But that's why they call it "AU Details", because the luster has been removed

 

Since I'm an ANA member I've taken advantage of the arrangement they have with NGC and submitted coins to them in the past; I still had to pay their standard grading fees. I decided to join PCGS since they provided 8 vouchers with their membership fee. In addition, I get their magazine, and a shirt. So, basically what I paid NGC to grade 8 coins, I got 8 free vouchers, a magazine, and a shirt. Personally, I like the PCGS holders better and could find no reason not to use them.

 

Hope they don't give you one. My experience has been so atrocious its resulted in a BBB complaint and grades that are so bad they make me chuckle. I have zero doubt they'll self destruct but until then I enjoy calling them and their lackeys out and watching them fold like a deck of cards under the slightest scrutiny. They think they're slick though lol. Anyway good luck to you, wish you nothing but the best grades

 

Instead of insulting someone with a genuine question, why not just answer the question. I'm not familiar with the threads/coins referenced, but I for one would be really interested in the results on those coins from an educational point of view.