Value/Cost of getting coins graded

I thought the rules already were in effect... just that ICG and ANACS complied with the rules by having the online cert lookup added to their websites. Insofar as I know, all four (the big two and the little two) TPGs are allowed to list on eBay without the $2500 cap.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Which even if you accept that assertion, has zero relevance unless you intend on selling your coin in the future. Also even if you do, ANACS is the only TPG of the major 4 that will certify many varieties and die pairings.

The only reason NGC and PCGS have more support is because of self-fufilling prophecy of people continuing to repeat that they have the best reputation, which is believed by people who don't trust their own opinions about the coins they are buying. A slab regardless of who slabbed it adds ZERO value to a coin; it may make it easier to sell to people who want the added assurance of a third party's opinion, but a $100 coin in a PCGS slab is still only worth $100. There's no such thing as a more accurate "opinion" since all opinions are by definition subjective, but ANACS is just as reliable as anyone else in the sense they have high consistent standards they adhere to, ans they charge less for their services. If you just want a reasonably reliable disinterested opinion, may as well go with the company that charges the least for it. As for marketability, again that's an irrelevant point unless you intend on selling it. One who buys coins with the intention of reselling them at a profit is as far as I'm concerned not a coin collector by definition, but a coin investor. Not saying one can't be both, but as far as I'm concerned if you buy coins primarily for the sake of hoping to resell them at a profit, you're not a true collector. Collectors collect things; if you're not keeping what you buy, you're not really collecting. I occasionally sell or trade some coins for the sake of acquiring more coins, but the majority of my collection will not change hands until I die. So I don't really care whose name is on a chunk of plastic some of my coins happen to be in.

 

My post was written based upon decades of experience as both a collector and dealer. I cannot tell you how many times a collector has told me, or written on the boards, that a coin will "never be sold", "will be with me until I die", "is in my collection for the long term", etc...only to have the coin for sale a few months or a year or two later. In many of these instances the coin in question was certified by the collector, too. People sell coins all the time because the focus of their collecting changes, "real life" pops up, the desire to collect wanes, opportunities that require funds quickly arise, or one of many other reasons. Therefore, when folks ask about certification I try to look ahead at the possibilities and expect that the coin may, indeed, become available in the market in the future. Given that point of view, it is best to be prepared.

You are correct that ANACS will recognize more die marriages or varieties than the other TPGs, but this isn't all that valuable in most instances. I write this because the most desired varieties are typically recognized by many TPGs and because those minor varieties or less valuable die marriages that are not recognized by other TPGs generally have a very thin market of collectors interested in obtaining the pieces and this keeps the prices down for those coins. Also, folks interested in the less obvious varieties or die marriages typically are well versed in these issues and do not rely on the insert of the TPG slab to identify the coin for them.

The "self-fulfilling prophecy" may indicate that you have not been in the market for all that long. At one time ANACS was very well respected, but a major ownership change and changes in grading standards hurt the reputation and liquidity of the brand. This happened in the late 1980s and early 1990s and allowed the door to be blown open by PCGS and NGC. During that era NGC might have been looked at as the number one grading company, but by the mid-1990s their lead over PCGS was definitely gone. Again, decisions on how to grade had something to do with the change in perception of the most strict grading company and in this case PCGS was the winner. These changes did not take place because folks were repeating a branding mantra, but took place within the market because experienced dealers and collectors could see how the various TPGs graded coins in real-time.

You are right and wrong about a slab adding zero value to a coin. To the coin itself as an independent entity, you are correct that its clothing does not change the coin. However, the information on the slab and the brand of the slab change the market value and liquidity that are intimiately attached to the coin, which then changes the value of the package. An opinion on a grade is accurate as a single data point from a proprietary grading system, though the grade does not have to be absolutely repeatable. The accuracy and precision of grading companies has long played an important role in the reputation and market penetrance of the grading companies in question.

I see nothing wrong with collectors who plan for the future and this planning can certainly include the possibility of selling a coin or a portion of a collection for any one of many reasons. One can label folks as "collector" or "investor" or whatever, but it does not change the idea of planning for future possibilities. Therefore, I do not see the wisdom in forfeiting possible greater liquidity or perhaps even value in exchange for a few dollars in grading fees.

 

+1

 

Speaking only for myself, but I don't care much about marketability of coins except when I buy them, as I rarely if ever sell them. I buy most coins raw and generally ignore what a TPG has to say about a coin when I buy it graded and use my own judgement (though if I think a coin is undergraded it's certainly a great buying opportunity to get a coin for less than it would otherwise go for). If it's a coin that's commonly faked, like a trade dollar, I rely on TPGs for sake of authentication, not for their grading opinion.

As for getting coins graded myself, I mainly do that not because I care (much) about their grading but for the sake of making coins easier to preserve and store. I do this with modern commemoratives a lot, as the original packaging gets unwieldy once I accumulate quite a few. Viewing, preserving, and storing them is much more convenient in slabs. I don't really care whose, and thus I use ANACS for no other reason that they're cheaper and faster. The coins will speak for themselves in the unlikely event I ever decide to sell them. Unless they're an ultra-high grade it won't really matter that they're in an ANACS slab as opposed to PCGS or NGC. Modern commems tend to grade high anyway to the point that even MS/PF 69's don't carry much of a premium. (70's do in the rare case you get those of course). So for what I want/need them for, ANACS is just fine. I almost never sell my coins, and when I do they're usually still raw anyway. As to how marketible an ANACS slab will be, that will be the problem of my heirs, not mine.

I know I'm not going to convince anyone of this, but I firmly believe that if ALL the TPGs went out of business tomorrow, the hobby would be better off. I still don't get why people place so much value in them at all, or decide that some are somehow better than others. But whatever. I've made quite a few bargain purchases of coins that were in slabs of the supposedly less respected TPGs that would have cost me more in the so-called top tier ones. And the coins were just as good. That to me points out how ridiculous it is people put so much value in the name on a slab, that they forget it's the COIN they're supposed to be buying, not the slab. But whatever...

 

My understanding was that one of the knocks against ANACS is that their holders are easy to open/close without anyone noticing. If that's the case, it can't be doing much in terms of preservation beyond using an AirTite or something similar.

 

good info and i try to buy coins that are graded because often it is a big savings.as far as i know after a certain price level on ebay you must have your coin graded to start the bid.i think its like 2500.

 

Sounds good, Troodon!

 

That's not been my experience. I can't see how you could get one of them open without it being very obvious that you did as it would utterly destroy the holder. Ones older than mine maybe (oldest ANACS slab I have was graded about 2005). I hear ones newer than mine are even more tamper evident.

Broke open an NGC slab and I can tell you there's no way you're getting one of those open without it being obvious. Almost hurt myself doing it!

If someone did break open a slab, change the coin, and reseal it somehow, it should be obvious that the coin doesn't grade what the label says anyway (damage to the slab should be very obvious too; I don't care how easy it is to open, you reseal it it's going to be very obvious in the appearance of the slab that the seams don't match properly). Another good reason to have a "buy the coin not the slab" mentality.

 

i agree with you.

 

I'm looking to make a little money buying and selling coins. Any advice?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

Necromonger!

 

Yes - spend many years learning coins, grading and pricing and the market. Then try buying and selling. It can be done, but put in the time. I also would not post the same question multiple times.

 

Thanks. I'm new to this app.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

Hi I've have some dollar coin , 1/2 dollar , quarter , dime , nickel & the penny . Bought it in the early 1960's was in a reddish box and the coins are in a like Family plastic holder 2"x5" shine like a baby's butt . All look like or better than slabbed coins in my opion .
The box is just as old as coins . Should I get them professional graded . Or leave them as they are . My Father was a collector and it stuck on me in the 60's .
I've seen coins in the Graded slabbed that some you can't even read the date . This I can't un stand . I really need Help !!!!
(E-mail address removed; use PM/Conversation.)
Have a lot of fine coins .
Please Reply