Not that iot really makes a difference in your question, but the increase occurred in late 2007. So far this year they have listed ~6400 ICG coins. Last year they listed ~9550 ICG coins, but only 1400 in 2007. I assumed (Yes, I know the definition) that Heritage and ICG had some sort of a union/partnership. If you read the Heritage email, some time (~middle of last year) Heritage offered a free ICG slabbing for any coin sold at Heritage.
ICG is now in the top tier of TPG"S. From what I see, they maintain the bulk of offerings on heritage's weekly auctions.
As posted previously, Heritage had or has an agreement with ICG where folks get free or highly discounted grading on raw stuff they want auctioned off.
I won't say that - it seems like most of them are problem coins. While a few nice ones do make it through. I have bid on a couple I thought were overgraded by a point - but lost them. Oh well.
I wouldn't buy or certify my coins with ICG but if it is beautifully toned and at a good price, I might jump for it. Heritage probably has some kind of an agreement with them.
While I don't know the terms of the deal, it is rumored that Heritage and IGC have some kind of agreement such that Heritage offers free ICG grading if consigning raw coins -- and this explains what the OP is descibing.
Who knows and who cares? A cool coin in an overgraded holder is still a cool coin, and we all know to buy the coin not the holder.
I would not say it's just ICG, many of the NGC gold coins I collect are overgraded which makes it costly for someone like me who likes to have everything in just one holder.
Well - I do not look at a whole lot of them. I usually just skip the cleaned and corroded ones. The couple I saw were bust halves and one indian. I lost all the auctions and yes I thought they were over graded.
Randy Campbell is the senior grader for ICG. This link will tell you a little more about him. http://www.icgcoin.com/TheTeam/tabid/505/Default.aspx At the last Fun show in Florida I ran into Randy at the hotel I was staying at. Never met the man before but he helped me find my way to the show. ICG was at the show doing free opinions and they had a crowd. Before the show was over I spent several hours with Randy and was blown away with his knowledge of the hobby.
I'm not sure about the agreement they may have.But I have never agreed with any grade since the change from 65 to 70.I like to still believe that there is no such thing as a perfect coin.So if it's ICG or PCGS.I still think they all are wrong.And all the graders have agreement with many different venders.Be it authorized dealers .Attributers or Auction houses.They all cater to that high grade that I'll never be able to believe.I still buy them cheap if I can so I can sell them to those who appreciate the high grades.That way I can keep my collection growing at no out of pocket expense.
I have no clue what "change from 65 to 70" you are referring to. However, few will argue that there is no such thing as a perfect coin. Even PCGS does not say that an MS/PR-70 coin anatomically perfect. What they say is; So, when I find something at 10X, the coin is obviously not perfect, but they still call it MS/PR-70.
