Why would anyone use ICG grading?

I owned and have owned quite a few ICG graded coins. Everyone one of them was accurately graded, I have zero complaints.....in fact, I think they did a better job on some Lincolns than NGC or PCGS would have done. A dealer friend of mine uses them because he has some sort of bulk deal where he gets coins slabbed for $10 each.

 

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ICG was never on a par with either PCGS or NGC--they are a joke, consistently grading coins that should not be graded, and over grading others. There is no reason to use their services--it isn't like PCGS or NGC are 10 times the price. Get an economy membership to either one or both, and just submit for regular service. At least you will get a coin with a meaningful marketable grade, as opposed to one that is in a holder that is one step over "basement self slab." IMHO, that is how bad IGC is.

 

Anacs + Icg I only use them for raw coins I have picked-up on eBay or don't know the history of.
Icg is still up and running I just seen an ad in coin world.

 

i honestly cant believe they are still in business, never used them but kinda liked the holders though

 

Don't care what anyone else says--in my experience ICG grading was nothing close to PCGS or NGC. Anybody who thinks so is fooling themselves, or fondly remembering something that simply isn't true. They are, and always have been a distinctly second-tier grading service. Now,if you are talking about ANACS, that is a different story. In the older days, a lot of nice coins resided in ANACS holders, and were good buys, compared to some of the PCGS/NGC family. However, that is no longer the case. If one is going to buy slabbed coins, I SEE NO REASON not to get the best--either PCGS or NGC, and they are equally as good. If one wishes to send out coins, the same is true---the only two reputable grading services are PCGS and NGC. Sorry if some others see it differently, but IMHO they are simply WRONG.

 

Our experiences might differ, but back in 1998-1999 ICG was well respected in the type coin niche and you could find some nice coins accurately graded in their holder. Of course, that has changed dramatically.

 

What's been said a thousand times is always true , buy the coin and not the slab . But since this is about how good ICG is , well today they're inferier to PCGS and NGC don't use them unless you want to sell your coins for less from those who know because they're in a second rate slab . Still you can find some great coins in ICG slabs .

 

Personally, I think that ICG is THE most consistent TPG today. Of course they have loosened their standards a bit, but so has NGC, PCGS and ANACS in my opinion. I have no problem buying an ICG coin, if you buy properly, they can really be a bargain.

 

Doug, it is my opinion. I am not being obnoxious about it--I have never considered them a top-tier TPG, nor have I thought that their grading was even remotely consistent with the big two. Were they terrible and useless in their "better days?" Not useless, but IN MY OPINION, they graded hopelessly high. I'd think that you,of all numismatic experts would see that, as you tend to be critical (often well justified) in your grading. A few coins crossing does not a good TPG make.

 

I have had some great luck with IGC coins. Occasionally, I find very undergraded IHC's. They labeled a 1866 proof IHC as a PF63BN and NGC put it in a PF65BN holder!

When buying coins always look at the coin, not the slab. There are good deals out there if you know how to properly grade coins!

 

Okay, I can agree with that for sure. Most of the IGC coins I owned were moderns, and those were hopelessly overgraded. All of my older coins were either PCGS, NGC or ANACS. As I have said before, I actually like ANACS for varieties, nicer problem coins, and attributions. If you have had good experiences with IGC older coins, great. I haven't, and tend to shy away from them. That is not the case for ANACS, as I always liked them to a degree, and think some of the "underrated" coins in terms of being nice for grade, and eye appeal are in older ANACS holders.