There are compelling reasons for collectors to only buy PCGS, NGC, and ANACS certified coins. I don't include ICG since they've consistently failed to crossover to ANY of the companies just listed in my experience.

THE PROOF70*COM LIST OF (what we think are) SCAM GRADING COMPANIES:

USCG
NTC
NNC
GEC
SGS
ANR
NAC
USGS
NGS
INB
WCG
HCGS
NES
CCGS
ACG
INCG
USACGC
USA CGC
HCG
IGS
ANS

Our Opinion on ICG: While not as good as ANACS, ICG is still a little better than PCI and SEGS.

Our Opinion on PCI and SEGS: Both are semi-reliable but rarely at the grade on the slab and sometimes problem coins are not labled as such - exercise caution.

Our Opinion on NNC and NTC: We feel that PCI and SEGS are still better than NNC and NTC since both NNC and NTC are known to overgrade coins (usually by 3 or 4 points uncirculated coins) and grade problem coins without describing the problems- as such, they are not recommended at all.

The other companies on the "Scam List" are all very questionable and strongly not recommended.


I do very STRONGLY recommend PCGS, NGC and ANACS without hesitation - and so does the ANA.

The PNG rated PCGS and NGC at the Top and then ANACS and ICG. No other companies were recommended with a good report.


Top Reasons To Only Buy High Value Coins Certified by PCGS, NGC or ANACS:

1. Most sellers provide small, sometimes altered images that are taken under odd lighting conditions - such as direct light source reflection or odd angles. Lighting and angle can make the difference between the appearance of an AU-55 and MS-63 to the average collector and eBay bidder. NO NOT BUY HIGH VALUE RAW COINS OR NON TOP-3 CERTIFIED COINS UNLESS: the seller provides HUGE, clear, unaltered images (as I do) and you an absolute expert on all aspects of coins. Read #2 to see what I mean by expert. The seller should also use the flash on his camera - this shows everything and the seller should have a CRYSTAL CLEAR image of the coin at least 5 times bigger than the coin. My pictures are usually unbelievably large and I almost always use flash. What do they have to hide?

2. Most buyers are not familiar with identifying: dipped, cleaned, altered, repaired, thumbed, polished, rim filed, rim damaged, artificially toned, and counterfeit coins? Are you? If so you can go turn in an application for ANACS, PCGS, or NGC to grade coins - or you can earn a comfortable living as one of the very select few who have spent years studying with the ANA or a years in the industry as a buyer for a major dealer.

It's sad to say but EVERY SINGLE day I see people wasting hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars on wildly over-graded raw coins and untrustworthy "certified" coins from small grading companies.

If you see a Morgan Silver Dollar in an MS-___ (whether is be MS-60, MS-64 or MS-67) slab from a no-name company - the coin will generally be cleaned, damaged, rim damaged or altered and not even eligible for grading from NGC or PCGS. If one is lucky and the coin is not damaged in any way then one should expect the NGC or PCGS or ANACS grade to be anywhere from 2 to 6 points LOWER. A fake grade raised by more than 10 points compared to the real grade is not rare among non-Top 3 grading companies.

In general our experience seems to indicate that the average "MS-65" coin from one of the minor coin grading companies like NTC or NNC is really MS-61 or MS-62 from NGC or PCGS or ANACS.

Some of the less well known companies like NAR, GEC, WCG and SGS are much worse in our opinion often grading XF coins as MS - somehow people still buy them too.

THE FACT IS: Anyone can buy the needed materials to start a "coin grading company" on eBay for less $100 (slabs, holograms, AU coins to call BU, etc, etc) - AND MANY PEOPLE DO. So beware. There is a reason eBay only allows coins from the Top grading companies!
 
(ADDITIONAL) BENEFITS OF BUYING CERTIFIED COINS FROM PCGS, NGC AND ANACS

Having a coin certified by on of the Top 4 ANA Recommended Coin Grading Companies (PCGS, NGC, ANACS, and ICG) does several things: it identifies the coin, it assigns a numerical grade to the condition of the coin, it ensures the coin is authentic, and it seals the coin in a clear plastic "slab" for proper preservation and easy storage or sale.

While all US coin grading companies use the 70 point Sheldon Numerical Scale, not all grading companies are grading by the same standards and that is why this guide was written. Nobody wants to be taken advantage of and if you are new to coins this guide will save you some time and some money.

The Sheldon Numerical Scale assigns a score between 1 and 70 to coins to determine condition  (called grade) and consequently, the grade determines the value of the coin. A coin that is graded a 70 is graded as a perfect coin. These perfect 70 coins command a higher premium when graded by the right company. A coin that is between 60 and 70 on the Sheldon Numerical Scale is called Mint State and is abbreviated as MS on coin slabs and in eBay listings. A coin that grades between 50 and 58 is termed About Uncirculated and is abbreviated as AU and so on.

Any respectable coin seller will tell you that there are 3 or 4 main coin grading companies which are all considered about equal in terms of grading standards and slab quality. These companies, which are commonly referred to as "The Big 4" or the "Top 4" are as follows: NGC, ANACS, PCGS and ICG. The Big 4 companies are all consistent in their ability to accurately grade coins and identify problems coins (cleaned, etc) and fake coins (yes, there are MILLIONS of fake coins out there and MANY are in slabs from no-name grading company).

As such, they have collectively been consumer and industry selected as the best companies in the coin grading industry. NGC, ANACS, PCGS and ICG all follow strict ANA guidelines and they will all be around for years to come.

Buyers need to be aware that outside of The Big 4 companies there are dozen of other companies, many with names very similar to those of The Big 4, and these companies grade their coins at an inflated value, usually several points over the real grade of the coin. Many sellers attempt the use the PCGS internet price guides to incorrectly establish the value of the over-graded coins they are selling. 

This is a very serious concern when the difference between a properly graded coin and an over-graded coin can be 2 to 6 points and the Sheldon scale. That can be the difference between a $50 coin and a $5,000 coin. Examples often found on eBay include "high grade" gold coins, over-graded by graded NTC and NNC, are often marketed on eBay for sale at the PCGS book price as the Buy-It-Now price with the Best Offer option.

Sadly, many buyers pay nearly full PCGS book price for NNC and NTC graded coins that could easily regrade 2 or 3 points lower or more.

If the coin is not graded by PCGS, NGC or ANACS- it is probably overgraded.

Even if the coin company is accurately certifying and grading the coins, and it's not, they still do not have the resale value of coins from The Big 4 and they are not worth what a coin from The Big 4 with that grade would be worth - not even close.

I am not affiliated with any coin grading service. I am just sharing some knowledge with those interested in the topic of coin grading and those who are interested in having a safe eBay coin purchasing experience.

I am a member of the ANA, I have an extensive numismatic library, I have a large inventory of Certified: Key Dates, Variety coins and High Grade gold & silver. And I do sell coins here on eBay! So, if you like learning while you shop for fairly priced, accurately graded coins visit my store or website!

Once you learn the basics, you will soon discover eBay is a great place to buy coins! Just exercise caution and remember the old adage: if it seems to good to be true it probably is!