Coin Grading Services are NOT Equal

Slabbed or certified Morgan dollars are provided by different companies, but be selective in the ones that have higher quality standards.

The better ones in the industry are:

1. PCGS - the most conservative coin grading company around.  PCGS Morgans (in comparison to other grading services) will run a 10 to 20% premium - as PCGS is tough on grading coins and accurate.   They set the standard.    The older green slab (OGH = Old Green Holder) and the 1st Generation slabs (has a green label) will run a 15 to 35% premium, as these were graded many years ago, where PCGS was extremely tough.  These older PCGS morgans were probably undergraded by one grade ( a MS64 graded then, might grade as a MS65 today ).   Look hard and study these older slabbed coins - prior to purchase - to see if this is true or not.  Judge these old "rattlers" (the coin moved around in the first holders which created a rattle) for yourself.     PCGS coins should always be accurate in the coin grade that they have been rated.
2. NGC and ANACS are well established and recognized coin grading services.   Conservative and consistent.  The second tier.
   
3. ICG,  ACG (Accugrade) are recognized and consistant graders.   Will put them on tier two as well - knowing that NGC and ANACS are well liked by conservative coin buyers.
4. NTC and SEGS are on tier three.   Older NTC slabbed coins have more 'variance' in their grading (overgraded many times = bad).  The newer NTC slabbed coins have more consistent and reliable grading.  

Other grading services -- In my personal opinion, I see variance and huge overgrading with GEC, NNC, SGS, WCG,and others.   What really surprises me, is that many NNC MS65, SGS MS66, WCG MS67 morgans are brining high prices during 2006 & 2007, but this could be many newbies buying graded coins - without understanding the importance of the grading service.   This bubble of demand for graded coins, is causing people to rapidly buy any 'bargain' high rated (MS65, MS66, MS67, MS68) morgan - without much though of the grading service that graded the coin.   

If one is buying coins that is NOT on our #1, #2, #3 #4 list above --- you might be paying too much --- as the coin could be OVER GRADED by one to five grade levels!   Look hard at the coin itself, forget the grade listed, and judge it - based on established grading methods.   That MS67 might be a MS63!   Learn how to grade coins for yourself .... and remember the #1, #2, #3 graders for safety and consistency in grading. 

Other services exist - but the list above (#1, #2, #3, #4) is my key list of grading services that are consistent to grade a coin right!

Good luck and have fun in collecting coins!    If you are serious, stay with #1, #2, and #3 graders listed above (PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG, ACG).

Phil Obal

About: An experienced morgan silver dollar collector with a 100% reputation on E-Bay.   Just a honest evaluator.  Not a dealer.