GREETINGS TO ALL NUMISMATIST

Here are some helpful points on certification services (or grading companies) to consider BEFORE spending your hard earned dollars.

In the 1970's ANACS was formed (American Numismatic Association Certification Service) for the SOUL PURPOSE to eliminate the countless number of counterfeit coins on the market. Grading was a courtesy service performed by four graders on staff. You can read information on this at the ANACS site: WWW dot ANACS dot COM. 

ANACS was regarded as the BEST service when PCGS was formed. No one wanted to trust an outside service so the ANACS items brought the premium. A black and white certificate with the opinions of the four graders on the reverse was supplied with the return of your coin in a 2x2 flip. A Color certificate followed shortly after the beginning of the PCGS service.

If you take ANY of the older items certified by ANACS from that time period and offered for sale, well it sure won't bring as much as a PCGS item today. So why would some one pay MORE for a PCGS item than one from NGC, ANACS, or ICG? Take note to the older PCGS holders (the green label ones) being offered. Most of these where over or undergraded and have commanded equal to NGC or slightly more value.

What will the collectors want from 20, 30, 50 years from now? Will PCGS still hold a strong demand or be the scourge of the certification services? Will ICG be the king of the services of the future and the items that you are holding from ICG beginnings bring top value?

*** Here is a PRIME example as I have mentioned. PCI went on the auction block and is sold to the highest bidder who vows to implement a sticker grading standard. ANACS was sold and moved to another state by the CEO of ICG!! ICG lost the majority of its personel to ANACS!!

PLEASE keep in mind: YOU DO NOT BUY THE HOLDER! I am afraid of the many of purchasers who bought coins ONLY because they were PCGS (NGC, ICG, ect.) not even looking at the coin within the holder and finding later in time that thier item isn't worth what they thought. SAVE your money! Buy RAW coins and ONLY get them certified for the following reasons...

1. Is it genuine?

2. I want it graded because I do not trust whom I am buying from.

3. Time to sell and certified assures the buyer it is what it is at that moment in time.

4. To verify a certain variety.

5. Only certify items that will recoup your cost when the item sells.

I have a similar incident from a major coin show. Key coins bought certified BELOW Greysheet bid ONLY because they were in a certification service holder OTHER than PCGS. I SURE LOVE TO PURCHASE CORRECTLY GRADED KEY COINS BELOW BID. The dealer reduced these key coins ONLY due they were NOT in the HOT PCGS holder. Buy the coin NOT the holder!

Value should never be determined by what holder the coin is in. Examine the coin within and conclude for your self if you agree to the grade. Remember... You are the grader and the one purchasing. It should have eye appeal above all else. Leave it behind if you don't like the item or disagree to the grade labeled (this you WILL come across over time).

WAKE UP COLLECTORS! It should NEVER make any difference whether it is PCGS, NGC, ICG or ANACS. YOU BUY THE COIN NOT THE HOLDER!  Please seriously consider if you want to spend your hard earn cash for any other brand of certification service. BUY RAW.

REMEMBER it is only an opinion of the few graders that have seen your item. <----- Key point!

Believe me, they are NOT the last word on your item. I have MANY missed errors, grades, labels and wrong descriptions from the grading services. (even PCGS) You must rely on your own opinion or a trusted dealer. I have resubmitted due I didn't agree with the service and pay extra. I have used four services for the purpose of listing on EBAY, NGC - PCGS - ANACS and ICG.

I cater to a small group of customers every day to fulfill thier needs for the items they are collecting. I will pass up items I feel don't make the grade even though it is in a certification holder. I instruct many in the correct way to purchase without spending beyond the items value and to what items will bring the better return in the future.

If there is only a thought or two I impress on any one with this guide I pray it is BUY THE COIN NOT THE HOLDER and the coin in the slab MUST appeal to your eye.

PLEASE remember.... The whole purpose of a certification service was to CONFIRM a genuine coin to a counterfeit. This I look for more than what grade is given.

Thank-you and good hunting....