| Coin Collecting is Improved by Buying and | | | | coin. It is the professional's duty to look |
| Selling coins that are "slabbed". The | | | | for, and establish these things to determine |
| Benefits: Protection, Authenticity, | | | | a coin's true Identity. |
| Identity, Coin Grade or Value, and Trust and | | | | |
| Credibility; the Only Way of Knowing what | | | | Reason No 4. To Establish the Coin's Grade. |
| Your Coin is Worth! features such coins. | | | | |
| | | | A coin's Grade is what determines its Value. |
| Why should a coin collector and investor buy | | | | You want Good Value when you Buy the coin. |
| and collect professionally graded and | | | | You want to get what you pay for (or more) |
| certified coins?. Commonly called "slabs", | | | | and not get cheated. When you get ready to |
| they are housed in a protective plastic | | | | Sell or Upgrade, you want to get the most for |
| holder. There are many companies - over a | | | | your coin. You have to Know what your coin |
| dozen are less than 2 years old - which will | | | | is Worth! The Grade is always an Issue when |
| put your coin in a slab after Certifying that | | | | Buying and Selling a Collectible Coin. |
| it is Authentic, and assigning a Grade to the | | | | Having the coin Professionally Certified and |
| coin. The first reason for buying and | | | | Graded virtually eliminates this Issue, and |
| collecting Certified and Graded Coins applies | | | | the Arguments. This is Your Neutral Third |
| to all of these companies. However, the most | | | | Party. |
| important reasons apply only to the Top Four | | | | |
| companies: PCGS, NGC, ANACS, and ICG. | | | | Reason No 5. Trust and Credibility. |
| | | | |
| Reason No 1. To Protect Your Coin from | | | | The Top Four companies are Consistent, |
| Damage. | | | | Reliable and Trustworthy. They have |
| | | | Established and Respected Reputations. Their |
| Visible Damage, which includes anything from | | | | Standards are the Highest and the Best. You |
| finger prints/oils to being stepped on. More | | | | are taking a Risk when buying a certified and |
| importantly, Environmental Damage, including | | | | graded coin from any other company. When you |
| such things as exposure to the air, or the | | | | Sell a Certified and Graded Coin, it will |
| wrong kind of air, chemicals in the air, and | | | | speak for you. The reputation of the Grading |
| touching other objects (e.g.: certain | | | | Company will firmly establish the Grade of |
| plastics, liquids, food) and other coins, | | | | the Coin. This translates into the Value or |
| which will change the appearance and even | | | | Worth of the Coin. |
| structure of the coin. Damage causes loss | | | | |
| of Value, which means Your Investment. A | | | | It is possible to buy and sell a coin that is |
| slab is an air tight container, and its | | | | Certified and Graded by one of the Top Four, |
| purpose is Protection. | | | | sight unseen, and know exactly what you are |
| | | | getting. From a description of the coin |
| Reason No 2. To Establish Authenticity. | | | | (e.g.: 1903 O, MS66, NGC, Morgan #034), you |
| | | | know what you are buying, and what to expect. |
| You want and need to know that your coin is | | | | It always helps to have a little description |
| not only the Real thing, but that it has not | | | | of its appearance, such as "white hot" or |
| been altered (changing a mint mark - fraud) | | | | "slight reverse toning", since there is one |
| or changed, for example by cleaning, | | | | limitation to selling a Certified and Graded |
| polishing, changing the appearance or surface | | | | coin sight unseen: It is still possible to |
| of the coin, in any way that would render | | | | buy an ugly coin. But that is why we have |
| your coin unfit to collect. If it is Unfit | | | | scanners, fax and email. |
| to Collect, there won't be many Buyers or | | | | |
| Sellers. Many coins graded by lesser | | | | Therefore, as a Coin Collector and Investor, |
| companies end up getting Rejected by one of | | | | always collect Certified and Graded coins by |
| the Top Four for these reasons. | | | | one of the Top Four. It is the most |
| | | | reasonable way to verify authenticity and |
| Reason No 3. To Establish Identity. | | | | identity of every coin in your collection, as |
| | | | well as to establish a reliable Value. |
| Is that 1909 Lincoln penny a VDB? Did you | | | | Every source of prices for any coin, be it a |
| overlook the "S" mint mark. Is it a Type 1 | | | | yearly book, magazine, a weekly or monthly |
| or Type 2? These little identifying marks | | | | newsprint; all base their prices on the |
| can mean the difference between a $20 coin | | | | Grading Standards of the Top Four grading |
| and one worth $35,000. We all make | | | | companies, which strictly follow the ANA |
| mistakes and overlook or miss, mint marks, | | | | guidelines. If the Grade of your coin does |
| details, and certain other identifying | | | | not measure up to these Standards, then you |
| factors which make up "Varities" of each | | | | are only guessing at the Value. |