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