| You should only buy coins graded by PCGS, NGC, | | | | It's especially nerve racking to pay for a "red" |
| and Anacs. All other third party grading companies | | | | copper penny only to see it turn brown a couple |
| have major flaws in their grading. Many of these | | | | of months later. In the case of PCGS, they will |
| flaws make these coins difficult to buy/sell, if not | | | | compensate you accordingly if a coin in one of |
| impossible. | | | | their holders does not live up to the grade and |
| One of the biggest major concern is overgrading. | | | | attribute on the slab. |
| A lot of these companies sell coins that are | | | | The worst fear of buying a coin graded by an |
| overgraded. If they are conservatively graded, | | | | unknown company is buying a counterfeit coin. |
| these companies would lose money. Their market | | | | Counterfeit coins have no numismatic value |
| presence is just not there. Collectors wouldn't buy | | | | whatsoever. I think that there are some crooks |
| them unless they were deeply discounted. So | | | | that knowingly grade counterfeit coins. Once the |
| what do they do? They overgrade the coins. So | | | | coin is graded, they pass it off as a real coin. The |
| even if the coin was sold at a huge discount, | | | | problem lies in the inexperience of the grader. He |
| these companies would still profit. If they do not | | | | She may not intentionally do anything wrong. But, |
| do this, they would never make any money. So | | | | the lack of experience causes problems for all |
| it's safe to say that most, if not all of their coins | | | | collectors out there. |
| are overgraded. Unwary collectors are only | | | | So the next time you look for a coin, you had |
| attracted to them because of their high grades | | | | better think twice before buying a generic slab. |
| and cheap prices. | | | | PCGS, NGC, and Anacs offers a conservative |
| The next biggest concern is the actual | | | | grading standard you can trust and a coin that is |
| encapsulation slab. PCGS and NGC sell their slabs | | | | guaranteed authentic. I wouldn't trust any other |
| so that nothing gets in (most of the time.) This | | | | company with my coins and you shouldn't either. |
| important because air and moisture can easily | | | | All three companies put together will be able to |
| seep into the slab and damage the coin. I don't | | | | offer all the grading services you need so you |
| think any collector wants to spend a couple | | | | don't have to look elsewhere for professional |
| hundred dollars on a coin that would corrode later. | | | | grading services. |