| Most gold coin dealers have thought about buying | | | | submitted for re-grading and there is very good |
| professionally graded coins at one time or | | | | reason for a different grade). However, with |
| another, but the question is why? These coins | | | | Professional Coin Grading Service coins, you can |
| may also be referred to as certified or slabbed, | | | | be assured regarding the consistency in graded |
| they are sometimes called slabbed because of the | | | | coins whereas other grading services, due to their |
| plastic slab certified coins are generally found in. | | | | inconsistency, always bring an amount of |
| A subject like this is very divisive, since each side | | | | uncertainty into the assigned grade. |
| of the coin has its own strong defenders. In the | | | | The third reason for buying gold coins graded by |
| following piece, we shall focus on the advantages | | | | this company is that, when it's time to sell them, |
| of graded coins, and in particular PCGS graded | | | | they command a nice premium above that of |
| coins. Although there are many other grading | | | | other slabbed coins. For example, I recently |
| services available, the Professional Coin Grading | | | | checked sales of a quite common 1921-P Morgan |
| Service has been judged as being the most | | | | dollar coins of MS-65 condition. The coins that |
| reliable in grade and capability. An auxiliary of | | | | were certified from the Professional Coin Grading |
| Collectors Universe, this service began grading | | | | Service commanded prices of at least fifty |
| coins for the public in 1986 and in that time, they | | | | percent more than similarly graded coins that had |
| have graded millions of coins. Why should you | | | | come via other grading services. |
| purchase coins they've graded? We shall answer | | | | The fourth reason for buying PCGS-certified coins |
| that right now. | | | | is that a coin which is so graded provides it with |
| First off, a coin that is slabbed is protected from | | | | immediate credibility. Grading services initially came |
| further damage. Imagine if your coin was a | | | | into existence so coins could be sold or bought |
| valuable 1942-S Walking Liberty coin that you | | | | without buyers having to look at them first. This |
| think is MS-67 grade. In this condition, PCGS can | | | | was back in the days before the Internet and |
| give an approximate value of $35,000. It is a | | | | digital cameras existed. Although there was a |
| wonderful coin. But think about what happens if | | | | grading system in place back in the early 1980s, |
| the coin falls into you house duct work and gets | | | | the grading was quite arbitrary at that time. A |
| scratched up causing it to be downgraded. This | | | | coin which was graded F-12 by one individual could |
| same coin that is two grades less is now only | | | | be graded as G-4 by someone else. Unless a |
| worth $600. A grade-worthy coin that is in its | | | | person was already an expert, it was quite easy |
| plastic container is highly important to keeping it | | | | to pay too much when purchasing coins from |
| protected from mistakes and accidents, and also | | | | dealers or from private sellers who had |
| protected from the harsh elements. | | | | overgraded coins, intentionally or not. |
| The second reason for purchasing a gold PCGS | | | | Grading services now have placed average coin |
| slabbed coin is that any coin which has been | | | | collectors on the level playing field along with |
| graded will always retain that specified grade. A | | | | professionals, making this into a hobby which is |
| MS-65 coin will always remain a MS-65 coin (unless | | | | not just fun but also fair. |