Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

I was recently looking through my (small) collection, and wondered if I might be able to increase the "values" of my holdings by submitting them to a grading service like PCGS.

Has anyone done this with pieces from their collection, and if so, was it worth the effort and expense?

Thanks in advance!

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

In general, probably not, but If you don't mind sharing a list of the coins you'd like to submit, I'll offer my opinion.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

I would only do it if you have something rare or a variety, or if you plan to resell it, or if you need it for insurance purposes. Otherwise, save on the shipping costs and grading fees and use it to buy more coins. :beer:

I've only sent 5 coins in my life to be graded. One was a 1917 Type 1 Standing Liberty Quarter in MS-63 or 64. Another was a 1932-D Washington Quarter to be authenticated and graded. Two were Peace Dollars where better VAMS (I paid $15 for the one dollar, $25 for the grade and attribution of VAM, sold it for over $500), and the last one was a 1922 "No D" Wheat Cent since those are tricky, and even fool dealers. My total cost to get them graded was about $150 with the registration fee to NGC. I easily covered that on the sale of one of the Peace Dollars.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

There are certain coins that you should definitely consider submitting to PCGS or NCG:
All $3 gold pieces. Many people are afraid of counterfeits. Difficult to sell for full value unless slabbed. Same goes for Charlotte and Dahlonega gold, even if low grade Fine.

Same goes for any Indian gold $2-1/2, $5.00 or $10.00 above MS60, more counterfeits exist than real ones and the counterfeits are very deceptive. I recently bought a 1910 and 1926 $2.50 gold Indians. Paid a few dollars over MS 60 bid price from another dealer. Submitted to PCGS. Got back an MS62 and an MS 63. I am thrilled.

Bust halves and Bust Dollars VF or better with Gray Sheet values over $250.00
Many times I get lucky and get XF45 when I expect VF30. Sometimes, I get "genuine" with no grade if they have a small problem. No big deal, crack it out and sell it raw.

All key dates. Example 09S-VDB Lincolns, 14-D Lincolns, 22 No D Lincolns, 16-D dimes, 1916 Standing Lib Quarters AG or better, 1885 Liberty Nickels above VG, 1921 P, D, S Walker halves above VG. Key date Morgans (89-CC, 94-P, 93-S etc.)

Many times, I get back MS64 gold that I believed were only MS62 with a shot at 63, and I am pleasantly surprised. Other times, I get skunked and get a couple of body bags or stuff I believe is undergraded, so I crack out and sell raw.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

Thanks for the responses!

I have some Liberty Dollar Silver Certificates which are "gem quality," and I am considering slabbing them.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

I picked up a tube of sealed uncirculated 64 quarters, is there any potential for a high grade coin in there? If so, how can I tell?

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

At $15 each sent in?

:signs14::111::111:

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

Thanks that was helpful.:applause_

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

Yep, my understanding is that if you have something unique and maybe rare, especially if in rare potential grade, the answer is YES. Otherwise, and most times it is otherwise, NO.

Disclaimer: I am skeered of numis. I admit my ignorance and my resistance to perceived value on rarity. I also admit my weakness to perceived value on attractiveness (subjective but quantifiable) and intrinsic "value".

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

I have what really appears to me to be a

LINCOLN 1922 No D

I have looked at it under a strong magniying glass and swear it's a no D but the case could be made that it's a weak D based on the coins condition.

Does anyone here think that it would be worth sending in concidering it's condition? Red Book says $625 for G-4.

It looks better in person thatn in that pic....just that pic shows the (possible) no D better. There's something slightly sticky on the face as well...but overall it looks to be a G grade on the front. The Wheat isn't too hot either but that's why I wanted more opinions.
Thanks


All replies/opinions are welcome...tell me i'm crazy or silly if you would like. :wavey:

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

I can't tell from your pictures, but you should compare what you have to what you find here to determine if it's worth taking the next step. There are some key indicators on the reverse that should be looked at as well to determine what die pair you have:

http://www.lincolncentresource.com/1...varieties.html

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

Cool! Great information, thank you.

This penny is not in good shape and is hard for me to see many of those differences.

I may just throw it on an auction one day and see if it nets something.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

Sorry the DEVIL made me do it...

Terrible having a bad sense of humor...

:signs14:

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

Bottom line is "if it's GOLD and more than 1/10 ounce - it shoulda woulda coulda probably pay off in the short run." For resale/trade/exchange/into currencies later on... :yes: Besides that the great grand kids will think you were GRAND!


Silver DYODD - I'm going to slab a LOT of SILVER commermoratives I've recently obtained, plus a 1994 SAE Proof (69 ish), plus a lot of 50 cent clad awfuls for the commemoratives too.

Plus a LOT of $5 dollar gold coins commemoratives - but that's my decision based upon the registry ONLY... Pride goes before the fall...

Besides I'm almost BROKE...:4_1_72:

Hope that helps more...

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

You need a book on grading. You see it and understand quickly. MS usually has a shine - however some AU58s L@@K beter than MS60 to Ms62s some times...

Search for a video perhaps on line. I have a 2 X 3 foot chart of SAINTS wherein the coins are about 3 inches big from AU50 to MS65 - you can see the difference.

I recently bought a 50 cent piece 1936 S that I thought might grade MS65 - well see, Murphy's Law will probably be my reward...:cry1:

Darn BODY BAGS .........always bite me when they arrive :Surrender:

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

Newmisty, one of the most useful tools in my numismatic bag of tricks is a low cost "all in one" scanner. At sub-$50, this one will achieve resolutions greater than I have ever needed, and makes side-by-side variety comparisons (especially with 6+ coins) a snap.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/frostyDA9/1964.jpg

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

Thanks, I'll try that.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

My new scanner is an EPSON V300 PHOTO

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/c...p?oid=63077159

which was a real deal around $90 delivered.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

I just got a V500 for the family pics. I'll have to load it up with numis.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

I just wasted over $300 with NGC I sent in 18 coins all but two came back in purple holders I don't know if the graders were in a bad mood that week but they found a flaw in every coin they could cleaned, Improperly cleaned,environmental damage, Damaged you name it I will never send them another coin again in-fact I am done with slabbed coins. many of the coins were from the early 1800 bust halves
Gold is gold and silver is silver and NGC sucks.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

Dang, sorry to hear that.

_____________________________________

I tried to scan with my new all in one Epson printer/scanner and the coin was hardly visable aside from a dark blotch...going to have to see if I can fine tune it.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

I slab all of my gold numis at either ANACS or PCGS to avoid this problem. ANACS will still grade and list the problem on the holder, PCGS will list the coin as "Genuine". If (and that's a big if) I have to sell my gold numis I want to lower the risk of any problems accepting the coins.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

Sorry that hurts. It WAY more ways than ONE. I had PCGS lose 11 saints for 8 weeks and then send me body bags...been there done that...

That's why I buy the coins USUALLY slabbed. Mint wrapped and very selected coins are the exception.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

If you have a coin of questionable authenticity or particular rarity, then yes, grading is worth it.

If you have anything else, absolutely not.

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

NGC will now grade problem coins as Anacs does and assign a grade to them if you request it, I have been having my done at the coin shows they attend.


Coins that have been damaged or display excessive surface hairlines or other detrimental surface conditions must have their surface impairments properly described. This is done using NGC Details Grading, a service performed automatically when applicable. Coins with detrimental surface conditions are described using Details Grades that accord to the level of wear and descriptions of their impairments. They are then encapsulated using a distinctive purple NGC Details Grading label

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

In answer to the original question:

Yes if you want to SELL someday. :ok:

Re: Grading Services - Are they worth it?
 

Ditto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!