which coin grading services have credibility?

Question

when I mean credibility I mean several things
1) accuracy of their grading
2) reputation in the industry
3) their coins sell for more than same grade coins from another service
4) how they conduct themselves, and if they make money by grading and selling or not. Honestly a grading service should only make money via grading.

It's been a long time since I've worked with US coins, and at that time there was only PCGS ANACS, and NGC, but now there are many out there. I am not familiar with all the new services.
The SEGS coins seem very overgraded to me, It's like people send to them because of that reason. And people are supposed to believe it is VF because they said it was, when it's really a VG or F.


thanks

Answer 1

PCGS and NGC are the top two at least for now, but they leave a little to be desired as to their ethics at least in my opinion. They make money for coin dealers. Not anyone off the street can send coins to them they have their systems. The best for authentication in my opinion is still ANACS the oldest service. there prices are fair and you can down load a form from their site and send in the coins yourself without going threw a dealer. An up an coming service is ICG, but time is needed to see how they do. They do have some good graders. The rest of them I would leave alone. Grading services remind me to much of politicians.

Answer 2

NGC, PCGS and ANACS are still the most reputable services. Although, over the years, I think all three have gotten a little more lenient in their grading standards. Any other services are generally considered second and third tier.

Contrary to what one of the grading service advertises buying and selling strictly by the name on the slab is just asking for trouble. Which you appear to appreciate. You should always examine the coin to see if you agree with how the coin service graded it.

Have fun.