Here’s a list, accompanied by images, of coin grading company slabs you should avoid at all costs. If you don’t know much about grading coins (most of us don’t, even if we think we do) or can’t see a clear image, with which to grade the coin, then do yourself a favor and move on to better auctions.

I have read too many regret stories from collectors who didn’t know they were buying an over-graded coin. All of them thought that if it was in a professional looking holder then it must be graded properly. A few thought they were grabbing a bargain.

Note: Some of these holders might appear with a different design or label color, and might be sold by multiple ebay sellers. However, most are sold by a single ebay seller in large quantities.

INB International Numismatic Bureau

NNC National Numismatic Certification

SGS Star Grading Service

ANGS American Numismatic Grading Service

 NAC Numismatic Authentification Company

NCC Numismatic Collectors Company

 NES Numismatic Evaluation Service

NPG Numismatic Professional Grading

CSI Certified Silver Investments

USGS US Coin Grading

No-Name Holders

You should avoid most no-name holders since they’re just coins graded by the person selling the coins, as are most over-grading coin companies and services. If you can’t see a clear and detailed image, without glare or “masking” angles and lighting then don’t bid on the coin, no matter what the holder label claims.

ANGS

ANGS is an ebay seller masquerading as legitimate grading service, that grades their own coins for the sole purpose of gaining as much profit as possible. All examples I have examined are coins that have either been cleaned or over-graded or the combination of both.

ANGS does not adhere to any standard but their own, and don’t even attempt to give an honest grade. If you buy ANGS slabbed coin, do so at your own risk. To see more examples of poorly graded coins click here

INB

INB (International Bureau Of Numismatics) is another service that appears to be owned an operated by an ebay seller named Numismatic Bureau. I have received many email complaints about this service.  Namely, over-grading and the wrong date on the label when compared to the coin in the holder.

INB slabs mostly modern coins, and giving most a perfect PR70 or MS70 grade. A perfect 70 grade is a rare occurrence even in modern coinage, and this grade can only be obtained by a coin that has no imperfections. 

It’s apparent, to any knowledgeable collector, that INB can’t possible come across this many perfect coins. PCGS grades many more coins than INB and they don’t grade a third as many perfect coins.

INB also grades proof and mint sets as well as modern rolls of coins. I suggest buying these coins at your own risk, and only if you can see clearly that the coin is perfect, and will make the grade if submitted to the top tier grading companies.

Many collectors ask which coin grading service are most reputable, and are confused about which coin grading services are accurate and consistent. This is easy to answer since PCGS, NGC, ICG and ANACS are the most trusted and recognized coin grading companies in the business. They are the most reputable services, and consider so by all the majority of the experts, collectors and dealers. While NTC, PCI, SEGS, and Dominion Grading (formerly PCI), all get some respect, but no matter which coin grading company holder one is looking at, always examine the coin carefully, compare it to other coins of the same grade, and buy the coin for the grade it appears to be, and not for what the holder claims.

Suffice it to say, any coin grading service that’s NOT mentioned on this home page, I do NOT recommend, and neither do the experts. I have several other pages where visitors can see who I don’t recommend. If you would like to check out these other coin grading services then click on the link at the bottom of this text. I have researched over 124 coin grading companies or so-called services, and very few meet the mark. As a matter of fact, most are down right hideous at grading coins, to the point where in most instances, must be purposely unscrupulous undertakings, to say the least.

Don’t ever think, or even believe, that just because a coin is in a thick plastic holder that it’s accurately graded. Furthermore, I don’t care what the seller of these so-called slabs claim, they could promise you the moon, but don’t fall for it. The holder might look professional and have some fancy bar code, stickers or hologram stickers, a decorated label, and is a great deal on a high grade coin, but it’s nothing more a lie and a fraud.

I don’t think the question is “Which grading services are reputable”, but “Which ebay sellers are reputable”, and I say this because any non-greedy, honest and well educated numismatically a sellers is, the less likely they will sell over-graded coins, or coins with problems, touted as a high grade.

 Related Link 124 Third Party Coin Grading Services 

TPGS and Coin Grading Forum

Here is a unique website that specializes in PCGS Registry Coins for the PCGS slabbed coin collector. If you are a PCGS Registry Set owner or ever thought of starting one then this is the website that will help you find Registry Quality coins. By the way, it’s a totally free service offered by Registry Collector.

“Registry Collector is a FREE service that enables PCGS Set RegistrySM coin collectors to automatically find the coins on eBay® they need to complete their registry collections. Registry Collector automatically finds just the coins you need for your collection without time consuming searches. Our service not only reduces time but enables collectors to easily review and compare only the auctions that are relevant to the set registry collection needed.”

To check out their service click here Registry Collector