Third Party Grading Services
Ebay is flooded with coins graded by a copious amount of different grading companies. Many of these companies are "basement" company, third party graders, practicing grading techniques that are suspect. Also, there are many horror stories of these companies grading counterfeit and damaged coins in their holders, but sold as authentic.
Often, the dealer company (seller) might own, or is personally affiliated with the some of these "slabbers" and this creates a conflict of interest. A circumstance that introduces the unethical practice of starting grading companies for the sole purpose of selling more coins, at a higher premium, by assigning grades that do not meet the accepted standard for that particular grade.
When looking slabbed coins, one should always question the grade of the coin. If the holder is not from a top tier grading company, then make an offer or bid that matches the book value (BV) a couple of grades lower than the holder states. Also, look for certain other details like the coin's letter or date fonts, wrong mint mark year, etc. Try to compare the coin using an authentic example to be sure the coin in the holder is authentic.
Another detail that requires attention-anyone can buy the Coin World holder (known by the little earth symbol in the bottom left hand corner of the holder), put a coin inside, and affix a label that states any grade they chose. This is important, because there exist many examples of coins that jump in BV from grade to grade. One example of note is the 1884-S Morgan Silver Dollar. The price dramatically increases from AU58 to MS60, and this coin is difficult to find in mint state, providing an easy target for the uneducated coin grader.
Disclaimer: Some of the information on this page is the opinion of the author and is not meant to accuse, discredit or cause injury or harm to any third party grading company. However, this information is based on years of experience and should serve as a guide for a potential buyer of a graded coin. Although the author attempted to use the most current and accurate information, the author is not responsible for any errors or omissions contained in this site.
Want to know more about third party grading companies? Here is some more info...
Do you know of a grading company that you would like to learn about or added to this webpage? Then send an email to help@coinauctionshelp.com
The top grading companies CLICK HERE
OVER 81+ (AND COUNTING) GRADING SERVICES LISTED!
Thanks for visiting the largest and fasted growing TPGS (Third Party Grading Service) guide on the web. We now have 76+ different grading services listed, and will continue to add more. This site has been recently redesigned for better navigation and load time for our visitors.
We do take suggestions so email us your thoughts, or about any TPGS we don't have listed. Don't forget to bookmark this page to spread the word.
Coin Grading Photo Guides
Compare your graded coins to our grading guide's photographs.
Ads by Ebay
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
L
M
N
O
P
Q
S
T
U
W
Click on the grading service's acronym to view more information and pictures on the service.
What Grading Companies Are The Best?
Obviously, for the experienced, this page doesn't list grading services in the order of recommended or not. However, it needs to be noted that the most recommended services are as follows: 1. PCGS - 2.NGC - 3. ANACS - 4. ICG. Although, some other services might grade most of the coins accurately, the top four are the most recognized and consistent.
NOTICE: Ebay only allows PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG to be sold on ebay as certified, but listing of other TPGS is still allowed with certain stipulations. So, please educate yourself before buying graded coins online, or any coin that is assigned a grade by a seller. Here is an important link before considering TPGS purchases.
![[Most Recent Quotes from www.kitco.com]](http://www.kitconet.com/charts/metals/gold/t24_au_en_usoz_2.gif)
![[Most Recent Quotes from www.kitco.com]](http://www.kitconet.com/charts/metals/silver/t24_ag_en_usoz_2.gif)
Ü
