NGC vs PCGS? (who’s the best?)
Greetings Collectors,
Sitting here at the desk looking at a couple new arrivals. However three of the four won’t be included in my set here because they’re in PCGS slabs. Still having trouble adjusting to the rule only NGC holders allowed. Only because one would like to be able to share ones entire graded collection. That’s only fair though. PCGS never allowed NGC coins at any time. Enough on that.
I will say for the record, imo, both NGC and PCGS are great accurate graders. In most of my past I’ve been of the mindset that the majority of serious collectors would choose the above two in a different order. I however, do not. I’ve seen overgraded examples in both slabs. Yet just a couple times. I’ve also seen (and cracked out) several that have been under graded in slabs of both these top two graders. My most surprised find was a New Orleans Ten in a VF-35 rattler, that after the “crack out”, came back AU-55. Not to sound greedy, I really thought the coin was low ms possibly? At least 58? Was I happy with 55? Absolutely. Was the new grader too liberal on his or her grade? 35-55? Pretty steep climb in grade. Bottom line. A lucky find. No one was asleep at the wheel with the original grade. No one gave away the store with the 55. I think it swell that possibly a green bean may be attached at some later date? I think it deserves one. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Right?
anyway...
I love both NGC and PCGS.
The 1958 Franklin half is not a scarce date with 4,000,000 minted. Not really a huge mintage though. Actually a very low mintage for what was considered a “workhorse” coin. What was really kinda cool. And actually accidental the way the U.S. mint had started to evolve into what was thought of, as running a really tight ship. Not letting many mistakes go uncorrected. (forget the 55dd Lincoln lol) Something really awesome was happening at the same time for collector coins with some mint packaging changes. Turns out the paper/cardboard used to ship Mint Sets at that time, had an unusually high acid content which indirectly caused the gorgeous Peter Max toning seen on many silver and other coins of the better part of the 1950’s mint sets that were stored for years in their OGP (original government packaging). And even more so it seems of the year 1958. Some of these acidic changes were very evident with the old $1,000 bags of Morgan dollars from the 1800’s I’m told.
In the Franklin series I’m of the opinion that both graders of the top two get the numerical grade pretty much spot on. (usually) Yet going by experience, as this is only one of two coin series that I know much of anything about, I love the fact that NGC has always been tougher on handing out FBL (full bell lines) designation on this silver series. Just look at the difference of fbl graded coins. Far fewer by NGC. (bottom line. Any NGC fbl coin would most likely cross to PCGS as fbl. Not all fbl coins in PCGS slabs would cross to NGC as fbl coins.)
i do think PCGS may be a hair tougher on the numerical grade observation than NGC. However, yet both are in my collection. And I respect both. A lot. To add: if PCGS says its ms-67, it most likely is.
but... it’s all about the coin. Not the plastic. Never forget this about any series that you want to seriously collect.
Pictured below is an example of the 1958 Franklin. One here that is absolutely gorgeous with the blues and honey golds. This particular coin is unique in the fact that there are none graded higher anywhere. And while I think it’s a very strong coin for the grade assigned, it’s more important that CAC thinks it’s a strong coin for the grade assigned.
NGC has graded 32 at MS67 seen none higher.
PCGS has graded 74 at MS67 seen none higher.
I apologize for the photo quality. Need to re invent my makeshift studio to take some decent photos. The ones I post to my two collections I’ll eventually have here will hopefully be of better quality. I’m just really happy with this particular coin in a series mainly collected for the full bell lines, this example doesn’t have them. Few do when compared to total minted. And none graded this high do (?) just a piece that I feel very fortunate to be one of about 100 people blessed enough to own this coin at this grade. I wish you could hold this one in your hand under light. Wow. Way different than this picture. A perfect example, to a not so perfect claim, that 20th century American coinage was the best! Just this one guys opinion. (Still think it a perfect claim. ‘Cause it’s true!)
I still like NGC the most, overall, for all things MS Franklin. (yet this is a grand example from the competition)
i like em both. A lot.
And I love the beautiful toning from an era not to come again. On all the denominations of the time! Mainly silver.
yet copper and nickel too.
Happy collecting to you all!
kerry
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