Re: Sparks & Slabs, and I've had experience with the sports card industy.

I must state right up front that my ideas run contrary to what looks like the majority opinion here. I agree with Silver Dollar, as I too am getting tired of people wanting me to practically give them the coin when I'm trying to sell it. It's the same way in the sports card industry now, if a card lists for $20, most "collectors" want to pay maybe $2 or $3. Now I'm all for getting a bargain, but not a steal of a deal. But to be fair, I think this runs along a wide range of collectibles, not just coins and sports cards.

While I agree that PCGS and NGC are the top 2 grading companies, I don't know if I'm in total agreement that PCGS coins are worth so much more. Sometimes I think this is a clever marketing ploy based more on hype than fact. I do believe in the adage to "buy the coin and not the holder". Now, I do wish someone would explain to me, and possibly show me, why a PCGS graded Morgan dollar for example graded MS-66, is worth multiple times what the same dollar graded by NGC MS-66 is worth. Can we really see the difference between the 2 coins in the bulk of the coins graded. Sure there are always going to be some mistakes graded MS-66 that would be worth less, but as you can probably tell by now, I'm not totally convinced that PCGS is that much better

Well, I guess I better quit while I'm still ahead, and I appreciate you all letting me blow off some steam. :-)

I'll add a picture to make up for my rambling. :-)

1972SIkeMS