September 1, 2009 brings details grading to NGC

September 1, 2009 NGC, will details grade all problem coins and allow 50% points in the registry. This news comes to me with mixed emotions. If my registry goal is to compete, then having problem coins in my set is not for me. However, if my goal is to complete my set, the picture changes dramatically for me.

Now for the first time, all the expensive problem gold coins I own in ANACS holders will cross into NGC registry sets. For instance, I have an 1846 Dahlonega half eagle details grade fine that is plugged, tooled, and whizzed. Now I know this coin is a fright, but Dahlonega mint non-problem coins are very expensive. This opportunity allows me to NGC encapsulate my coin and include it in the registry for my mintmark type collection. Another benefit of this is to catalog my problem coins in my Collector?s Society coin list.

Then again, another part of me is of the purist mindset that this represents a slippery slope to shoddy registry sets. Regardless of my opinion, this is the direction the industry is moving, recently evidenced by PCGS going with genuine holders.

I think in the end I will cross over all my problem coins and insist on buying non-problem coins in the future. This announcement must make all the E-Bay sellers of problem raw coins jump for joy. Now my fear is that the market place will be flooded with these coins, but then again I?m all for encapsulating coins to protect the coins from further damage and their owners from fakes.

I?m interested in the Societies take on this; let me know what you think. Here is the link to the announcement:

http://www.ngccoin.com/news/viewarticle.aspx?IDArticle=1288