TomT59

I am just getting back into the field (last coin I purchased was app 30 years ago and none of them were graded). Although I have not purchased in a long time, I do understand grading and where a coin should typically fall no matter who grades it; with that said, I still do not understand what makes PCGS and NGC the entire world as far as grading. People are definitely looking at the plastic. I recently had over 40 coins graded. Just playing around to start with I had 14 sent to NGC, 16 sent to PCGS, and the rest to ICG (I know, probably considered the low lifes of the grading world - I guess they don't market enough). But in getting them back, I found that each of the three services had their own issues, but no one service was any better graded than the other in my opinion. As a reference I crossed over 6 ICG coins to PCGS and the grades did not change a bit (I did find this weird). I even sent over a few coins I knew were cleaned (not buffed or whizzed).  ICG graded the coins but labeled them cleaned, PCGS and NGC would not grade them at all (kind of a prima donna attitude but I get it). Anyway I have a few more that I am going to get graded, as before I will split them up. Bottom line is that with every collectable not matter what it is, it is only worth what someone is willing to pay you for it. Collecting is a hobby and a fun one. Enjoy and educate yourself, and buy what pleases you, don't plan on retiring from it.