Other coin collectors/dealers feel free to chime in.
I have a coin collection that I will be starting to liquidate. It’s not huge, but not tiny, and has some nice specimens of both US and foreign coins. Slabbed coins always seem to sell for more, since they are professionally graded. I looked at the PCGS site and they have a confusing array of services, many of which are very expensive. I have a fairly large number of silver coins that will grade MS-60 to MS-65.
Is it worth it to get my better-grade coins slabbed before sale? We’re probably not talking anything worth over $1,000.
If so, which of the bewildering array of grading options is best?
Which service is better or most reputable: PSCG, ANACS, ICG?
Is it worthwhile to break up a set (say, of Franklin halves) to get the better ones slabbed?
Is there any market at all for foreign coins other than the mediocre pickings on ebay? I have a large number of coins that I purchased overseas in flea markets, some of which are very nice, but I know that the market is weak.
Am I better off trying to sell the entire collection as a unit, rather than piecing it out?
Very few coins need “slabbed.” They definitely need to be worth a lot before the expense involved is worth it.
Give me an example of your most expensive coin, date/mintmark, and the grade YOU think it is.
There’s NO reason to get a set of Franklins graded. Even if you have an uncirculated set, there still would be very little reason to do this.
Since you are in Alaska, you probably have fewer local coin dealers to visit. Some of us are downright friendly, but some aren’t. I give opinions all the time to customers as to whether they should get a coin professionally graded. Most times the answer is NO.
PCGS is the best service in that they are tough, but their grades are the most respected and reliable. NGC is next. Other services vary tremendously.
Sure there’s a market for World Coins, but it’s slim… You need to have something really valuable.
Selling the collection piecemeal is best, but a pain. Really hard to give advice without seeing coins.
Well, the most valuable coin I have (which isn’t saying a lot) is probably a 1910 D $10 Indian, which happens to be an NGC slabbed MS-62 coin. I have some very nice Morgan CC dollars that were only described as BU by the sellers, but which I think trend to about MS-63 (light bag marks, no nicks). There’s an 1881 S Morgan that I think is a solid MS-65 and some others. I have most of the proof silver eagles, a complete set of Ikes, SBAs, Franklin halves. I have two St. Gaudens, a 1910 S that looks to be about MS-60 to 62 and a 1925 that is about the same. There is also a $20 1898 S that is in about the same condition. I’ve still got about ten very shiny Gold Eagles that are most likely only bullion value plus about 6% or so.
Foreign silver examples would be lots of proof Libertads, Pandas (including a couple of 1 oz gold - 2000, 2001), Kooks, Maple Leafs, a bunch of proof Chinese silver commems I picked up in San Francisco, a proof gold 1 oz. Australian horse zodiac coin, and some Australian silver zodiac coins. I have some nice Bulgarian silver commems from the communist era that trend in the gem BU area, and a large quantity of African bronze coins from various countries that I picked up in flea markets.
I’m a bit surprised by your advice not to have some of them slabbed, although the cost could be a factor (although ANACS didn’t seem all that expensive), particularly since the difference between an MS60 1948 Franklin and a MS65 of the same year (for example) is significant. It’s difficult for a buyer to argue with the grade of a slabbed coin is all I’m saying.
Coin dealers here are limited to about three. One is an asshole…no, make that two, and the other guy is very small-time. The thought of going to private collectors locally makes me want to open a vein, but buyers on Ebay want something for nothing.
Currently there is little monetary difference between an MS60 and an MS 63 CC dollar, at least for the common ones(78/80/82/83/84/85). So not much upside there.
Your 1881-S dollar is worth the slabbing fee, but it’s REALLY gotta be nice to be a 65.
ON $20 gold, the diff between a 60 and a 62 is slight. Usually not worth it.
On your American gold eagles, the best you’ll get is spot gold, $553. today. Slabbing won’t help. These only bring more on Home Shopping.
While you may have a nice uncirculated set of Franklins( I have 4 currently), trying to get an MS65 grade is pretty tough. Even if you have a good eye, I’ll bet that 8/10 of your picks won’t get slabbed as good as you need to get your fee back.
ANACS coins are discounted heavily by dealers. With good reason.
I collect US type coins, and I’ve learned the hard way about any grading company other than PCGS. If PCGS calls something an MS65, you know it’s really a solid 65. I’ve tried having them regrade coins in other companies’ slabs, and they tend to knock off at least a grade, often two. So when I’m buying, I now buy coins that are PCGS only.
One caveat: on the PCGS web site, you can look up the current market value of just about any US coin. Don’t expect to get (or even pay) anywhere near these prices, as they tend to be very inflated, sometimes ridiculously so. I have a 2000 Sacagawea dollar, graded MS69 by PCGS, that I bought last year for $210, which they list for $5000. Go figure.
