TPG
"Third Party Grading"
OR
Why the blazes are my coins encased in plastic?
If you are an older collector (like me), you remember the days when every dealer sold only MS65 GEMS and all coins they bought were Slider AUs. In fact, Iwas in Minneapolis in the 80s and remember the dealers who made mass mailings touting their GEMS, and the 3 to 4 times of profit you were going to make.
PROBLEMWAS.....
That the whole business was non-regulated and more highly opinionated than the cable news networks. As we (the more reputable dealers)watched millions of dollars being made on overgraded liquidation coins, many knew it would be the end of the coin market if something was not done.
HENCE...
Along came the companies that started to consensus grade and backed up their opinions with dealer guarantees and created a more honest playing field so that even a novice or green horn could participate in the coin investing market without having to read 4 volumes of antiquated numismatic literature or going to College classes on grading intricacies given by profiteers.
NOW......
Coin collecting and investing became more regulated and reliable, with dealers and collectors assured that the coin would be pretty close to the right grade, and not tampered with or "mucked" with.
Your Responsibility is...
Know the TPG company you are buying into. Is it one of the reputable companies in the USor Canada? Does it maintain collector trust and recognized by most dealers as a legitimate company with legitimate graders? Has it graded consistently for decades? Do their coins maintain their value time and time again at auctions and on bourse floors?
Ihave sold MILLIONSof dollars worth of coins on eBay, and Ionly trust a small handful of TPG coins "sight unseen". There are a couple of GREAT Canadian ones, and maybe a few on the USside that Ibuy knowing that it is going to be a solid coin.
Iknow, Iknow, I ramble on more than uncle Joe, who has Alzheimers, but the fact is: New collectors and experienced collectors need the knowledge to make better investing decisions. eBay has brought many new collectors into the market, and Irely heavily on repeat business.
IPrice my encapsulated coins off of the PCGSwebsite, go take a peek, the REGISTRYset is a hoot! Ithink NGC has a good one as well. For my beloved Canadian customers, I use the price guide from the CCN, which Ifeel is the best gauge of the Canadian Numismatic market. Iam a member of the RCNA and have been on eBay for a modest 27 years.
Certified and Authenticated
PICTURES ARE OF THE ACTUAL COINS YOU WIN.
WOW, I have purchased over a quarter of a million dollars in FRESH slabs, come take a peek.