COLLECTIBLE CERTIFICATION SLABS

 

Accugrade
In 1984, Accugrade became the first company to seal graded coins in hard plastic holders, two years before the debut of PCGS. Early Accugrade holders are "photoslabs", meaning each contains both a coin and a black-and-white photo of the coin.

Slab collectors value these early examples at about $30 over the value of the enclosed coin. Later Accugrade holders, which do not have photos, earn a premium of around $15.

   

ANACS Blue Text
ANACS originally stood for "American Numismatic Association Certification Service". Some people feel that this grader held higher standards when it was still part of the American Numismatic Association (ANA), before its sale to Amos Press in 1990.

ANACS used small white holders from 1988 through 2003, but only the pre-1990 labels have blue text in the background reading "OFFICIAL ANA GRADE".

There is no specific dollar premium on ANACS blue text holders. Much like PCGS rattlers, check these slabs for premium-quality coins to keep as they are or to re-submit in hopes of a higher grade.

   

Compugrade
Opened in New Orleans in 1991, Compugrade intended to grade coins using computerized equipment instead of skilled graders. Although they graded coins for a few months, the company closed in the same year. They made one of the most attractive holders of any grading service. The plastic has a clear crystalline quality.

Most holders from services other than the top four of ANACS, ICG, NGC, and PCGS have minimal value to slab enthusiasts. Like Accugrade, Compugrade is one of the few exceptions, and a slab collector will pay about $40 over the value of the enclosed coin.

If you are lucky enough to find a Compugrade labeled "sample", you have a scarce sample slab worth $250.

To read the complete article, see:
Buy the Holder, Not the Coin – 10 Certification Slabs to Look For (https://coinweek.com/buy-the-holder-not-the-coin-10-slabs-to-look-for/)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web