One Grading Service Outranks the Other
There has always been some difference in pricing depending on the third-party certification service that has encapsulated a particular coin in an identical grade as is assigned to another like coin examined by a competing service. This is due in part to the popularity of one service over another. One service may have a different standard for a grade than may another service. One service may take eye appeal into consideration, while another service may not. One service may be more consistent with the grades it assigns than may be another service. The services are always competitive. They are businesses and, being a business, each needs to be aware of their competition and the services offered by that competition. Recently it has become increasingly apparent that the pricing assigned by dealers to coins of one well recognized service rather than of another likely equally recognized service is widening. It is challenging to compare the coins of different services to see where this is justified and where it is not; however, this pricing differential continues to expand, as has the number of popular third-party services. One thing that should be taken into consideration that appears to be lost in the shuffle is that these services first authenticate, then offer a suggested grade for your coins. Fortunately, there is no widespread problem with authentication, but authentication is just as paramount as is examining a coin for problems, wear and artificial enhancement prior to assigning a grade. Eye appeal is always going to be in the eye of the beholder, but beware of irrational exuberance becoming baked into the price you are willing to pay for a coin encapsulated by one third-party service rather than that of another service.