One Grading Service Outranks the Other
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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 another service. One service may consider eye appeal, 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 its competition and the services offered by that competition.
Recently, it has become increasingly apparent that dealers are assigning wider pricing to coins of one well-recognized service rather than of another likely equally recognized service. It is challenging to compare the coins of different services to see where this is justified; 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 and then offer a suggested grade for your coins. Fortunately, there is no widespread problem with authentication, but authentication is just as paramount as 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.
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