SEGS???????

[ldarrellc]

does anyone know anything about the segs grading service are they reputable?

[coppercoins]

Reputable, maybe - as far as getting the coins back, etc. They aren't crooks.

But would you be any better in the marketplace with a SEGS slabbed coin than the same coin unslabbed? no. They have little to no credibility in the marketplace.

[GarryN]

I have a couple SEGS coins. SEGS has or had a signature series holder. Similar to what Chuck is doing with PCI, they have a particular coin guru sign off on a holder. Apparently the purpose is not to validate the grade of the coin. I purchased a silver dollar from a website called VAMlink, which was the precursor to Vamquest.com. The coin is in a signature series SEGS holder signed by silver dollar researcher Jeff Oxman, that was graded EF45. The description of the coin said "Would be considered AU to some". No photo. The coin was particularly important to me so I did not hesitate to buy it. It had an odd look to it so I took the coin to two dealers later and both told me that the coin had been "overdipped". What really bugged me about the experience was that Jeff Oxman was associated with VAMlink. So that is my SEGS story. I later bought a more accurately graded EF45 coin in an NGC holder from Michael Fey. I still have both. The silver dollar, by the way is the 1878 VAM 9, the first die combination used to make Morgan Dollars.

[eagames]

I don't value their grades or attributions for Lincolns, I look at the coin and decide ignoring what their holder says. They might be better in some other serries or so I've heard.

They do make a strong solid holder.
If you ever crack one out it's amazing, hit em with a hammer and the holder bounces and hits you on the head but is still sealed.
They're much tougher than other slabs that easily pop open.

[Bob P]

So Ed....How many dents do you have in your head from trying to open one of these???

[coop]

Maybe you should try a 10# sledge on a side walk to open them. I bet that should do it. LOL

[Dick]

ED, I would suggest putting it in a big, strong vise, and taking a chain-saw to it' I'll bet it will open real easy!
Dickl

[KurtS]

That sounds stronger than the average "basement slabber", where I'll take a vise grips, crush the corners of the holder and carefully pry open the case with a screwdriver.

[murphy]

Clamp the bottom edge in a vise and use a hack saw to cut off the top edge. Then insert the sharp edge of a claw hammer into the slot and pry it open like a clam.