1. Officials of the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) and the Industry Council for Tangible Assets recently released their second dealers’ survey of third party grading. In summary, the results of the survey findings rate the third party graders/certifiers as follows:
   

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation of America (NGC) – Superior.

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) – Superior

American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS) – Average

Independent Coin Grading Company (ICG) - Average

                              Photograde Certified Institute (PCI) – Poor

                              Sovereign Entities Grading Service (SEGS) – Poor

                              ASA – Accugrade – Unacceptable

                              Numistrust Corporation – Unacceptable

There are some concerns that these results were obtained from 172, out of 521,  completed surveys that were sent to professional dealers, not everyday collectors. Nor, does the survey define IF the specific dealer has reviewed products of all eight companies in recent months. A detailed article regarding this survey, written  by William T. Gibbs, can be found in the September 6, 2004 edition of Coin World. The editorial, by Beth Deisher, also addresses this issue.

2. Asian fakes, not marked “copy”, are appearing in the Numismatic World. Counterfeit USA coins, as well as foreign coins, are becoming more common. One of our informed members advises that counterfeit  PI pesos, HK $, GB $, USA Flowing Liberty Hair $, Japanese trade and regular yens, all Chinese minors – Ch’ing Dynasty and Republican, etc., etc. are in the market place. Your editor has personally purchased a counterfeit Cuban 1932 Star peso from a Hong Kong seller on EBAY. Although many of these items are of poor quality, some are excellent replicas, even to the exact material, weight, size, etc. Be aware and alert when an excellent offer is presented. It could be “too good to be true”.

3. LANSA (Latin American Paper Money Society), which closely parallels our Cuban Numismatic Association, is soliciting new membership. If you are interested, please contact Art Matz at Matzlansa@aol.com