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Re: Do you have any Idea who is grading your coins? Does it matter?
@jmlanzaf said:
@MFeld said:
@KOYNGUY said:
I like thought provoking discussions that challenge notions created by marketing and advertising. I don't like responses that attack and defend out of fear and anger.
I am a big believer in numbers. If you study and compare population reports and assume the services all pull from the same populations of coins, you can make some correlations as to who is the tighter or looser in grading.
Looking at a very common coin, say an 1881-s dollar.
From my reckoning when I look at the 3 services that have lengthy pop reports I see the following: Names are changed to protect the innocent, but you can read between the lines......Per 10,000 coins...64.........65..........66..........67..........68
ABC ........................ 3,740....1270......290.........48......... 28
CBS..........................3,930....1980......680.......200.........160
NBC........................ 2,750....1460......190.........14..........16Now assuming they all pull fish from the same sea, We can make some correlations.
CBS is clearly more liberal than the others, and very much more in the grades that make the largest in value.NBC is the most conservative, especially in the 66-68 grade level.
The closest correlation for all 3 is in the 64-65 grades.
In MS-67 an ABC coin is 4 times tighter than a MS-67 CBS holder, yet they trade the same. in MS-68 ABC is nearly 6 times tighter than a MS-68 CBS coin, yet again, they trade the same.
A NBC MS 66 coin 3.5 times times tighter than a CBS coin, yet trades at a discount, 15 times in MS 67, and 10 times in MS 68. But again, trades at a discount.
Why are these market inequities? Does it come down to marketing? advertising? ignorance of the numbers? If you are truly buying the coin, not the slab, Isn't CBS over priced and NBC undervalued.
If you think this is a one off, look and compare other pops. I think you will find them to be similar.
As always, My opinion, and respect to our host in allowing me forum to share my views.
J.P. Martin
.@KOYNGUY, those are some interesting statistics. However, I don’t think we should necessarily assume “the services all pull from the same populations of coins”. I think it’s quite possible that the higher quality/grade, higher value coins are more likely to be submitted to the grading company/companies whose coins tend to bring higher prices. At the same time, lower grade/quality, lower value coins might be more likely to be submitted to the grading company/companies offering lower grading fees.
I was going to say the same thing. Mark saved me the trouble. I think it's likely that the widgets get submitted equally. But there is little point in trying to be top pop in plastic that isn't as highly valued.
How many 1804 dollars have been crossed to ANACS, for an extreme example?
Well, the Garrett 1804 Dollar was graded by Q. David Bowers as an EF-40 and by ANACS as an EF-40, and I believe that it is now in a 55 holder. As a potential buyer, do you like paying extra for those "rarity points?"
Re: Do you have any Idea who is grading your coins? Does it matter?
@MrEureka said:
Back in the late 80’s when the TPGs got started, graders probably earned an average of $1250+ a day, the equivalent of about $3500 today when adjusted for inflation. How much do graders actually earn these days?And back in the late 80’s, I could have named 100 people under 50 years old who I considered perfectly capable of doing the job. Today, I probably can’t name 20, and most of them wouldn’t consider the job at any realistically imaginable salary.
Are you crazy? Third Party Grading started in March of 1979. We sure as Hell were not making $1250 per day!
Re: Should I dip this 25-S Peace?
My "other" vote: sell it. Otherwise that dog will be barking at you forever.

Re: American Silver Eagle Navy Privy, onsale Oct 10 Marine Privy Nov. 10. Marine Privy
Who expects a fustercluck when these go live besides me?
Re: Should I dip this 25-S Peace?
@Walkerfan said:
PS-This coin is actually a 1925-S not a 1928-S.
Thanks! Updated the post. (Where’s the emoji for “that was an embarrassing typo”?)