The technology is probably already in place at the top two TPGS to have consistent "computer-like" grading at a very low cost. Take a computer image of the coin. Let the humans grade it. Attach the human grade to the image. **ALL DONE! The computer will be able to detect the coin 98% - forever through market changes - of the time as their will be some defect (fingerprint) remaining even if toned or conserved.
This computer grading malarkey is just that. The ONLY things needed for a successful TPGS (leave out the political crap, advertising budget, dealer preferences, etc.) are:
FAST, accurate, and CONSISTANT low-cost grading that does not change over time. The only way to come close to this is to take a coin's value out of the equation. Value and grade are not the same thing and never will be.
Almost fifty years ago, it was obvious to me that the fewer variables that are combined into a grade the more precise it will be. Eye appeal is the biggest variable! So much so that folks are artificially coloring coins to get a higher grade. Warning, don't bother to look at what the toning is hiding under all that pretty color present on some "monster" coins.
Additionally, the amount of wear on a coin has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the number of marks on its surface; yet the numismatic experts who wrote the ANA's grading guide saw fit to combine those two variables - confusion reigned! Now, a beat up coin with a microscopic amount of friction gets a lower grade than a very worn AU (just a hair over XF) with clean surfaces! IMO, the entire grading system SUCKS!
The ideal grading system should be SIMPLE to use/understand and precise. Oh, that's what the obsolete "Technical System" was.
If you want to be a successful grader today, you better memorize the price guides, current market conditions and auction results so you'll know what value to grade the piece.
Comments
Compugrade?
The technology is probably already in place at the top two TPGS to have consistent "computer-like" grading at a very low cost. Take a computer image of the coin. Let the humans grade it. Attach the human grade to the image. **ALL DONE! The computer will be able to detect the coin 98% - forever through market changes - of the time as their will be some defect (fingerprint) remaining even if toned or conserved.
This computer grading malarkey is just that. The ONLY things needed for a successful TPGS (leave out the political crap, advertising budget, dealer preferences, etc.) are:
FAST, accurate, and CONSISTANT low-cost grading that does not change over time. The only way to come close to this is to take a coin's value out of the equation. Value and grade are not the same thing and never will be.
Almost fifty years ago, it was obvious to me that the fewer variables that are combined into a grade the more precise it will be. Eye appeal is the biggest variable! So much so that folks are artificially coloring coins to get a higher grade. Warning, don't bother to look at what the toning is hiding under all that pretty color present on some "monster" coins.
Additionally, the amount of wear on a coin has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the number of marks on its surface; yet the numismatic experts who wrote the ANA's grading guide saw fit to combine those two variables - confusion reigned! Now, a beat up coin with a microscopic amount of friction gets a lower grade than a very worn AU (just a hair over XF) with clean surfaces! IMO, the entire grading system SUCKS!
The ideal grading system should be SIMPLE to use/understand and precise. Oh, that's what the obsolete "Technical System" was.
If you want to be a successful grader today, you better memorize the price guides, current market conditions and auction results so you'll know what value to grade the piece.
...computers are made of plastic...and if I were a computer I wouldnt want to grade coins all day
Here is PCGS "The Expert" machine.
Looks like an antique! Thanks for the photos, foodude.