Grading descriptions from TPG…..

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I keep seeing the same comments as to why certain grades are given to coins which many cannot understand the reasoning behind. (Especially in the GTG posts). When a diamond ring is taken to a jeweler for an appraisal, a meticulous examination including weights, purity, size, flaws, clarity, color, etc., is done for each item on the ring. The examination may take hours…and usually runs $100 up depending on what the individual is having done, size of the ring, etc., …but the final result is an examination that shows all the details the gemologist saw in their appraisal. So, with the cost many of us incur in having our coins graded, wouldn’t it make sense to let the coin submitter/owner know what was seen by the grader to give it a 69 vs a 70, a cameo vs a deep cameo vs no cameo at all, a 35 vs a 40, etc.? Apparently the average third party grader spends only SECONDS looking at each coin before making their grade determination and then on to the next coin. Even if a piece of paper with a profile of the coin on it with the ‘problem areas’ circled might help us learn more about our coins, the grading process and what we should look for before sending coins in that might come back in body bags or classified as damaged/questionable color, cleaned, etc. Yes, it might take a few extra seconds per coin, but would give us a look into what the graders saw which will either make us happy or scratch our head in wonderment. Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 everyone!

PeakRarities

What you are suggesting would never work, because that would mean that the grading services wouldn't be able to make as much money 😅.

In all seriousness, I'm sure most of us would love the grading services to "explain the grade" with each submission but they do need to maintain a level of profitability, and spending that much time on a coin would be cost-prohibitive.

may

I think CAC explains why something didn't get a sticker.

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@DeplorableDan said:
What you are suggesting would never work, because that would mean that the grading services wouldn't be able to make as much money 😅.

In all seriousness, I'm sure most of us would love the grading services to "explain the grade" with each submission but they do need to maintain a level of profitability, and spending that much time on a coin would be cost-prohibitive.

I just received my annual Christmas greeting from a TPG saying they had graded over 53 MILLION coins…..so if that was an extra $5 a coin (for even 10% of the submitted coins) for a quick worksheet on why a coin graded what it did, it would be a pretty hefty ‘added bonus’ to the bottom line…. Just thinkin’ outside the box here. 😉

jmlanzaf

@knovak1976 said:

@DeplorableDan said:
What you are suggesting would never work, because that would mean that the grading services wouldn't be able to make as much money 😅.

In all seriousness, I'm sure most of us would love the grading services to "explain the grade" with each submission but they do need to maintain a level of profitability, and spending that much time on a coin would be cost-prohibitive.

I just received my annual Christmas greeting from a TPG saying they had graded over 53 MILLION coins…..so if that was an extra $5 a coin (for even 10% of the submitted coins) for a quick worksheet on why a coin graded what it did, it would be a pretty hefty ‘added bonus’ to the bottom line…. Just thinkin’ outside the box here. 😉

$5 wouldn't cover it. Would you pay $25?

PeakRarities

@knovak1976 said:

@DeplorableDan said:
What you are suggesting would never work, because that would mean that the grading services wouldn't be able to make as much money 😅.

In all seriousness, I'm sure most of us would love the grading services to "explain the grade" with each submission but they do need to maintain a level of profitability, and spending that much time on a coin would be cost-prohibitive.

I just received my annual Christmas greeting from a TPG saying they had graded over 53 MILLION coins…..so if that was an extra $5 a coin (for even 10% of the submitted coins) for a quick worksheet on why a coin graded what it did, it would be a pretty hefty ‘added bonus’ to the bottom line…. Just thinkin’ outside the box here. 😉

I like the ingenuity, but I don't think $5 would cut it. Effectively you'd probably double or triple the amount of time it took to grade a coin, so they'd have to double or triple the price.

jmlanzaf

Most such explanations would be useless unless detailed. How helpful is "MS65 because it has too many bag marks to be a 66." Or "MS69 because it has a couple marks in the field".

If you want a grading course, take the grading course. Trying to piece together a grading course from 100 submissions will not be either effective or satisfying.

This discussion has been had here before. Check out the other threads if you want more arguments for and against.

1madman

Ever since David Hall acknowledged pcgs was starting to grade on a 700 point scale when they implemented the + grades, I have wanted to see that 3-digit grade the graders come up with. I would pay extra for this knowledge, but pcgs has never attempted to share this grade system.