What year did PCGS start using the plus in their grading?

drddm

Just curious, thanks!

Dave

braddick

"Plus Grades Added to PCGS Standard Services!
By Don Willis - August 2, 2010

PCGS will begin offering Plus (+) grades on all Regular, Express and Walkthrough submissions as of August 1. Plus (+) grading is being added to Standard submissions at no additional cost. No changes are necessary in how you submit your coins. You only need to complete the submission form as always. Your submission will automatically be considered for Plus (+) grading.

Beginning with the pre-ANA show in Boston, PCGS will be offering Plus (+) grades on all Show Express, Show Economy and Show Gold. Standard submission forms need only be completed. Your submission will automatically be considered for Plus (+) grading. Again, there will be no additional charge.

Also, effective August 1, 2010 PCGS, will begin offering Secure Plus for Regular service level submissions. This will be at an additional $15 over Standard Regular service level pricing. A new Secure Plus submission form will be available in Boston and can be shipped to you at your request.

There are no other changes planned at this time."

MetroD

This thread, started by @Goldminers, provides a little more history.

drddm

Thanks!

CRHer700

I didn't know that 69+ didn't exist.

winesteven

Here’s a very important tidbit. At the time plus grading started in August 2010, the cert numbers being used by PCGS were 25XXXXXX. So if you see/have a coin with a lower cert number in a holder generation for that time, that means when PCGS originally graded that coin they could not have added a plus grade.

I mention “in a holder generation for that time” because it’s possible the coin in the original holder with that low cert number may have been sent in afterwards for Reconsideration. I’ve done that, occasionally with success in getting a plus grade. With Reconsideration, PCGS retains the same cert number, but places the coin in a holder currently being used.

A final point on this subject, as implied in the above paragraph. Even if a coin has a low cert number and is still in the original holder when initially graded, it’s possible that coin could have been sent to PCGS recently for Reconsideration, but was NOT upgraded! That coin would then be returned in the original holder, as it’s not cracked out by PCGS as it would be if upgraded, or sent in for Regrade (but with Regrade, a NEW current cert number is reassigned, whether the coin upgraded or not)!

Steve

Clackamas1

@winesteven said:
Here’s a very important tidbit. At the time plus grading started in August 2010, the cert numbers being used by PCGS were 25XXXXXX. So if you see/have a coin with a lower cert number in a holder generation for that time, that means when PCGS originally graded that coin they could not have added a plus grade.

My entire Lincoln collection which at one time was complete with MSRD coins have not been sent in. I do know that my MS67RD 58-P upgraded to 67+, it was a BU coin roll find.