Do you have any Idea who is grading your coins? Does it matter?

VKurtB

To me, only the firm matters, not the individual who does the grading. I am only interested in the top three firms AT THIS POINT IN TIME. I have been convinced to avoid statements that are intended to be “forever”. I own about a dozen or so small white ANACS slabs I acquired in the 1990’s.

chesterb

I enjoyed reading this post. I agree with it too. I have been collecting for so many years that I know how to grade, what to look for and what to avoid. However, I also like to buy coins from trusted dealers that I know to sell premium coins for the grade. Plus, since I buy mostly older US coins, I like a CAC sticker on the slab too. In that particular case, I do know who is grading my coins.

Finally, I thought some of the comments directed to the OP to be unnecessary and rude. It’s too bad people have to comment when they just want to be snarky.

KOYNGUY

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..........16

Now 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
.

logger7

I've heard that Anacs is particularly tough on dollars, from a dealer I know who sends in large groups of them to Anacs from time to time. So much so that he calls up his point man, representative at Anacs, and asks if he can send some back to get the right grade on the holder so he doesn't have to do so on his ebay listings.

MFeld

@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..........16

Now 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.