First CACG experience and grades / guess the CACG grades

ad4400

I've been a long time PCGS submitter, but decided to give CACG a try after getting frustrated with PCGS variety attribution. As for the submission process, 1) I felt the submission form was somehow easier (maybe larger print?) 2) the shipment appeared as 'received' the actual day it was received 3) when I called customer service they were nice, efficient, and knew which submission was in question based just on my phone number 4) about three weeks standard turn around with variety attribution time, FUN consideration and winter weather in VA Beach.

I submitted two coins. The primary driver was the variety attribution, which CACG gave. The 2nd coin went along for the ride so I wouldn't feel I had some much tied up in shipping/insurance (I know, not totally rational, but how real is the fully rational actor). Both were previously graded by PCGS and submitted raw. How do you think CACG graded these...

tradedollarnut

58/64

lkenefic

caveat emptor... I suck at grading AU/MS Buffalo Nickels...
Without looking, I'm going to say AU55 on the 1928-S and MS63 on the 1913-S T1
... absolutely beautiful coins...

coinbuf

I'm at AU55 for the 28-S (two feather?) and MS62 for the weak rev head of black diamond.

coinhack

Great coins. I'd say AU58 and MS65.

drddm

I’m gonna say 62 for the 1928 and 63+ for the 1913

seanq

I am way more interested to know if that '28-D got the two Feather designation than I am in the grades. I would guess 58 and 63.

Sean Reynolds

MEJ7070

62
64+

Inlander

AU58
MS63

cameonut2011

55
64

Whit

55
58 I think I'm seeing a little rub on cheekbone and front leg.

pursuitofliberty

Never have been great at grading Buffalo's, especially from pictures

AU55
MS64

I also do NOT think the 28-S is a "two feather"

ad4400

Thanks for playing along. You are all correct (almost). The dispersion in guesses somewhat mirrors what the TPGs have felt over time. While I've had my successes in getting higher grades, these two are a sad tale of how it can go the other way, resulting in good money after bad in submission fees.

The 28-S was bought as NGC63 back in 2006 and made an album coin. I transitioned the set from raw to registry, and PCGS graded 63 again. PCGS also came with 63 with one raw submission and one reconsideration attempt as I tried to get the two feather designation, before saying the coin was cleaned on my last attempt, which led me to CACG. CACG graded it 55. I never thought it as an AU coin. I do acknowledge spots of flatness but in hand those do not look like luster breaks. The question before me know is whether I cut my losses or try to cross back to PCGS for two feather registry.

CACG did give the two feather designation. I really don't intend to turn this into a thread of "but part of the third feather is there", which it clearly is. It is the die state that is recognized in CPG, the TPGs, and Ron Pope's authoritative work on the matter.

The 13-S was bought as PCGS64 many years ago and was also made part of my album set. It pulled PCGS63 on the first submission, and the 2nd. PCGS said it was cleaned the third time around (same submission as 28-S). The coin has great luster, color and eye appeal and if anything I always felt it was destined for an upgrade, never a candidate to go backwards. CACG gave it a 58.

Farmer_Bill

Interesting story. Great looking Buffalos no matter what. Maybe some coins are just destined to be "album coins".

marcmoish

Late, but I would have said 58 and 63
Interesting thread, sorry about the journey here.

pcgscacgold

Sounds like my experiences with submissions as well. Expect one to two grades lower when crossing.

breakdown

I liked 58 and 65.

JA looked through my buffalos fifteen years ago or so and he saw rub on some coins where I didn’t.

I understand he doesn’t grade all CACG coins but from what I have seen they are holding the line on aligning MS with no rub. Tom Delorey should be proud!

Hard to imagine how many CBHs in N or P holders would downcross to AU at CACG.

pcgscacgold

@breakdown said:
I liked 58 and 65.

JA looked through my buffalos fifteen years ago or so and he saw rub on some coins where I didn’t.

I understand he doesn’t grade all CACG coins but from what I have seen they are holding the line on aligning MS with no rub. Tom Delorey should be proud!

Hard to imagine how many CBHs in N or P holders would downcross to AU at CACG.

A lot of non-CAC CBH's would downgrade from MS63/62 to AU58, from AU58 to 55/53, etc.

coinbuf

@ad4400 said:
The question before me know is whether I cut my losses or try to cross back to PCGS for two feather registry.

I guess it really depends on how badly you want it in that registry set, seems that you have a lot of grading fees tied up in these two already.

earlyAurum

Interesting journey. Having coins grade then body bag then grade on another submission is very scary indeed. I had it happen to me and it was a very good lesson on the subjectivity and variability of grading. In fact, I had a coin grade 58 CAC, I cracked it out and it body bagged then I sent it in for regrade and it came back 53. It then got a gold CAC. Ended well but not fun.

MFeld

@coinbuf said:

@ad4400 said:
The question before me know is whether I cut my losses or try to cross back to PCGS for two feather registry.

I guess it really depends on how badly you want it in that registry set, seems that you have a lot of grading fees tied up in these two already.

Agreed. I sure wouldn’t spend any more on grading fees at this point.