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Cross-over Dilemma

Um, a friend of mine has this problem. He bought a coin, for argument's sake, let's call it an NGC PR68 1939 Jefferson nickel. He wanted to cross this coin over at grade to PCGS but it did not cross. He paid more than a PCGS PR67 but much, much less than a PCGS PR68. The coin is right on the cusp, and is super-PQ for for a PCGS PR67, with nice mirrors and clean fields, except for a soft ding or two under Monticello. He needs the coin to fill a hole in a registry set.

Should this person, hypothetically speaking:

A. Cross it over at PR67, recognizing that the "sight-unseen" value of the coin would be harmed -- although, of course, it's the "same coin" as it was in the other holder, and a nice one at that. There is also a possibility that, when cracked out, the coin might look nicer to the graders, because they are not seeing the scratches on the holder and other visual interference. Also, one could not rule out the possibility of a subsequent successful regrade if PCGS gets a smidge looser (or sees the coin come back in its own holder, which my friend knows is not supposed to make a difference -- although he has his suspicions).

B. Sell the coin in the NGC holder, and take the money and put some of it into another nice, PQ '39 in PCGS PR67. (And wait until a pre-slabbed PCGS PR68 comes around for an upgrade.)

I am interested in what the folks on the "buy the coin, not the holder" side of things have to say about this. My friend is in quite a quandry, and I promise to share with him your advice.

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"The essence of sleight of hand is distraction and misdirection. If smoeone can be convinced that he has, through his own perspicacity, divined your hidden purposes, he will not look further."

William S. Burroughs, Cities of the Red Night

Comments

  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,148 ✭✭✭✭✭
    are you your own friend? how cute image
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • dbldie55dbldie55 Posts: 7,731 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would never send a coin in a holder to be graded. Too much bias. Crack it out, and send it in. If it is rare in high grades, you may have to pay the piper to get the grade. (multiple submissions to get the grade)
    Collector and Researcher of Liberty Head Nickels. ANA LM-6053
  • coinguy1coinguy1 Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
    BNE - based on the scenario you laid out for your "friend", save the time, money and aggravation. Choose option B.

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