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What’s the most blatant error in grading...

dan1ecudan1ecu Posts: 1,573
in U.S. Coin Forum
...that you’ve seen the top grading services make? I’m not referring to coins where it’s arguable whether it’s an MS62 or MS63. I mean coins that are overgraded by maybe 10 or more points, or coins that are obviously damaged, but are encapsulated anyway. I’m sure that once in a while something like this happens. Do you know of any examples that really stand out?

Dan
Dan McInnes

mcinnes@mailclerk.ecok.edu">dmcinnes@mailclerk.ecok.edu

Comments

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,964 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The worst coin I can remember was a Stone Mountain half dollar in an NGC MS-67 (or 68) holder. The coin was as black as coal (a "10" on the David Lawrence scale) and ugly as sin. Maybe looked it better when it went in the holder and toned that way from dipping, but that was about as bad as I have seen.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • KoinKollectorKoinKollector Posts: 388 ✭
    Please see Jons (tonelover) thread on "beautiful PF69 Washington"
    Sean J
    Re-elect Bush in 2004... Dont let the Socialists brainwash you.

    Bush 2004
    Jeb 2008
    KK 2016

  • BigD5BigD5 Posts: 3,433 ✭
    Saw a two cent piece with a "W" inscribed in the shield in a pcgs ms/64 rb holder. Plenty of scratched coins too (ICG Barber 25c comes to mind as the most blatant). I've seen a proof indian head cent in a ms holder too (anacs). I had a few Commem's, slabbed out as ms/65, that I swear were au. Forget whose holders they were in.....ngc maybe. That's just off the top of my head. There's tons of stuff like this that I'm sure anyone who has looked through enough slabs has seen too.
    BigD5
    LSCC#1864

    Ebay Stuff
  • FC57CoinsFC57Coins Posts: 9,140 ✭
    With deference to KoinKollector for his usual knowledgeable posts, THIS question refers to:



    << <i>What's the most blatant error in grading...that you’ve seen the top grading services make? >>



    So ACG doesn't qualify! image

    Sorry - I couldn't help myself!

    Frank
  • Cam40Cam40 Posts: 8,146 ✭
    Like a few others when seeing those fugly mint-state `cowpatties`slabbed with lofty grades,I get alittle turned off.You know the ones I,m talking about.The not-so-attractive mint set toned coins that rank very low on the eye-appeal scale?
    The `splattered-mud` toned look.
    Oh well,I guess its an aquired taste for those.
  • FrankinWIFrankinWI Posts: 209
    You mean like this coin?
    image

    I really hate this coin.

    Frank
  • CarlWohlforthCarlWohlforth Posts: 11,074 ✭
    Hey, Frank, I was born in '56. If you really hate that coin I would steal it from you. C'mon just give it away!

    I had a coin with the wrong year on the label, does that count?
    Carl's Coins website w/ links to Carl's auctions
  • BigEBigE Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭
    I like toned comemms, but what do you guys think of this one for 7K?---------------BigE ------- http://www.heritagecoin.com/sales/InventoryItem.asp?inv=85330013&sid=EC1D8984F4F1458295EFBB2FDBAF3E42#Photo -------------- Link please image
    I'm glad I am a Tree
  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,148 ✭✭✭✭✭
    a link for the tree...

    image
    imageimageimageimageimageimageimage
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • BigEBigE Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭
    Mine is even upside down in the holderimage--------------BigE
    I'm glad I am a Tree
  • Cam40Cam40 Posts: 8,146 ✭
    MS90....Thats that new grading scale huh.
    The Shillden scale I thingk
  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,148 ✭✭✭✭✭
    THIS is the tree's link

    The picture is from my collection... the link for the tree is completely different
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • SarasotaFrankSarasotaFrank Posts: 1,625 ✭✭
    I own this one, therefore it is my personal favorite when it comes to grading service screw ups.

    image

    although that MS-90 Morgan is a hoot!
    "I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Grandfather did, as opposed to screaming in terror like his passengers."
  • BigEBigE Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭
    Thats a good one Frank, but what did they do with the coin you sent in?--------BigE
    I'm glad I am a Tree
  • SarasotaFrankSarasotaFrank Posts: 1,625 ✭✭
    LOL BigE.

    Actually, I bought this slab from my local shop. I needed the coin, and the added humor was too good to pass up.
    "I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Grandfather did, as opposed to screaming in terror like his passengers."
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,964 ✭✭✭✭✭
    An 1888 dollar in MS-90 that actually grades AG-3. We should have known that ACG would win this contest.

    To parphrase Harry Truman, "It is the president of the counterfeit club ... they've got no compeption.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • keithdagenkeithdagen Posts: 2,025 ✭
    Bill,

    Last show I went to, a dealer showed me a MS-67 ACG Liberty Nickel, that honestly graded GD-04. I knew they were bad, but now they are getting blatant.
    Keith ™

  • clackamasclackamas Posts: 5,615 ✭
    Worst error I have had is PCGS leaving out the color designation on a Lincoln cent. I believe Braddick owns it now.
  • braddickbraddick Posts: 23,970 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have a PCI "FN15" "Die Set Up" 1964 Kennedy that upon an attempted cross PCGS says, "Nope, looks like a Dremel Coin to us...".

    peacockcoins

  • dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭
    SEE the old thread where i had a pcgs vf-35 buffalo re-graded by anacs as f-12.

    K S
  • ElcontadorElcontador Posts: 7,523 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I enjoy this thread.

    1) Clackamas - A large % of older slabbed RB Unc. large cents would be in
    BN holders if they were slabbed today. My words of wisdom re old
    copper is that if isn't at least 90% RD, don't buy it as RD, and if it
    isn't at least 40% RD, don't buy it as RB, just to be safe.

    2) Here is it.......

    I was at a Goldberg viewing session a year ago February. An older guy
    next to me looks at a coin, starts laughing, and says, "how'd you like
    to see a real expensive piece of plastic?"

    I said, "sure, I'll look at it." I saw a 1796 either Large or Half
    Cent with Pole (sorry, I don't pay much attention to coins THAT
    expensive) encapsulated by PCGS & listed as AU 55. The thing was so
    worn -- and I can tell the difference between wear and a poorly struck
    coin -- that I don't think it was a VF coin.

    Other than that, I'll occasionally see a SLQ slabbed as FH when it's not even close to that designation. What I find upsetting are the at least 10 MS 64 & 5 lifeless, dipped-out, unattractive Trade & Seated $s I've seen (have never seen a Seated $ in MS 64 or 5 or a Trade $ in MS 65 that I thought was attractive for the grade).
    "Vou invadir o Nordeste,
    "Seu cabra da peste,
    "Sou Mangueira......."

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