grader vs. collector (grader)

lincolnSence

Thanks again David. I read alot about how PCGS missed this grade or that grade on the forums. With respect to the highest graded coins of any given series, what are your thoughts about collector representations that they really know what a coin should grade when the pops are so small. Do the graders have an advantage here?

homerunhall

Some collectors have good grading skills, some are pretty clueless. I recently received a review from a person who was very vocal on the message boards...put a scan up of the coin...how could we body bag his beautiful coin, etc., etc.???? When the coin came in it was a whiz job...noticable at arms length!

Most of the PCGS graders have graded millions of coins at PCGS. They are world class experts. They sit in a dark room and grade coins all day under ideal lighting conditions. While we do make occassional mistakes, there is no way a collector can out do a PCGS grader. The smart collectors should learn from the PCGS grading experience...talk to the PCGS graders at shows if they see them.

Perhaps we should give grading seminars...Perhaps we can help you all more...I think I'd really like to see collectors get a chance to talk to the PCGS graders once in a while, because if you spent some time talking to them you'd realize what I do...these guys are really, really good at what they do.