PCGS graders influenced by coins graded before yours???

misterR

Are PCGS graders influenced by the coins they are grading before your coins? I'm convinced that all the "perfect" modern proofs that the PCGS graders are viewing are causing them to be tougher on the regular business strikes. Anyone else agree with this?

eagle7

No I dont think that at all. I do think and it has been talked about by other people in the coin collecting community that the graders are tougher on coins that are the most common. For example the common date Morgan Dollars like the 80-S are graded harder than a mint state 86-O. But this is a very small range I think. These are only my thoughts and heresay, Im not employed by one of the grading services so I dont really know for sure.

Outhaul

Common date or rare date should not matter. An MS-63 Morgan should be an MS-63 Morgan no matter what the date is. Same holds true for any other issue. Just my opinion, even though it is probably far from reality. But I can see a grader sitting there thinking to him/herself...Hmmm...it's an MS-64, but that would triple its value over an MS-63...better have a closer look.

I've had many coins come back right at the price break when they clearly should have made the grade. Graders should be less concerned about the pricing structure and more concerned about being fair. Oh, yeah...I'm certain it helps who the submitter is, no matter WHAT the services say. Coin graders...harummph

Cheers,

Bob

CharlieB

Who really knows what goes on behind those closed doors unless you
have been a grader? I try and never submit more than two of the same
coins, say from a roll. I know dealers who tell me they break open a
roll and submit the whole thing hoping for a few 66's and that 67.
My opinion would be that the graders would be influenced by the
previous coins graded that day, especially in the same submission.
It's hard for me to believe that a super MS66 1935-D quarter graded
a few minutes before yours isn't going to make it just a little
bit tougher for your super 1935-D to get that MS66 too by the same graders.

boiler78

eagle7- I think the opposite is true. I think the grading services are harder on the rare dates and loose on the common coins where there is little "spread" in price for the next higher grade. I collect ten indians and most of the 1926 and 1932 coins in ms 65 holders are not as nice as the key dates that I see in 63 holders.

kranky

At the ANA grading class I took, one instructor made the comment that key dates might be graded a little looser in circulated grades, but tougher in the MS grades.

asnooker

Well that's not right! If it's a 63, it's still a 63 no matter what date it has on it!

Outhaul

asnooker4...my point exactly

Cheers,

Bob

prooflike

The 80-S is typically strongly struck while the 86-O is typically weakly struck, possibly mint strike quality is taken into account?

eagle7

Yes, surely strike is taken into account. That is one of the four grading elements. Strike, surfaces,eye appeal and luster, although not necessarly in that order. This is from the official ANA grading standards book fourth edition. In ms63 the strike is not a factor no matter what the date of the coin. It is true that different date Morgan Dollars look different than other dates and what might be an exceptional 86-O may be just a ho hum 79-s. This is also taken into account. This is according to what I have read in the ANA book and the VAM book, if one wants to know where the information may be found.

Steve27

While I agree with the sentiments expressed by asnooker and Outhaul, I believe there are different grading standards for CC Morgans vice all other mint marks. I've heard the claim that this is to account for the fact that CC's tend to have more bag marks than other years.

BillJones

It’s been my experience that PCGS and NGC are tougher on most better date Mint State coins than they are on common date Mint State pieces. The graders are well aware that the difference of a point or two can have a dramatic affect on the value of some better date coins. Therefore I have seen them more often than not grade these pieces on the conservative side.

Conversely, some common coins like the 1881-S silver dollars get bulk graded. Here the grader is given a roll of coins or more. If the coins meet a certain number like MS-64, they get graded and the submitter is charged for them. If the coin does not make the grade, the coin is returned ungraded at no charge. The net result is a loosening of standards, which explains why I see MS-64 common date Morgans in MS-65 holders.

michael

grading is an extremely subjective art

and even much much moreso

when you throw in a grading for profit business into the picture

sincerely michael

crito

I'd have to agree with CharlieB, and have heard similar dealer comments. I'd also wager more than a few AT coins make it through that way too. Odds must be better sending in a "questionable" Morgan with other toned coins, as opposed to the lone monster in an otherwise all white submission.