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Artificially inflating grade point average

tjkilliantjkillian Posts: 5,578 ✭✭✭
in PCGS Set Registry Forum
I was looking at my type set and noticed that my average grade was much lower than all the folks around me. Simple math said that my three lowest graded coins were a serious drag on my grade point average. I removed those coins and my average shot up an average of nearly 5 points. The coins I removed are not easy coins, nor cheap coins, nor boring coins, just low grade. My overall points went down only one point and my % complete only went down 1%. Should I be worried about my grade point average?

Tom
Tom

Comments

  • EVillageProwlerEVillageProwler Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Should I be worried about my grade point average?

    No. No point scoring system is perfect. If you feel that it's imperfect, then work to address the imperfection. However, I've come to the understanding that most registry participants are still collectors deep down. If that's the case, then I strongly suggest that you not abrogate your coin collecting desires with registry point accumulation desires.

    JMO,

    EVP

    How does one get a hater to stop hating?

    I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com

  • CarlWohlforthCarlWohlforth Posts: 11,074 ✭
    Oh, by all means remove those coins from your registry set image

    Just because I am the next guy down the list has absolutely nothing to do with the prior statement image LOL

    Seriously are we talking about the complete type set? If so I don't believe it has been weighed yet. In any case go for the total points, not the grade average. The grade average only matters when comparing compete sets. When you add those low grade coins back in your total points do go up a little so your set will rank higher. Once it is weighed you will get more bang for your buck on those coins. At least this is what I told myself when I added my Liberty Cap Half Cent image
    Carl's Coins website w/ links to Carl's auctions
  • tjkilliantjkillian Posts: 5,578 ✭✭✭
    Carl, I've been watching your set continuously. Those few coins don't add a lot to my total points. It certainly won't effect my ranking. In fact, I was thinking about holding them in reserve and if I go close to the next (upper or lower) rank, to pull them out of my hip pocket.

    Tom
    Tom

  • EVillageProwlerEVillageProwler Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That's a new tactic: holding reserves so you can spring it on your opponent suddenly! Is this a course offered by the U.S. Military Academy?

    image

    EVP

    How does one get a hater to stop hating?

    I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com

  • CarlWohlforthCarlWohlforth Posts: 11,074 ✭
    Those would be nice coins to pull out of your hip pocket!!!

    They certainly would make more of an impact when this set gets weighted.

    I bought and added an AU Large Cent because it has been so long since I added something to that set... It was fun, I have been looking at Cameron Kiefer's type coins on eBay to maybe pick up another AU coin, but he has been doing well with his auctions.
    Carl's Coins website w/ links to Carl's auctions
  • RobgettyRobgetty Posts: 1,112
    Personally, I don't think that a person should worry about the
    grade point average until they are very near completion. If you
    have a rare coin, by all means list it. It will just make people like
    me that much more envious of people like you!! If I get a hard coin,
    than it is going in the set! I probably should do something about
    my G-4 Lib. Seated Half, but my Poor-01 Chain Cent is one of my
    favorite coins of everything in my collection!!!
    Go ahead and put the others back in. So what if you end up with
    an average under the 60's.
    Robert Getty - Lifetime project to complete the finest collection of 1872 dated coins.
  • mdwoodsmdwoods Posts: 5,547 ✭✭✭
    Should I be worried about my grade point average?

    Tom, please send those bothersome coins to me and let me do the worrying for you!!!image
    National Register Of Big Trees

    We'll use our hands and hearts and if we must we'll use our heads.
  • KeyrockKeyrock Posts: 961 ✭
    Never!!!

    Its about coins not points. I just recently added a 1810/09 F15 to my type set and it pulled me down too however I think its a great coin. If you play the number games you will drive yourself crazy.
  • tompkinstompkins Posts: 413
    Adding coins can NEVER reduce your total grade. Think about it for a minute. As far as the total grade is concerned, you are getting zero points for the coins you are missing. The average grade is kind of a meaningless number, since it is the average for the coins you have, excluding the ones you aremissing. So yes, if you add a coin, this number might go down, but the total grade will always go up.

    The real dilemma might be if you have a rare dat coin, say a 1912-S or an 1877 Indian Head penny in, lets say for sake of argument, MS65; and then you also have a common date in MS67. The common date will help your total grade in a type set, but the rare date is a nicer coin to showcase. so do you include the rare coin and sacrifice the total grade, or do you list the common coin to maximize your total grade?

    Pete
    My coins
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