Perhaps PCGS should hire some qualified Forum members as graders

Bear

In addition, instead of splitting up graders into Modern and Classical coins,

maybe they should have experts on Dollars and other high volume series of coins.

In addition, an expert on AT and doctored coins should be available, like a medical specialist

at the hospital. Bear

wondercoin

Bear: "Consultants" would make a great deal of sense, actually.

The grading companies image has essentially been that they are the "experts" and nearly no one else in the entire country comes close to them (except perhaps a couple dozen folks who rarely complain). However, the post-1931 coinage has opened up myriad new areas of specialization, which many of these experts ADMIT they know nearly nothing about. For example, a "world class eye" on DH's list who I do a great deal of business with is the first to admit he is not an expert on SMS coins. Another recently asked me about Ty 1 and Ty 2 SBA's and how to tell the difference. Of course, these "experts" well versed in 18th and 19th century coinage would most certainly have difficulty understanding the intracacies of Ike Dollars or even modern Jefferson nickels as well as every other modern coin out there.

I agree with you Bear - it's time the grading companies consider the idea of specialized consultants to assist them with the "modern classics"/"classic moderns", etc. Wondercoin

bulloncoins

Do PCGS graders not specialize in certain types and series? If not, I would think this would be one of the main reasons for the "inconsistent" grades we have read so much about.

Does anyone ( like ANA) certify these people?

If so, are they required to re-certify ever so often?

keets

i'm assuming they already have qualified graders for all that you've mentioned. perhaps the time has come to let this dog sleep for awhile. my sense is that the problem we keep chasing is not as great as we make it out to be. give time a little more time, please.

al h.

billiardmaster

Travis,
It used to be that graders had to pass a test at PCGS by grading coins that were there to be graded.
I do not know if that is still the case. I know many of the big names in the business flunked the test.
Took it myself and came close enough they asked me to take it again. After a six hour drive across LA, I did
not want to live there again. So never went back. My mistake. The ANA is a little to , well, I don't trust
them at all.
Rusty

Baley

keets, once again you say something that looks like it came from the laidback guy in the icon picture!

I'm with you, there's no hurry for a collector who buys and holds coins

all the rush comes from someone who wants something NOW...
such as to sell coins for more profit today and tomorrow, not in 10 or 25 years.
buyers/holders are generally a content lot.

it's the active traders that want what they want, and they want it NOW!

dragon

I know a few people also that took and flunked the PCGS grader test. One reason they told me they flunked was because they thought they were supposed to grade the coins the way PCGS does (whatever their current standard was at the time). In fact, PCGS did NOT want them to do that, they wanted them to assign grades that were consistent with their published standards or grading sets (much more conservative) rather than what was consistent with what they perceived PCGS's current grading standards were at the time........or so they told me.

dragon

gmarguli

The big problem with this is that PCGS (and the other services) want you to be able to grade ALL types of coins. I'm sure there are several forum members that are experts in a few series, but not all series.

How hard would it be for the average experienced forum member to grade a Morgan dollar? Probably very easy. Now stick a $3 gold piece in front of them. They probably wouldn't have a clue.

ah

keets and baley bring good judgement calls to this flogging session.

BIGDAVE

They should Hire Russ for kennedy's
and Lucy for Franklin Halve's

braddick

PCI attempted this with their "Signature Series" a few years ago with dismal results.

But, I'm sure PCGS would have more and better success.

ksteelheader

keets and baley..............Thumbs up to you!!!!!!!!!.........Ken

kieferscoins

<< <i>But, I'm sure PCGS would have more and better success. >>



I bet not. How many people would be willing to move to Newport beach and grade coins all day? Collecting coins and know about the series is something, but grading is different. Just because someone responds to every post about what they collect dosen't mean they can grade (including myself - board members have straight up told me that).

Cameron Kiefer