I just don't get this grading thing....(A mild rant)

FC57Coins

By now you know my 1949S Franklin - the prooflike one. It's just as described in the Ehrmantraut book - for those of you unfamiliar with it here it is:



So, I took the coin down to FUN and showed to David Lang who's supposed to be "the" expert on moderns - He agreed that it was a prooflike. Showed to one other NGC grader - Bill (can't remember his last name) and he said yeah - but I'm worried about the toning spot on the back - could be PVC - They recommended sending it to NCS and then for grading. Fair enough - I'll take a chance. I really wasn't expecting the PL designation, even after their assessment - I figure I'm nobody, why should they give me this prize, but, the coin has a little haze, and in all honesty I thought it looked better than "the one" they have graded PL. For those who don't remember that one here are both coins:



So - I send the coin in - I wait. Today I get the grade:

001 1949 S 50C MS 66* FBL

What does this mean? - It means - I have the highest graded 1949S half at NGC - Higher I guess than the PL one, because that one is only a 66FBL, but mine's not a PL. I guess I have to settle for the fact that they think it's "pretty" - I have to laugh because it just goes to show how screwy the grading services can be. I thought you'd enjoy this rant

jeffnpcb

DOG, I stay confused over the PL designation on all MS coins. My Chevette is Corvette like is a good analogy. Congradulations on the 66* FBL! It looks great!

foodude

Frank,

As you know I saw your coin at the FUN show, and I still like it PL or no PL designation The surfaces of your coin do not look like other '49-S. I recently sent a '59 to NGC trying to get the PL designation, and I didn't get it either. I take it the * is because they thought it was almost PL?

With regard to the 66FBL PL that was in the Heritage FUN auction, did it have much in the way of die polishing? Does yours?

coinguy1

Frank, Bill Conroy is probably the name you were looking for. As for your newly graded coin - it is NOT the highest graded - it just happens to have received the * (deservedly, no doubt) for extra eye-appeal - still not bad though, for a Frankie owned by a Frank.

FC57Coins

It had die polish - not as much as mine though - maybe that's the diff - who knows

FC57Coins

<< <i>it is NOT the highest graded >>



Sorry oh master of detail - I meant to say highest graded 49S over there. And yeah that was him - Bil Conroy

I stand corrected once again - it's tied for the highest grade - but it's the only one with a *

Dahlonega

Rant, Rant and Rerant...Most important thing is your 49-S half is the best I've ever seen and probably the best anyone has ever seen [without a vested interest]. A 49-S half 66FBL with the star is an amazing coin but, most importantly, [to me anyway] your coin is just as amazing raw. Congratulations!

coinkat

The grade is great but I guess I have to just agree with you... I just don't get this grading thing.

fivecents

Congrats on the 1949-S NGC MS66FBL(Star) Frank, But..... You were robbed on that PL designation. I saw the coin and it is PL big time. I hate it when politics enters the grading room. I guess now that the coin has the star designation you won't try to resubmit it.

cladking

Well, it is a great coin.

I don't get this grading thing either but while the reverse of the coin is very PL, the
obverse is not nearly as PL. This may be the reason they wouldn't call it PL.

Kelerag

Crack it out and try PCGS for a 66FBL PL

Shamika

Frank,

Did you send it to NCS? If so, could they have done something to the coin (dipped it?) that might have destroyed the PL surfaces?

CarlWohlforth

Grading is a consensus thing. It sounds like the consensus here is that that coin is great and I agree!

FC57Coins

<< <i>I don't get this grading thing either but while the reverse of the coin is very PL, the
obverse is not nearly as PL. This may be the reason they wouldn't call it PL. >>



Basically I think the bottom line is this. Both NGC and PCGS have this "thing" about calling coins with visible die polish marks "prooflike".

I've had the "unititated" look at the coin and say - "oh look a proof!" Then correct themselves when I tell them the story on the coin. I've compared the coin to some 1950 proofs and it looks better than them in many cases. I've had "experts" tell me - "while it's prooflike, we can't call it prooflike because the prooflike surfaces are mainly due to the die polish marks and WE like nice glassy surfaces like you see on Morgans". And then, I've had "experts" tell me at the FUN show - "yeah - that's a prooflike" so, I guess my point is that the whole thing seems to hinge on getting three people to agree on the issue on any one given day. - I guess the one thing everyone can agree on is that it's an unusua and kinda neat coin