Grading Standards

dlimb2

There comes a time when Grading Services want to be the top dog in the business and attain the greatest amount of money for their plastic...but when they tighten up or loosen up then where does that leave the coins...Why would I want to get my coins graded by a Grading Service when I can guess the ball park grade of my coins myself....How do they feel they are providing the Collectors a service when the coins are either over graded or under graded...The Real Reason for the Grading Services was to grade the Coins accurate the first time...not the second or third... to produce a market for sellers and buyers to purchase Coins sight unseen...now with the mis conception of such grading practices you just might as well leave them raw....

Russ

Karl will want to give you a big hug.

Russ, NCNE

Fairlaneman

If what I collect was available in the Raw State your suggestion would work just fine. They are not so the Plastic Things are bought but only if the coins are graded correctly or under graded, most of the time.

If stuff was collected after 1945 for sure your suggestion would be used...

Ken

MrEureka

Why would I want to get my coins graded by a Grading Service when I can guess the ball park grade of my coins myself

TPG grades are not guesses. They're opinions. The word "guess" implies that there is a correct grade. Karl will be happy to explain why that that is not the case.

But to answer your question more directly, maybe it's because you have more faith in their "guess" than in your own? If so, and with all due respect, that's probably wise.

nwcs

<< <i>But to answer your question more directly, maybe it's because you have more faith in their "guess" than in your own? If so, and with all due respect, that's probably wise. >>

That's it in a nutshell.

dlimb2

No, I do not trust them that is the whole point...if they can not grade them fairly and accurately the first time what is the use of graded coins...the best thing to do is to learn to grade raw and learn what is the better deal for yourself.

MrEureka

the best thing to do is to learn to grade raw and learn what is the better deal for yourself.

Of course, but that takes years if not decades. Most people would not want to wait that long before starting to buy coins.

cladking

Grading standards is an interesting title. There are no standards except market standards.
The services do get most coins right the first time but then the market standards evolve. If
you want standards to stay the same just get all collectors to continue to see coins the same
way all the time until the end of time. It will really simplify things for the graders.

If this doesn't sound doable then we can all just stop expecting the graders to do the impossible.
We could ask them for an actual grade of the coin's attributes and its current market value. This
has little appeal to collectors since they wouldn't be able to open up a price guide and glance at the
current price. So instead we complain about the TPG's and there inability to rank a coin for all time.

tjkillian

Another big advantage of PCGS/NGC/ANACS is that they will authenticate your coins too. Some counterfeits are GOOD. Even Karl will agree on this, especially with gold coins.

Tom

MrEureka

There are no standards except makrket standards.

CladKing - "Market standards"??? Never heard of them. Please explain.

cladking

"market standards" was just another way of saying price. Each of us has our own
set of standards we apply to coins and it is this which ultimately determines the value
of coins.

I'll try harder to stick to real words a phrases in the future.

Russ

<< <i>Of course, but that takes years if not decades. >>



No, it doesn't. That's just something dealers and grading companies want collectors to believe. It may take a long time to become proficient at every series, but if one's focus is reasonably narrow one can learn to grade quite well in a relatively short period of time.

Russ, NCNE

dlimb2

Yes Andy there are coins I would not attempt to grade...but what I collect it is fairly easy and I find some grading of these coins over or undergraded which is rediculous...I can see the very very old Classics and yes there are counterfits which I would not touch...but moderns they are fairly easy to grade....I just can not see people cracking them out and resubmitting... it is screwing up the numbers...

MrEureka

if one's focus is reasonably narrow one can learn to grade quite well in a relatively short period of time.

There's some truth to that. Depends on the series. You can learn how to grade proof Ike dollars in a week. Learning to grade Connecticut cents would take years.

NoGvmnt

Quit being so cheap.

Just pick out the best five frankies, decide what you would grade them, then send them in and see what the real grade is like I said.

To answer your question, you send them in for grading so your potential buyers don't have to worry whether they can trust your grading abilities.

The standards aren't changing so much as they are being perfected.

Jim

JRocco

My opinion is that when one can see and handle the coin in person, a grading service is not needed (once one does their homework). With the recent explosion of buying coins, for example, over the internet- sight unseen (a picture is real close to sight unseen), then a slabbed coin from one of the major players can help.

dlimb2

Jim I am not being cheap...I am going to send all my great Frankies in...For what they are is what they are...and no grading service can change that...but the one's that only have great value....Frank Has to see them first and this is the reason I have not sent them in...I know they grade high...its why I bought them....hehehehehe

dlimb2

Plus I do not plan on sellig them...they are keepers....