What happens to my coins at PCGS?

poorguy

What do my coins go through at PCGS to get graded. Here's all I know:

1. My package is recieved by PCGS.

2. I get an email that they have recieved it.

3. My coins get graded.

4. They send an email telling me my coins have been graded.

5. They ship my coins back.

Could someone please elaborate on the process PCGS goes through regarding the grading of coins.

kieferscoins

Oops, wrong thread.

Cameron Kiefer

JrGMan2004

You forgot: "Sit in a vault for 1/4 of the year"

poorguy

Umm, thanks Cameron. So they have 8-9 graders.

Give me a description, through the eyes of a submitted coin, of what it goes through when it goes into the doors of PCGS.

LanLord

Between steps 2 and 3 they play tiddly-winks with them, then an hour or so of pitching pennies (or what ever denom they were).

Okay, I really don't know, I just wanted to give you something to consider.

Sandhawk

Somewhere during Step 3, the graders place a fingerprint on the obverse and reverse of coin for future identification !!

edited for spelling

nankraut

Poorguy: Looks like you have all the activity covered. What else do you need to know? I think, overall, that PCGS is doing a great job, and is a definite help for ordinary (non-dealer) collectors like me, who isn't an "expert" at coin grading/counterfiet detection. If I didn't think so, I wouldn't use their services. To those who keep bashing PCGS, here's the solution: stop using their services.

poorguy

There has to be some method to the madness of grading millions of coins by only 8 or 9 graders.

Do they split the order up and send to graders in that specialization, say moderns or small denomination gold?

Does the order come in and sit in a vault until it is shoveled out and set in a big "In-Box" at a grader's table?

Does the grader grade all of your order at once? How long does each grader look at each of your coins?

poorguy

Does the grader him/herself put the coin in the holder? Do they have "interns" that help out the graders when there is an overload of coins to be graded?

Steve27

1. My package is recieved by PCGS.

1A. Someone checks the package contents and enters the info into the computer.

2. I get an email that they have recieved it.

2A. Someone removes the packaging and places the raw coins on a tray.

2B. The tray is eventually brought into the grading room.

3. My coins get graded.

3A. The "finalizer" determines if everything is proper (I suspect he determines if there is "questionable" toning)

3B. The grade information and slab numbers are entered into the computer.

3C. Slab inserts are printed, and together with the raw coins, they are sent into the sealing room.

3D. The coins are placed in rubber rings, these are then placed in slabs along with the inserts, and the slabs are sonically sealed (sound-waves create heat which melts the plastic).

4. They send an email telling me my coins have been graded.

(Sometimes 5 happens before 4.)


5. They ship my coins back.

MJPHELAN

I have seen a handout from PCGS that explains the steps with photos included. I think it came with my membership package one year.

mark

poorguy

Steve, that was pretty much the answer I was looking for. -Thanks

jeffnpcb

I think that your coins spend a great deal of time complaining about how cold and dark it is in the vault! The trully scared ones are body-bagged for AT or color. That's from turning pink and blue from the cold!

lava

<< <i>Poorguy: Looks like you have all the activity covered. What else do you need to know? I think, overall, that PCGS is doing a great job, and is a definite help for ordinary (non-dealer) collectors like me, who isn't an "expert" at coin grading/counterfiet detection. If I didn't think so, I wouldn't use their services. To those who keep bashing PCGS, here's the solution: stop using their services. >>

ElectricEye

Right now four of my Morgans are wondering how that dam (misspelled to confuse the children that read the boards) Kennedy got in the box and how to get rid of it.

poorguy

ElectricEye,

What are you talking about?

mgoodm3

This is the crossover dept. hard at work cracking out your coin for an upgrade.