Why doesn't PCGS

numonebuyer

Why doesn't PCGS produce a book for each coin type with nice color pictures (obverse and reverse - at 100% and perhaps 200%) of each of its PCGS Grading Sets? A combination book (one each for cents, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars, dollars, etc.) would also be good, but it would be rather large.



<< <i>The Grading Set contains coins that visually illustrate the PCGS standards, and the entire set is examined by each grader on a weekly basis. Many of the coins in this set have been there since 1986, with new specimens being added when especially good examples of a particular grade are found." >>

- OFFICIAL Guide To Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection, First Edition Page 24.

I would certainly buy one for Morgan Silver Dollars.

airplanenut

It would probably cost way too much and take too much time--remember, that would mean collectors would only buy the book of their specialty, and overall, the sales wouldn't be that high, IMO.

Jeremy

numonebuyer

I must respectfully disagree with Airplanenut. It would not cost much at all (compared to books requiring significant editorial comment). It would cost the time to photograph all of the coins. I also believe that books with this information would attract the same group interested in most of my other coin books.

FC57Coins

Why don't you ask HRH on the Q&A boards?

numonebuyer

I have asked the question on the Q&A board. I didn't get a very serious response.

FrattLaw

Oh sure, I'm sure PCGS would love to let the world know exactly how it grades. Then there would have to be consistency and uniformity in their grading. Why in the world would they want that? It would kill their resubmission business and not allow them to change their grading practices to confirm to market conditions which ultimately drives their business.

And you wonder why Hall didn't answer your question honestly. Once the genie is out of the bottle, it's hard to get him back in.

Michael

PutTogether

Besides, can you imagine all the "my coin is CLEARLY better than the one in your 'grading' book" Phone calls emails and bricks with notes through the window he'd get?

I'd love the book actually, but I can 100 percent see why the wouldnt want to do it.

MFH

Although I can understand why PCGS would be hesitant in producing such a series of books, it would be nice to have them in the dozen or so sets I collect.

mr1931S

It is unwise to allow the camel to come into the tent.

Gonfunko

Why not make it yourself? Just go to F.U.N. next year with your camera.....Looks like you'd have a couple grand already at $20 per book.

TUMUSS

<< <i>It is unwise to allow the camel to come into the tent. >>



I look at it as.... It is unwise not let the camel know where the tent is!

nwcs

Remember, a picture does not always accurately represent the grade of a coin. In fact, it rarely gets it right. After I took the grading class, I was struck by how different it is to grade with the coin in hand versus a picture of one.

dlimb2

Right on Fratt! You hit the nail on the head.

perfectstrike

I don't believe PCGS has a grading set for every series. From the way homerunhall avoids a specific answer every time the question arises on the Q&A board, plus listing only $15K of value "grading set coins" in the quarterly report, I don't see another possible conclusion.

perfectstrike

mgoodm3

Maybe the grading set is all SBA's. He wouldn't want that to get out.

MrEureka

I'm sure PCGS would love to let the world know exactly how it grades. Then there would have to be consistency and uniformity in their grading.



For all it's worth, I believe HRH when he says they're too busy grading coins to take on a project like this. However, there's nothing stopping anyone else from publishing a website with a virtual grading set illustrated by PCGS coins. Frankly, I'm surprised that nobody has done that yet.

Shamika

I would buy such a publication for several series.

FrattLaw

TTT



Michael

Myqqy

I've also wondered about what PCGS's grading set(s) look like, and why grading standards shift over time if the set remains the same. Even though pictures don't often tell the full story with a coin's grade, I would love to have that type of reference for home....

boyhowdy

If they did that a lot of potential submitters would start to buy the coin instead of the plastic.

Steve

coynclecter

PCGS learned that once all the major coin had been graded thier business crashed. The only way to keep it alive was resubmissions and the only reason to resubmit was to get a higher grade. Now that this has started it will never end. Gradflation is here to stay. so dont expect them to every commit to a strict set of standards. They are in business to make money. As soon as all the coins have been resubmitted and income has died down, the gradeflation will begin again.