PCGS VS NGC graded Barber quarters
ARCO
Posts: 4,396 ✭✭✭✭✭
Many opinions are posted on the merits of either service as being superior to the other. Here are two coins (Key date Barber quarters) listed on JJteaparty's web site. Barber's are generally very straightforward and relatively easy to grade from AG3-XF45.
PCGS VG8 PCGS graded 1896-S
NGC VG8 NGC graded 1896-S
To merit a VG8 grade a Barber coin MUST; have three letters of LIBERTY complete (usually it is the LI & Y). Secondly it MUST have complete rims both obverse and reverse. If you notice the PCGS graded coin, the graders have been very gracious to award this key date (and expensive)a VG8 without ANY letters of LIBERTY present, and without a complete rim on the reverse. In contrast, the NGC coin has graded another of the same date, the same VG8 grade with 5 letters partially visible and details bursting off the coin everywhere for a VG8.
The moral of the story? ALL the grading services have some graders who smoke crack cocaine from time to time while at work, pulling down a six figure income as the "supposed" grading experts.
Edited to note: of course, thanks to Goose's observations, it is possible that JJ teaparty has mixed up the pics on their website. They did buy about 10 examples of this key date and maybe they have attributed the wrong pic to the coin.
PCGS VG8 PCGS graded 1896-S
NGC VG8 NGC graded 1896-S
To merit a VG8 grade a Barber coin MUST; have three letters of LIBERTY complete (usually it is the LI & Y). Secondly it MUST have complete rims both obverse and reverse. If you notice the PCGS graded coin, the graders have been very gracious to award this key date (and expensive)a VG8 without ANY letters of LIBERTY present, and without a complete rim on the reverse. In contrast, the NGC coin has graded another of the same date, the same VG8 grade with 5 letters partially visible and details bursting off the coin everywhere for a VG8.
The moral of the story? ALL the grading services have some graders who smoke crack cocaine from time to time while at work, pulling down a six figure income as the "supposed" grading experts.
Edited to note: of course, thanks to Goose's observations, it is possible that JJ teaparty has mixed up the pics on their website. They did buy about 10 examples of this key date and maybe they have attributed the wrong pic to the coin.
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Comments
Sadly, it will be a VG forever; that one, I think it's safe to say, will never be cracked out.
<< <i>ALL the grading services have some graders who smoke crack cocaine from time to time while at work, pulling down a six figure income as the "supposed" grading experts >>
I'm sorry but thats a harsh statement. Maybe they got it wrong. It happens at both services and we know it..... but crack cocaine? come on.
Cameron Kiefer
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
The NGC coin is superior to the PCGS coin. I'm surprised at this grading comparison. I always thought PCGS was the tougher TPG service. I'd never buy the PCGS coin as a VG8. Its a G6 - and that's a gift, considering I have been involved with Barbers for over forty years and I grade conservatively.
Edit: Spell check
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Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
Here's the PCGS G-4:
In contrast, here was their VG-8:
Is it my imagination, or is the G-4 coin ($324 cheaper) clearly the nicer coin?
Cameron, circulated Barbers are probably the easiest series to grade in numismatics...and I exaggerate not. PCGS graders make a lot of money and represent the top tier company in the business. Key date Barber quarters are very expensive. Maybe I was a bit harsh, lets downgrade the crack cocaine remark to; a marijuana joint with six shots of rum, and a sleepless night out cruising for prostitutes. Better?
Tyler
Cameron Kiefer
<< <i>:I always thought PCGS was the tougher TPG service. >>
LMAO!
Life Member Pensacola Numismatic Society
Collector of All Things Numismatic
I'm going to go out on a limb and say they got those pictures mixed up on the latter pair.
and always on a bell curve most all ngc/pcgs are correctly graded either solid or low or high end for the grade
a few are overgraded and a few are undergraded and a few should not even be in holders!!!!
michael
I just hope it's a really bad pic, and there really are some letters in LIBERTY showing (as well as a few other details). Maybe the photographer was drunk?
As far as the pics being accidentally switched...I don't think that explains it. You can clearly see enough of the case in the PCGS example to know it's PCGS plastic.
Just another case of "buy the coin, not the holder, stay away from the Kool-Aid".
Dave
I usually go for the choicer coin, but I'm not sure I'd want to pay VG8 money for the PCGS coin. I see Teaparty has priced it lower than the NGC coin at the same grade level, which makes sense.
Quite an interesting hoard here - congrats to the Teaparty folks on getting the deal.