Grading Standards in Different Countries

ozzie101

I recently decided to start collecting coins - again and this time I'll collect whatever I want rather than trying to put together a set of a or a set of b.

That being said, after doing a bunch of reading, visiting several coin shops here in Australia, going to several coin shows in Australia, and buying several slabbed coins on E-Bay I am wondering how much the grading standards in countries differs.

I bought several Australian sovereigns and find that the slabs from PCGS in MS 61 - 63 wouldn't really be considered "UNC" here in Australia.

I wonder if any of you have had similar experiences with coins from other countries.

To test my theory, over the next couple of months I am planning on buying several coins here in Australia.
that are considered "Choice Unc" or "Gem Unc" and then sending them off for grading to either NGC or PCGS. I wonder what grade they will come back as????

Would PCGS or NGC be a better choice? Which would you pick ?

Compa

Well, since these boards are paid for by PCGS ... PCGS of course!

In defense of the grading you are seeing, Uncirculated means just that. Not having been in circulation. They can look pretty bad, lots of bag marks but the key is NO WEAR on even the highest points. That's an MS60-62.

wybrit

Welcome to the forum! You are correct about different grading standards. There have been a lot of threads on that subject posted here.

I'm not so sure that the standards are a function of country anymore. For example, the British standard is much tougher than that used here in the US, but is it still applied?

Many sellers in the UK actually adhere to the standard, where "EF" or "gEF" could be assigned to a slabbed coin as high as MS-64. A lot of others have gone down that same slippery slope that many ebay sellers have done, using "white collar overgrading" tactics, whether intentional or not.

IMO any of the big three (PCGS, NGC and ANACS) would do a comparable job on grading your material. The first two will not encase problem coins. ANACS will encase some types of problem coins, but will note the problem on the label. Others here can do a more thorough analysis of which might work best - I don't slab enough coins to provide a definitive answer.

MacCrimmon

If you want the most consistent, strictest U.S. "unc" standards applied to your Aussie gold sovs., etc., send them to PCGS or ANACS (ANACS will tend to grade these more technically; meaning lower grades). I'm not saying this because this is a PCGS board; it's fact. If selling is your goal, then PCGS will receive higher prices. If your name is Eliasberg, you'll get even higher prices....... --- those were nice coins, eh?

I've have seen an untold number of high-end AU coins in NGC holders graded as MS60-63 holders. My feeling is that if the coin isn't worth mega multiples between MS63 and MS66, they don't much care.

That said, I'll tell you this; the 1838 VYH Sov. presently in a PCGS MS66 holder is considerably overgraded. It's a nice MS65 about 60% of the time, a very, very choice MS64 about 38% of the time, and if you get lucky (2% of the time) it might turn into an MS66.

PCGS coins in 60-63 holders are going to show hairlines as well as the usual amount of bag marks; after all, gold is soft. It is soft to the extent that it doesn't take much slipping and sliding in canvas bags to create hairlines, and hairlines are not always wear on gold coins (it's the amount of hairlining where they draw the line), and they are holdered accordingly.

But a profusion of hairlines, especially in the fields, coupled with slight discolorations on the high points of the devices, is what should separate a "technical" AU from a slabbed MS61 or 62.

Good "luck" on your submissions.....we all need a little from time to time.

GDJMSP

I would disagree - I think PCGS makes far more mistakes and overgrades than NGC does when it comes to world coinage. In particular with older world coinage.

MacCrimmon

I was speaking to 19th and 20th century (pre-WWII) gold.

ozzie101

Thanks for all the great replies.

Last weekend I went to the Melbourne (Australia) ANDA stamp and coin show.

Saw lots of modern Australian stuff such as mint sets and other modern material turned out by the mint here.

Didn't see much US material and then most of it was common, overgraded, and overpriced. I did see something that made me want to cry. One dealer's US material was all nice and bright. Shined just like it had been minted yesterday. Especially the 1838 Bust half and the SLQ's.....I wonder who took the SOS pad to the coins?

As far as I can recall I didn't see one slabbed coin either foreign or US. Maybe they were hidden in the back....

Only bought one coin (a 1982 Proof Canadian dollar which looks almost perfect) and a bunch of stamps - yes I am also an avid stamp collector. Did much better in that area at the show.

A good learning experience and I am looking forward to going to more shows in the future.