TPG grading, proofs vs. business strikes...

coinpictures

Just got a pair of coins in the mail today (sorry no pics) that got me scratching my head. One is a Fiji Penny, 1930, NGC MS66. The other is a Great Britain 1/2 Crown, 1937. NGC PF64.

The first thing that struck me was "Wow! That halfcrown only made 64???" I compared it to a number of other certified proofs I have and comparatively speaking, this should be at least a 66.

Do TPGs take a tougher line on proofs than on business strikes? The two coins here are only 3 serial numbers apart, so they must have been graded as part of the same batch. I see far more hits on the Fiji MS66 than on the British piece. Is that just part of the deal, proofs held to a higher standard? Do proofs get points deducted above a certain grade if they *don't* exhibit cameo contrast?

Also, are TPGs more likely to give higher grades to rarer pieces? This halfcrown is very common as proofs go.

I'm tempted to send this coin to one of the photography experts here on the board to get pics of, because I've tried, and I can't do it justice.

spinaker2000

I have no idea. They may be holding them to US proof standards, ie. mirrored surfaces, cameo devices. I too have had proofs that looked much better than the grade received.

ajaan

My experience is TPGs are really hard on proofs. Any hairlines and the coin gets killed, especially if it is silver.

3Mark

<< <i>My experience is TPGs are really hard on proofs. Any hairlines and the coin gets killed, especially if it is silver. >>



Hairlines are the kiss of death for proofs.3Mark

ccrdragon

proofs are held to a MUCH higher standard than circ strikes - marks that would hold a circ strike to 66 or 65 will kill a proof and drop it into the 63 range