A very simple question about your opinion of yourself and the ability to grade your chosen specialty

keets

Ever since that thread about Modern Market Makers we seem to have been dominated by threads which allude to price differences in the upper grade tiers of a given date/mm within a series. It generally centers around the exponential price jumps and the corresponding minute and supposed undetectable difference in appearance which garners the higher grade and price. My question is this:

When viewing Mint State coins within your Specialty Niche only do you believe you can assign a one point difference in grades??

Al H.

braddick

If PCGS can't do it, why would I think I could? I voted, no.

mgoodm3

I think over the PR64-67 range I do pretty well with indian cents.

Burks

A one point difference? No.

A two point, about 90% of the time.

Cladiator

I voted no because the prices that mint state coins in my "specialty niche" go for are astronomically out of my range. If the poll were about grading in all grades below mint state I'd have voted yes.

BECOKA

For Mine I think the only difficult part is between AU58-MS61 where there is often a 2 point spread, other than that I am pretty sure I could do it. This assumes the standard jumps like 50, 53, 55, 58. I don't think anyone would bother with the inbetween 51,52,54,56,57 etc...

Gemineye

It's Not a simple question
1...You have no time factor
2 ...your biased (maybe)
3.....your relying on one opinion.........

bgrice

What's acceptable to me at a particular grade is not even close to what the graders come up with at times. Either I am way off or they are. I guess they need to get their act together.

Barry

<< <i>If PCGS can't do it, why would I think I could? I voted, no. >>


Excellent answer and I agree.

MacCrimmon

<< <i>

<< <i>If PCGS can't do it, why would I think I could? I voted, no. >>


Excellent answer and I agree. >>




PCGS can't do it as "consistently" as moi because they're grading 999 other coins on the same day. Another huge factor is that I've viewed literally thousands more coins within my "niche" as they have........


P.S. NGC really sucks at 19th c. Swiss and British coinage........just to be fair.

JrGMan2004

Tough to say, because my niche is in circulated coins

But I believe with the more common unc type stuff (Morgans, Mercs, maybe Barbers and Roosies), I feel I am accurate within a point or two

DHeath

yep.

Fairlaneman

<< <i>If PCGS can't do it, why would I think I could? I voted, no. >>



You better add ex-graders to this. I came closer so the vote was yes.

Ken

13PacesEast

nail it every time.

Gandyjai

I would like to think so...inClad Ikes, the only things REALLY worthy to send in are between 64-66...so, it's
a pretty small area.

Brian

I LOVE ERROR & PEG-LEG IKES!

jabba

(2 yes) (1 no)

fc

since i look at half eagles a lot, it is getting very easy
to tell which coins deserve greater than a MS64 grade.

So i think I can tell the difference between a MS 64 and a 65 now days.
business strike half eagles rarely grade higher than ms66 and to be quite
honest I have not viewed many at all!

grip

Yes.But not all series.
A

OffMetal

My specialty is error coins...

...and every series has error coins...

...and I'm not ominscent in grading...

...so I voted no

Longacre

I could not, but who's to say that the TPGs are correct?

mirabela

Put it this way -- I can decide if I'm willing to pay in the price range "assigned" to a given grade. Does that help? Here's what I think I can do -- I can identify what the debate is, i.e. "is this a 63 or a 64? Is this a 55 or a 58? Is this a 64 or a 65?" If the coin is for sale at the low side of that question, I'm willing to buy it.

keets

If PCGS can't do it, why would I think I could?
well, perhaps because you're one person giving an opinion and a grading service is an entity with a multiple of opinions reaching a consensus which can possibly be tainted by self-interest.

It's Not a simple question
1...You have no time factor
2 ...your biased (maybe)
3.....your relying on one opinion.........
some people could complicate going to the bathroom!!

What's acceptable to me at a particular grade is not even close to what the graders come up with at times. Either I am way off or they are. I guess they need to get their act together.
not wondering about any kind of comparison or what we each find acceptable, just how you personally feel about your ability to assess a coin in your specialty area.

yep.
OMG, a simple answer to a question which asked for same!!! and probably honest, too!!!

I could not, but who's to say that the TPGs are correct?
again, there's no comparison to anything here so i'm wondering why it's mentioned in replies. i'm only wondering how you each feel about your ability to grade the coins in the series you choose to collect.
this is sort of like a "yes" answer: since i look at half eagles a lot, it is getting very easy to tell which coins deserve greater than a MS64 grade. So i think I can tell the difference between a MS 64 and a 65 now days.
this is sort of like a "no" answer: A one point difference? No. A two point, about 90% of the time.

it looks like we are split about 50/50.

keets

good answer, Mirabela!!

ziggy29

I don't usually collect MS coins in my collecting specialties. Can't afford it.

FullStepJeffs

Yes

Gemineye

**""some people could complicate going to the bathroom!! **""

..............You got a camera in my bathroom ....................

Conder101

Can I assign 1 point grades, sure.

Can I be CONSISTANT doing 1 point grading NO.

morgannut2

The honesty here is impressive--but I said yes because Morgans aren't all that hard. Of coarse you had to change you scale from pre 1986 to now, but it can be done. There used to be bickering pre TPG's on AU-58 vs. Unc.+, and Superb Gem verses choice Gem.. but it's the same now.

cladking

<< <i>Can I assign 1 point grades, sure.

Can I be CONSISTANT doing 1 point grading NO. >>





This looks pretty close, but I'd say;

Yes and no. If all coins fit right smack in the middle of their grades and didn't vary along
any of the grading paramaters even someone with no experience whatsoever could be
taught to grade mint state clad quarters in five minutes with 100% accuracy. There is more
than enough range in quality to separate these coins with little experience. Proof clad
quarters are much more difficult and it can take years of experience to get most of these
right especially at the high end of the range.

Of course the mint state coins do vary in strike and marking and grade is a matter mostly
of opinion on about 20% of them and another 10% are liners that could go either way.
So? You still have to seek a coin you find pleasing no matter what its grade or what grade
someone else thinks it is. If one can't grade mint state coins then he shouldn't be paying
big premiums for them whether they're bust dollars or zinc cents.

The fact is many people will seek upgrades no matter what you call their current coin or
the one they're comparing it to.

TorinoCobra71

YES! But only within MY niche.....and that aint sayin much.......

TorinoCobra71

grip

Im surprised more diden't say yes,specially in the series they collect.
A

golddustin

I voted no, but then after I saw your mention that it doesn't involve a comparison to a TPG's opinion, my answer would certainly be YES! I can assign a point value to a BU modern....will it make into a slab with the same grade? In my experience, about 70-80% of the time it does. Within 1 point, that increases to 80-90%, I suppose.

If we aren't using the TPGs as a benchmark, can't everybody assign a point value to a coin, and in their own mind, be absolutely correct?

golddustin

I have to add that, when estimating an extremely nice BU coin, I use PCGS & other grading references that start at 70 and tell me what causes a coin to lose points from there.....so it's hard NOT to compare it to TPG standards, especially when 'market' grading is considered.

rainbowroosie

I can grade roosies MS 65-68 BETTER than either PCGS or NGC.

Myqqy

If PCGS can't do it, why would I think I could?

Because you can spend more than 6 or 10 seconds grading a coin!

ChangeInHistory

I hate to say it, but not really. I'd have to give myself a 2 point swing at least. A few years ago I recommended a friend send in some early Washingtons. There were a few 'off by a point' coins but there were enough AU-55 and 58's that I felt like Marty circa 2001/2! Roosevelt dimes I'm within a point on, still need a BIT of help on the FT designations though.