The EAC grading and counterfeit detection seminar, 2007
RYK
Posts: 35,800 ✭✭✭✭✭
This morning I spent a little more than two hours at the EAC grading and counterfeit detection seminar. It was hosted by Doug Bird and Steve Carr (dealer and collector), and it was terrific. I missed the first thirty minutes, but the session was roughly divided into an informal didactic session and a 30-coin grading exercise.
Regrettably, I missed much of the first part, but did sit in on the discussion on market vs. technical vs. EAC grading, net grading, cleaning and conserving your coins, avoiding coins with hidden problems, and other meaty topics. There was the expected disdain, if not derision, toward the TPGs and their grading foibles.
Part II consisted of a grading exercise. 30 coins were passed around on trays, and each of the thirty attendees had a minute or so to give a detail grade, net grade, and/or indicate if the coin was authentic. This was a lot of fun and very educational. The first coin I received was a 1799 large cent which I started to grade, realized that there was no way this could be authentic, and called it a fake. The second coin I was given was another 1799 large cent which had a poorly altered date. There was another 1799 that came around later that I figured had to be a fake, but this one appeared to trip up some of the more seasoned collectors. I was dubious that anyone was going to pass around such an expensive coin loose as it was.
Later, I did get tripped up on the 1815 classic head large cent. I go distracted by a large dent in the coin and did not pay attention to the other glaring problem with that coin!
After most of the coins were graded by the attendees, the moderators went around the room and asked the participants to reveal their grades. Some of the more difficult coins were those with nice detail but huge problems. It is hard to be objective with the detail grade when there are huge hits, bruises, color problems, significant porosity/corrosion, etc. Nonetheless, I was surprisingly close to the experts and other participants, and even with my lack of experience in early coppers, was not the outlier on any coin.
I had to scoot out early to make a meeting and plan to return tomorrow afternoon. The bourse does not open to the public until tomorrow, but I am looking forward to putting my new grading lessons to work.
Regrettably, I missed much of the first part, but did sit in on the discussion on market vs. technical vs. EAC grading, net grading, cleaning and conserving your coins, avoiding coins with hidden problems, and other meaty topics. There was the expected disdain, if not derision, toward the TPGs and their grading foibles.
Part II consisted of a grading exercise. 30 coins were passed around on trays, and each of the thirty attendees had a minute or so to give a detail grade, net grade, and/or indicate if the coin was authentic. This was a lot of fun and very educational. The first coin I received was a 1799 large cent which I started to grade, realized that there was no way this could be authentic, and called it a fake. The second coin I was given was another 1799 large cent which had a poorly altered date. There was another 1799 that came around later that I figured had to be a fake, but this one appeared to trip up some of the more seasoned collectors. I was dubious that anyone was going to pass around such an expensive coin loose as it was.
Later, I did get tripped up on the 1815 classic head large cent. I go distracted by a large dent in the coin and did not pay attention to the other glaring problem with that coin!
After most of the coins were graded by the attendees, the moderators went around the room and asked the participants to reveal their grades. Some of the more difficult coins were those with nice detail but huge problems. It is hard to be objective with the detail grade when there are huge hits, bruises, color problems, significant porosity/corrosion, etc. Nonetheless, I was surprisingly close to the experts and other participants, and even with my lack of experience in early coppers, was not the outlier on any coin.
I had to scoot out early to make a meeting and plan to return tomorrow afternoon. The bourse does not open to the public until tomorrow, but I am looking forward to putting my new grading lessons to work.
0
Comments
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
<< <i>Great report. It sounds very educational, and a welcome change from just scouring the bourse floor and looking at slabs. I wish I could be there! >>
You would have loved it. Lots of opportunities to ask questions and have them answered by friendly, knowledgeable people-just like here.
Thanks for the report
My OmniCoin Collection
My BankNoteBank Collection
Tom, formerly in Albuquerque, NM.