Do some type coins grade easier than others?

McDonis

So I have been trying to sharpen my grading skills lately and have been going over a lot of different coins in my own collection. I have also been reading a lot of these threads where folks request that you guess the grade.


I am finding that on some coins (usually newer or less popular coins) grading tends to be much tougher (I.e. folks tend to downgrade a coin rather than upgrade) and in more popular coins such as the bust half folks tend to be lighter on grading. Granted my comparison is to my own thoughts on the grade, so its possible the difference is just with me. But this has got me thinking, does some coins get a little bit of help in their grade because of the series their in or due to their popularity or even the lack of popularity?


Mostly I just want to know for my own info so when purchasing or selling I know to add or subtract for certain series. Mostly I seem to see this in the Bust Half series, folks seem to be much more accpeting of those coins and in my opinion over grade by as much as 5-10 points.

sonoranmonsoon

<< <i> But this has got me thinking, does some coins get a little bit of help in their grade because of the series their in or due to their popularity or even the lack of popularity?


Mostly I just want to know for my own info so when purchasing or selling I know to add or subtract for certain series. Mostly I seem to see this in the Bust Half series, folks seem to be much more accpeting of those coins and in my opinion over grade by as much as 5-10 points. >>



Not all coins are graded solely on technical grading standards. Many of the older issues have market grading considered as well. This is subjective area, and requires a bit of art and knowledge of the market. This may explain why you see PCGS and others giving grades higher than simply the technical grade you are looking at.

McDonis

<< <i>

<< <i> But this has got me thinking, does some coins get a little bit of help in their grade because of the series their in or due to their popularity or even the lack of popularity?


Mostly I just want to know for my own info so when purchasing or selling I know to add or subtract for certain series. Mostly I seem to see this in the Bust Half series, folks seem to be much more accpeting of those coins and in my opinion over grade by as much as 5-10 points. >>



Not all coins are graded solely on technical grading standards. Many of the older issues have market grading considered as well. This is subjective area, and requires a bit of art and knowledge of the market. This may explain why you see PCGS and others giving grades higher than simply the technical grade you are looking at. >>




Ok so I assume you mean if the coin is by defination say a 30-35 coin but has very nice eye appeal it could upgrade by say 5-10 points to a 40 or 45.

sonoranmonsoon

I do not know how many points. I guess it depends on the coin. A 30 going up one or two steps to 35 or 40 would certainly sound feasable in many cases.

ziggy29

Many people believe that key dates (1877 IHC, 1916-D dime, et cetera) often get graded more liberally than other dates in the same series. That doesn't apply to condition rarities, though -- mostly just the classic keys in circulated grades.