EAC Grading

sumnom

I have heard it said that the EAC folk live in a different grading universe. Why is that? How does their sense of grading differ from everyone else?

savoyspecial

well, if you believe that gradeflation exists among TPG's (and they have only been around 20+ years) then figure this is a group (EAC) who has had the same grading scale since 1967

so yeah, it's on the conservative side

not to mention practices that are uniquely theirs such as the periodic brushing of old copper as a conservation method

291fifth

An EAC member I know tells me that EAC grading is just as variable as any other system. Are you buying or selling?

MrEureka

EAC isn't that only one "in it's own universe". In fact, most collectors outside the US grade very differently than the major TPGs. Some even use completely different grading scales. Check out this grade conversion chart for chuckles.

Barry

All grading scales were created to increase the spread between buy and sell.

ElmerFusterpuck

EAC VF-30 may be an AU-50 by one of the major TPG's.

Also expect to pay the AU-50 money as well.

sumnom

This doesn't mean that grading is subjective, does it?

astrorat

<< <i>EAC isn't that only one "in it's own universe". In fact, most collectors outside the US grade very differently than the major TPGs. Some even use completely different grading scales. Check out this grade conversion chart for chuckles. >>



Great link...thanks, Andy.

SportsModerator

I'm converting to the Italian system. SPL - Splendido!!! BB - Bellissimo!!!!!

Somehow it just cries out for Billy Mays

Zoins

Don't forget CGS uses a 100 point scale!

shorecoll

EAC only market grades by changing the price, an AU is an AU, not a 63 or 64, but an EAC AU is the same price as a 63 or 64 slab. Just a different game, you play whichever one you want. BHNC guys have the same issue with bust halves, they just didn't create their own system. That's how you can have a 64 graded bustie not in the CC when the BHNC says the finest known is a 62. Oww, my brain hurts.

Zoins

<< <i>EAC only market grades by changing the price, an AU is an AU, not a 63 or 64, but an EAC AU is the same price as a 63 or 64 slab. Just a different game, you play whichever one you want. BHNC guys have the same issue with bust halves, they just didn't create their own system. That's how you can have a 64 graded bustie not in the CC when the BHNC says the finest known is a 62. Oww, my brain hurts. >>

Good to know. Some have said that market grading is now standard grading practices. It's good to hear that not all grading systems and graders have moved to market grading. Thanks!

BillJones

The one really positive thing about EAC grading is that it does not reject a rare copper coin with problems and just say "genuine" or put it in a body bag. The system assigns a sharpness grade and describes the problem and then comes up with a net grade on the Sheldon scale. It’s far more useful for students of these coins who are more interested in the state of preservation of the best pieces than whether or not a piece has passed a generic marketing standard.

Zoins

<< <i>The one really positive thing about EAC grading is that it does not reject a rare copper coin with problems and just say "genuine" or put it in a body bag. The system assigns a sharpness grade and describes the problem and then comes up with a net grade on the Sheldon scale. It�s far more useful for students of these coins who are more interested in the state of preservation of the best pieces than whether or not a piece has passed a generic marketing standard. >>

Rare pieces tend to get net graded by the top TPGs which makes it harder to learn, but perhaps easier to sell. I understand this point about coins that don't meet the rarity threshold. For those, there's always NCS and ANACS for now.

This even got a MS-60. A bit more education will definitely help here.

joecopper

EAC is much different and has not been subject to the gradeflation forced upon numismatics by the TPG. I do, however, believe that there may some movemnent to loosen EAC standards, however, as in a recent auctions I have made more grade adjustments than normal for the comparative data for CQR/price ratio analyses that I do on a regular basis. The Holmes Sale will be a good test. I have, in general, found EAC grading to be relatively consistent when prperly applied and can be relatively related to TPG's on a quantitative basis. I once did a study of the variation of three major copper dealer's grades from TPG's and found these differences to be surprisingly consistent.

How I grade EAC - strict intepretation of ANA sharpness and then deductions for defects. This strategy has generally enabled me to compare quite closely to EAC dealers and collectors. Obviously the deductions have to be "learned" and there are from time-to-time disagreements largely due to personal tastes.