Is it posible to learn how PCGS grades coins?

WingedLiberty1957

I realize this must seem like a terribly basic question .... but

I would like to understand and/or learn how PCGS assigns grades to coins.

How do they differentiate an MS64 from an MS65 from an MS66?

What markers do they use and is it written down somewhere?

In other words, are there any guide books or written documentation out there that explain this process?

I did buy a Photograde guide book, but it's not detailed enough and it appears to me PCGS doesn't follow those same rules.

It appears to me (based on my study of graded coin photographs) that PCGS ignores black spots or black specs in grading.

And they do seem (at times at least) to reward luster -- though the application of that doesn't appear to be consistent.

It also appears to me that scratches and nicks seem to hold less importance as I have seen at least one nicked up, scratched up (and black specked) MS67+ out there.

In any case, I would love to learn what process PCGS goes through to assign a grade.

Is it possible to learn that?

I always hear from the experts to "Learn to grade coins yourself" ... but how does one go about that?

Any thoughts and input are very welcome.

blu62vette

An ANA grading course is a great start as you often have NGC or PCGS graders teaching the course.

tradedollarnut

Absolutely, positively PCGS rewards luster and virgin mint frost on the devices.

Collectors tend to overgrade a coin with few marks but diminished frost and luster. PCGS rewards a coin with virgin surfaces but a few too many marks.

WingedLiberty1957

thanks blu and trade ... that's helpful!

I will look into that ANA grading course

blu62vette

<< <i>thanks blu and trade ... that's helpful!

I will look into that ANA grading course >>



Reading your post more.....the ANA course will teach grading with some insight as to how they do it. They will not tell you how PCGS runs their shop. Courses are all taught by graders or ex graders. Very knowledgeable folks.

epcjimi1

PCGS has a book you can get from Amazon that covers a lot of info on grading coins.

"The Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection, 2nd Edition by John Dannreuther and Scott A. Travers (Paperback - Mar 9, 2004)"

lcoopie

that's the book I like also

kranky

As one who took two ANA grading courses, let me add to the recommendation for taking it.

First, you can never, ever learn how to grade MS coins from photos. You can't evaluate the luster or the eye appeal properly. The class will teach you how to evaluate a coin when grading and the elements which factor into the grade - luster, strike, surface marks, eye appeal. You'll learn prime focal areas and what they mean when grading. You'll learn what magnifying power to use when grading (and bigger is not better). Simply put, all the books and all the photos in the world cannot teach MS grading.

If you plan to specialize in a series, figure out a way to look at tons of MS PCGS-graded coins in that series.

WingedLiberty1957

Great Advice ... Thank you all.

I will buy that book today ... sounds like a goldmine.

airplanenut

In addition to taking an ANA grading class (they're great), you can also go to auction lot viewing at any major coin show. Just tell them what coins you want to see, and you can spend as many hours as you want looking through boxes of coins. That's probably the fastest way to look at tons of coins.

astrorat

<< <i>

<< <i>thanks blu and trade ... that's helpful!

I will look into that ANA grading course >>



Reading your post more.....the ANA course will teach grading with some insight as to how they do it. They will not tell you how PCGS runs their shop. Courses are all taught by graders or ex graders. Very knowledgeable folks. >>

During the course, you will learn how graders from NGC, PCGS, and ANACS (and possibly ICG) examine a coin and assign the grade. The people who teach the courses, regardless of their corporate affiliation, are excellent and teach you how to grade. By extension, you will pick up subtle differences in how people at each of the companies grade coins.

The courses also have graders who are not affiliated with any of the TPGs. The courses are not designed to turn you into a grader for a particular company. It's about education and training ... not indoctrination.

WingedLiberty1957

That's some great insight astrorat ... thanks!

nwcoast

Great thread and well timed as I'm sorting and pulling together my first submission of 8.
Going into the mail next week!
Thank you so much for that tip on device luster over hits!!
Great bit of advice!! And going to change my choice of a few..
Cheers once again to the Forum and its members.
Have the book mentioned and it is indeed excellent!

lusterlover

<< <i>
It appears to me (based on my study of graded coin photographs) that PCGS ignores black spots or black specs in grading.

And they do seem (at times at least) to reward luster -- though the application of that doesn't appear to be consistent.

It also appears to me that scratches and nicks seem to hold less importance as I have seen at least one nicked up, scratched up (and black specked) MS67+ out there.


Any thoughts and input are very welcome. >>



I've said this before and I'll say it again, speaking strickly about copper, PCGS and other experts realize and treat differently crust/black spots ON the coin vs. black spots/carbon spots IN the coin. As Tradedollarnut said, original crust/virgin surfaces are accepted and does not penalize the grade. Something active or growing in the coin is black death. People get way to caught up in looking for "spot free" coins when in many cases they're walking by originality.

TwoSides2aCoin

Yes it's possible to learn how PCGS grades coins , though I haven't found any economical ways, yet.
(tongue in cheek for the crackout guys)

SUMORADA

A couple years ago I asked a similar question about the folks ATS, the answer I got was when you figure out what the graders are looking for in a certain series........
you will make a lot of money............