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Would you want to be a professional coin grader?

291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,566 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
It sounds like a pretty miserable job to me. Can you imagine what it must be like if you have to grade modern proofs? Truly the 9th circle of hell.

image
All glory is fleeting.

Comments

  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,723 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It probably has it's highs and lows.

    Some truly spectacular coins come through on rare occasion and you'd get to touch and see them raw, but the point of modern PROOFs is not lost here, it could get really mundane.
  • CoinZipCoinZip Posts: 3,253 ✭✭✭
    No

    After about 3 days of looking at blast white Morgans all day..... I'd be done.

    Coin Club Benefit auctions ..... View the Lots

  • GoldbullyGoldbully Posts: 17,705 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Do the expert veteran graders have to grade moderns too?

    Seems like they should be in a class of their own.
  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,609 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nope.
    For a while, I fancied myself becoming a coin dealer once I retire from my regular job, but have decided
    I no longer want to do that either.
    About the only coin related career I would care to do would be working at Heritage or another major firm, helping to
    review coins and compile their auction catalogs.


    Successful BST transactions with 171 members. Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,609 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Do the expert veteran graders have to grade moderns too?

    Seems like they should be in a class of their own. >>


    From my limited knowledge talking to a professional grader I know, the newbies do the moderns....and you probably have to wait for
    some attrition to occur to move up to grading classical coinage.

    Successful BST transactions with 171 members. Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • TopographicOceansTopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
    I'd be fired before the lunch break.
  • ManorcourtmanManorcourtman Posts: 8,133 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Pass, it would get old after day one. I can't imagine sitting in a dark room with no windows for 8-10 hours a day.
  • pufferpuffer Posts: 535
    To be the cutting edge experts for the leading coin grading company in the world? Six figure salaries with a virtual guarantee of employment after working in the grading room for a reasonable amount of time? To get well-earned respect by your peers and company professionals? Piece of cake, better than being a Victoria's Secret photographer or their bathing suit manager.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,486 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Can I get a round of golf in between breakfast and dinner ?
  • thisnamztakenthisnamztaken Posts: 4,101 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Maybe for 1-2 days. After that, boring city!
    I never thought that growing old would happen so fast.
    - Jim
  • LotsoLuckLotsoLuck Posts: 3,786 ✭✭✭
    It is assembly line work, albeit decent pay with certain prestige but its still assembly line work. Pass.
  • DollarAfterDollarDollarAfterDollar Posts: 3,215 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'd rather hit myself in the head with a mallet.
    If you do what you always did, you get what you always got.
  • GoldbullyGoldbully Posts: 17,705 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I'd rather hit myself in the head with a mallet. >>



    Coin graders share some of the same characteristics as Rodney .....need I say more?

    image
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,634 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nope. I can grade with the best of them, but I could do it fast enough to please the grading companies.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • winkywinky Posts: 1,671 ✭
    It takes me longer than 6 seconds to pick up a coin let alone grade it. Thanks but no thanks as PCGS would fire me on the first coin.
  • UnknownUnknown
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  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Been there, done that.
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • savoyspecialsavoyspecial Posts: 7,299 ✭✭✭✭
    that Dangerfield pic looks like our own Colonel Jessup

    www.brunkauctions.com

  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,956 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Depends on the pay & benefits...... I can be bought.

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • DennisHDennisH Posts: 14,009 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Nope.
    For a while, I fancied myself becoming a coin dealer once I retire from my regular job, but have decided
    I no longer want to do that either.
    About the only coin related career I would care to do would be working at Heritage or another major firm, helping to
    review coins and compile their auction catalogs. >>

    I agree. Maybe we could work together?
    When in doubt, don't.
  • CuKevinCuKevin Posts: 1,734 ✭✭✭✭
    Yes, I would take the job in a heartbeat.
    Zircon Cases - Protect Your Vintage Slabs www.ZirconCases.com
    Choice Numismatics www.ChoiceCoin.com

    CN eBay

    All of my collection is in a safe deposit box!
  • CuKevinCuKevin Posts: 1,734 ✭✭✭✭
    Yes, I would take the job in a heartbeat.
    Zircon Cases - Protect Your Vintage Slabs www.ZirconCases.com
    Choice Numismatics www.ChoiceCoin.com

    CN eBay

    All of my collection is in a safe deposit box!
  • Type2Type2 Posts: 13,985 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Been there done that as long as it was part time i will do it. I did not do it for a grading co but for a B/M after that I found that you can see a lot of many die type and lot's of varietys. A round 10k Morgans, 1000's of Lincoln Cents and Indian's, Buffalo's, Jefferson's you name it I did it. That was one crazy year after the new owner took over I was asked to stay on and I said I need to move on and started doing it for my salf.


    Hoard the keys.
  • TommyTypeTommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Not sure if I'd "want" the job or not....

    But I know my eyes would give out after about 3 hours, and they'd ask me to leave!

    Gotta be a younger man's game....
    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • morgansforevermorgansforever Posts: 8,465 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would be ok with until the latest hot offering from the Mint. Imagine what it would be like grading ASE sets all day for a week image 69, 70, 69, 70, 69, 69, 69, 70
    It does carry prestige and power, you can really make someones day, or blank all over their parade.
    World coins FSHO Hundreds of successful BST transactions U.S. coins FSHO
  • Mellamobradley46Mellamobradley46 Posts: 22 ✭
    I would take the job...and take bribes...
  • NapNap Posts: 1,744 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nope, but not because of repetition. Most tasks can get boring eventually with repetition. Think about a radiologist looking at chest x-ray after chest x-ray all day (practically every person that is admitted to a hospital gets an x-ray of their chest, even if they are there for a toe infection).

    I wouldn't want to be a coin dealer either. For me coins are a hobby, not a job.
    My medieval coin collection
  • LakesammmanLakesammman Posts: 17,443 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If young and wanting to get started in the business, it would give you the tools and connections you need. But, not at my age.
    "My friends who see my collection sometimes ask what something costs. I tell them and they are in awe at my stupidity." (Baccaruda, 12/03).I find it hard to believe that he (Trump) rushed to some hotel to meet girls of loose morals, although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world. (Putin 1/17) Gone but not forgotten. IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Broadstruck, Ricko, Big Moose, Cardinal.
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,586 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I would take the job...and take bribes... >>



    When I was head grader at ANACS I was very carefully offered what I considered to be a bribe by one of the major firms of the day, and I chose to ignore it and keep on doing what we were doing.
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,486 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I would take the job...and take bribes... >>



    When I was head grader at ANACS I was very carefully offered what I considered to be a bribe by one of the major firms of the day, and I chose to ignore it and keep on doing what we were doing. >>


    "At the heart of integrity is doing it right and to the best of your ability", so my mom always said. Thanks for reminding me of her. image
  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    No as some of the former graders I know personally get as edgy when asked about it like war veterans.

    Most do it for a few years then leave as it's like being a mushroom with a lot of eye strain.

    Those big salaries being mentioning are a thing of the past.
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,847 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nope, unless I somehow lost the ability to do my current job. It wouldn't be all that horrible, but I'd probably only want to do it a week or two per month.
  • TomthecoinguyTomthecoinguy Posts: 849 ✭✭✭✭
    No, not at my age and in my situation. But, if I was talking to a YN and they told me they wanted to make a career out of coins, I would tell them to see what you need to do to get a job as a grader, and do if for a few years. Then take that experience and knowledge on the coin show circuit and pick away at undergraded coins.

    Join the fight against Minnesota's unjust coin dealer tax law.

  • BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,211 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>If young and wanting to get started in the business, it would give you the tools and connections you need. But, not at my age. >>



    Grading broken bones and creaky joints is more interesting?image
    theknowitalltroll;
  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A grading job sounds almost as bad as a job photographing coins all day everyday image
  • drfishdrfish Posts: 947 ✭✭✭✭
    Sounds like working on an assembly line in a factory - no thanks!
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,002 ✭✭✭✭✭
    i wouldnt mind the knowledge they have and see some of the things they see but no thanks, not a job for me.
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,566 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>A grading job sounds almost as bad as a job photographing coins all day everyday image >>



    I have photographed many coins over the years and can truthfully say that I never enjoyed doing so. A couple of years ago I sold my Nikkor Macro zoom lens while I could still get a good amount for it. I can still do coin photography if I want as I have 60mm and 105mm Nikkor macro lenses but haven't done any recently ... and probably won't in the future.
    All glory is fleeting.
  • COALPORTERCOALPORTER Posts: 2,900 ✭✭
    I'd consider it if they have good free parking and easy freeway access.
    Would they get upset if I got bar-be-q sauce on a coin or two ?
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,566 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I'd consider it if they have good free parking and easy freeway access.
    Would they get upset if I got bar-be-q sauce on a coin or two ? >>



    Would the bar-b-q sauce count as artificial toning?
    All glory is fleeting.
  • TomthecoinguyTomthecoinguy Posts: 849 ✭✭✭✭
    In my current day job, they let me work from home. So I suppose if the grading company let me work from home I would consider it. image

    Join the fight against Minnesota's unjust coin dealer tax law.

  • LakesammmanLakesammman Posts: 17,443 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Grading broken bones and creaky joints is more interesting?

    image

    Reading x-rays (US, CT, MR, etc) might be like grading coins - you need to be efficient/quick with your judgments and because of the time pressures, it feels a lot like being a hamster on a wheel.
    "My friends who see my collection sometimes ask what something costs. I tell them and they are in awe at my stupidity." (Baccaruda, 12/03).I find it hard to believe that he (Trump) rushed to some hotel to meet girls of loose morals, although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world. (Putin 1/17) Gone but not forgotten. IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Broadstruck, Ricko, Big Moose, Cardinal.
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,700 ✭✭✭✭✭
    While I would like the opportunity, I doubt I would be able to keep up an adequate pace.

    Lucy and Ethel may have had it easy if one were to make a comparison...image

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • WoodenJeffersonWoodenJefferson Posts: 6,491 ✭✭✭✭
    I would rubber stamp the shipping label of a green monster box, MS-69, shove it over to the encapsulating guy and take a long deserved break.
    Chat Board Lingo

    "Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen

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