Regular Submission Results (AKA, the Grading Fairy has Left the Building).
TommyType
Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
Below are the results of a “Regular” Cross-Over submission that I sent in at the last Long Beach show. I had previously posted my "Grading Fairy" upgrade from a Restoration submission, and a second “Economy” submission is still in the works.
The coins:
This submission contained a total of 9 Nineteenth Century type coins, mostly circulated, and all were previously graded by NGC. Since I would have PREFERRED Economy, you can safely assume these are all $300+ coins, forcing me to pick Regular. (I’m actually a Cheap Bastard). 
1 - Draped Bust Large Cent
1 - 2-Cent Bronze coin
2 - Seated Quarters
3 - Seated Halves
1 - Seated Dollar
1 - Trade Dollar
Most were bought quite some time ago. In particular, the Seated halves were of early interest to me, and were among my earliest Type Set purchases.
Rationale for submitting:
I just wanted to. I can’t do any better than that.
All coins are a part of my long term goal of a full US Type Set. I essentially have become fixated with getting ALL of my “long term keeper” coins into my Registry Sets. It would just make me happy...and that’s the only excuse I have.
I carefully set aside the non-PCGS coins it made more sense to “upgrade”, and these were the high value coins I wanted to keep, and therefore cross.
Timeline:
Coins were submitted on Friday at the last Long Beach show, (23 February 2018), and logged into the system on 27 February 2018.
The grades popped today, 22 March 2018, (or 17 business days).
Expectations:
Without exception, I really hoped for them to cross at grade. At least I thought they had a fair shot. They looked good to ME at the assigned grades! Of course, I also expected at least a surprise or two. (I’m not THAT good).
Given that I didn’t expect any problems crossing, and my goal didn’t really require that they actually cross at grade, I submitted as “Cross at ANY grade” on all 9 coins.
No doubt, there was some risk doing this way, but for primarily circulated coins the actual monetary “loss” on them wasn’t much of an issue if, say, an AU-55 became an AU-53, or whatever. Plus, these have been long-term hold coins, where they are already worth more than I paid anyway.
Results:
Below is a screen captures of the grades, straight from the PCGS website. The only added information (in red) is the previous NGC grade for each coin, for ease of comparison.
Overall result:
- 8 of 9 crossed. (Ok...not exactly a shock when you “cross at ANY grade”, so there’s no “Atta Boy” there).
- The only DNC was 1873 w/arrows quarter. I’ll have to look again when I receive it. Sadly, since it didn’t cross, THEY felt it was a “problem coin” (or at least a high risk to be one once cracked). By my memory, I just don’t understand it...so I’ll have to look again when I get it in hand.
- 4 of 9 retained the same grade.
- 4 of 9 downgraded, (one step in each case).
Now, at first blush, that doesn’t sound so good! But I had a feeling on the Seated Dollar, and am not shocked. The Trade Dollar going from AU-55 to 53 and Seated Half dropping from AU-53 to AU-50 are like splitting hairs for most of us. So those last three on the list really don’t bother me in the least. (I still paid much less than they are worth now, even in the “downgraded” holders).
The Seated Quarter dropping from AU-50 to XF-45? Not real happy about that, to be honest. But surprises were expected.
The 2-Cent retaining grade was a relief. Mint State grading is more of an art than circulated, so I guess I appreciated the “cross at grade” on that one the most.
I also had minor concerns about the 1803 Draped Bust Cent. There is some minor color change around the reverse lettering, which I thought MIGHT lead some to a “cleaned” conclusion. I didn’t think so, or I wouldn’t have sent it....but I thought it might be a risk. The result of was a relief.
In general....I’m OK with the results. Not thrilled and doing the Happy-Dance, but not broken up about it either. They are still coins I like, after all!
Was it worth the COST? Yeah, probably not. 
Comments
Look at it this way: You got them into your slab of preference.
Thanks for the long and detailed post.
Pete
Older graded coins get: No upgrades, 4 downgrades, and a previously problem free coin is now a problem.
I laugh when I read that grading was tighter years ago because it is not true. Looking above, grading is tighter than it ever was, RIGHT NOW!
Could be true...but we're also comparing apples (PCGS) to oranges (NGC).
And the "problem" coin is still in the NGC holder.
Pretty good job all things considered. The one that didn't cross (and you still thinks is OK) should be cracked out and sent in raw. JMHO.
I'll certainly take a long look at it. To MY eye, it was a fantastic example of an AU-58!! (Of course, my eye, and $5, gets you a cup of coffee).
Added: In fact, I kind of "pre-wrote" a results post before the grades came back. In that, I listed as "No-Brainer: 1873 Quarter at AU-58".
Just to be complete, I also wrote the one I expected to upgrade, if any, was the 1853 half. (It crossed at grade).
You probably have a better shot at cac stickers on the newly certified coins as they like conservatively graded ones. I rarely don't understand the reason for how PCGS grades a given coin. But if a coin is no problem I would just do them raw as the perception of the coin being in another holder is a tough thing for PCGS to regard objectively.
I would not do this. They didn't cross at "any" grade for a reason.
CAC loves giving green beans to coins that are better than the assigned grade.
PCGS should up the stakes for crossover attempts that DNC and slab them as detailed/genuine not gradable.
I tend to agree....even "knowing" the coin, (from memory, anyway).
This is part of my "2 year effort" to get my collection into the form I want it. I don't intend to get into the Certification Game full time.
Oh, boo! Not a good way to keep your customers happy!
As it is, they made $35 by just looking at my coin. Take the money and run.
Great information and thanks for sharing!!! Helps us all to know the percentages!!
Personally I would send all to CAC...but first quickly sell the "problem" coin...my experience is if there was an issue in crossing it once to PCGS that you will never get it straight graded there...but maybe others have had better luck...
If you do send to CAC please report back with the results...I'd love to see the sticker % of the cross at grade four vs. the downgraded four...
Just because it didn't cross the first time doesn't mean it would not grade sent in raw. And I couldn't care less about CAC stickers for any of them.
It didn't cross at ANY grade, meaning they could have taken it all the way down to P001. That usually means there is an issue that would make it end up in a details holder.
I would have to see it in hand to make any decision. It would also depend on how much I like the coin and how easy it would be to just find another I liked already in a PCGS holder.
Depends on the coin but sending in raw for me is the best option. I recently had an MS66 Roosie crackout come back MS67+. That would've never happened if I sent in in for a crossover. Never again for me.
Later, Paul.
On the DNC:
I'm kind of hoping the documentation (i.e., reject label) tells me something about "why". For all WE know, they thought it was counterfeit!! That would be good to know! Tooled? Whizzed? I have nothing to go by but my memory...which remembers it as a nice coin.
But it's probably a "tweener". NGC graders aren't exactly slouches, so it may be a sign of cleaning that NGC thought was acceptable, while PCGS was unwilling to holder it. Some small patch? A scratch that required just the right angle? I just don't know....
Ouch, so you paid additional money to downgrade the majority of the coins you already paid money to grade previously? I really don't understand this crack out / resubmit game at all. Not trying to be rude, I just don't get it.
It's bad enough we learn that these $35 grading fees involve some "expert" spending 2 to 6 seconds grading your coin with the possibility of a complete fake getting finding it's way into a slab. Why on earth would we pay a second time for even worse results?
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™
I didn't (technically) pay to have them graded the first time. (Yeah, it's all wrapped up in the price at some point....but you know what I mean).
As noted, I'm just on a quest to get the collection in the form I want it in. Nothing more. That has included submitting raw coins, crossing some coins, selling and upgrading others. There's really no mystery, or hope for profit involved.
Oh so you are trying to get everything in a pcgs slab? I tried that once when trying to do a registry set but decided it wasn't worth it for m after I acquired some keys in ngc holders. I missed the part about crossover, sorry. Not my cup of tea but I understand now. It's crazy because in some series it seems NGC grades much stricter but in other series it seems the opposite.
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™
Trying to get the coins I REALLY LIKE in PCGS holders, anyway. And, yes, it's mainly for Registry purposes. (They've hooked me).
And as for money, beyond the $35/coin fee, there wasn't any money "lost". I paid significantly less than they are "worth" in the new holders, quite some time ago. They are still the same coins. If you trust the market, (which I sort of do...sort of don't), then the value probably didn't change much from a "marginal higher grade" to a "solid lower grade"(?)
The Seated Quarter is the only one where it's hard to say I didn't lose money/value. There is a step in value from AU to XF, and my buy price doesn't cover that.
Sell the coin that DNC and then buy one in a PCGS holder
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Interesting grading experience.... Thanks for the detailed description of results and your opinions. I will be interested in hearing the story on the 1873 DNC.... Please be sure to let us know what was said, and your future plans for the coin. Cheers, RickO