So is SecurePlus the answer after all?
illini420
Posts: 11,466 ✭✭✭✭✭
I briefly read through a couple of the recent threads on the changes to CoinFacts, including the response of PCGS. I apologize if I missed this issue and these ideas being brought up already as I'm sure I didn't see all of the many threads on this topic.
After reading the many responses of collectors here and that of PCGS, it reminded me of "The Big One" from a decade ago... PCGS SecurePlus.
As you likely know, SecurePlus technology scans coins coming in on a submission and has the ability to identify exact coins that have previously been ran through the system. Couldn't this technology be used to help identify coins they have already seen and be used as a way to help prevent the issue regarding duplicate images in CoinFacts? The system could easily identify a coin being resubmitted and there could be a quick check for an existing CoinFacts photo. Problem solved?
SecurePlus could also be used to help combat gradeflation by identifying the same coin coming in many many many times trying to squeeze out an extra half point of grade that is likely not deserved in the first place. Remember that a resubmission through SecurePlus doesn't stop ALL upgrades, but since it arms PCGS with information on the history of submissions of a particular coin it could certainly help to make sure that if an upgrade is given that it is unquestionably deserved.
SecurePlus also has other benefits which include the security aspects of potentially identifying stolen coins and assisting in the identification of coin doctoring.
Of course, for SecurePlus to work and for SecurePlus to ever have become "The Big One" it requires that SecurePlus to be mandatory on all submissions... but that has still not happened for U.S. coin submissions. Perhaps with new leadership at PCGS the potential of this technology will be revisited?
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
Comments
Since grading is merely an opinion, would you want your coin locked in forever based on a very conservative or incorrect opinion?
Depends on the question.
One thing I learned about "The Big One" rollout those years ago is that if you really have discovered or implemented "The Big One", you should not refer to it as such. Be a little more casual about it. Underpromise and overdeliver. Etc.
The rollout of the The Big One was more of The Big Yawn because of the hype. I am not sure what we were expecting (maybe free 70-CC $20's to all members), but no matter what color rabbit David Hall could have pulled out of his hat, it was never going to live up to the expectations that were sown.
It would have lived up to the hype had the process been used for every coin submitted, as @illini420 mentioned.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
Seems to me they could simply use image matching technology to remove duplicate images (and delete old certs from the database), leaving only the image with the current certification.
True but that only addresses the issue most dear to our hearts. According to World HQ the change was made for privacy issues. If you take that at face value then we are wasting our collective breath.
M
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......
The "privacy" issue is still up for debate, and if I read the message correctly, the images are in "quarantine" until they sort this out. As others mentioned, if the image cannot be traced to the owner, then what is the problem? Can the images of the hundreds of thousands of coins sold on Heritage be traced to the owner? Are there "privacy" concerns there?
this debate is sort of like positioning PCGS as the big, bad Government. maybe they over-reacted in their haste to avoid any supposed embarrassment with the images, but isn't the real culprit the greedy submitters who try to scam the system?? we all seem to know and accept the flaws that come with TPG grading, why all the fuss over images that someone else paid for and PCGS has chosen not to make publicly accessible??
I don't get all the indignation.
Making secure plus optional is like a store owner making their security cameras optional to thieves.