What one feasible change/improvement would you like to see the major grading companies make?
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Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Comments
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I would like to see them outsource die variety attribution to remote series experts.
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Form a hobbyist team as a focus and feedback loop. It’s mission would not be to address a customer’s individual complaint, but to address trends and issues frequently seen.
Seated Half Society member #38
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."8 -
Improve coin imaging/photography.
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Abandon the numbers and go to words only to describe the coin.
"Two things are infinite: human stupidity and the universe; and I'm not sure about the universe."
-Albert Einstein-Mistakes are natural. But repeated mistakes without reflection are something else. That may be the “stupidity” he was referring to. In research, he admitted uncertainty openly. “If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” This shows humility. Even a Nobel laureate accepted doubt. That humility makes the quote less cynical and more observational.
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Take strike more seriously in grading.
Have a good day, Gary6 -
As far as PCGS goes, I think they could raise grading costs slightly and get rid of charging membership fees.
I've seen a lot of posts over the years where folks forget about those vouchers because they expire.2 -
Optionally include an explanation of results, for an additional fee
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Stop guessing when it comes to strike type. The mint used the same dies for some coins when striking both proof and business strikes. In well circulated condition there is often no definitive way to tell which is which.
If they are going to call a coin that falls into this category PR12, either post an article/info page defining their policy regarding decisions on coins like this or return the coin to the submitter "no decision - strike type can not be determined".
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Stop "market" grading. I'm tired of seeing over dipped AU coins in XF45 holders.
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Be more elaborate in their slab designs, such as adding some vines or flowers or flags or even random shapes. The standard labels gets boring over time.
P.S. This is my 1000th post!
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
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Also, moving out of California might be a good business idea for PCGS.
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
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Do something to rectify the discrepancy in value between really nice high-end AU and crappy lower mint state coins. Something descriptive like AU63 or some such.
jom
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@CRHer700 said:
Also, moving out of California might be a good business idea for PCGS.An alternative would be to branch out, preferably adding a Midwest location and an East Coast location.
Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled3 -
Slab contemporary counterfeit half pennys. Absurd to slab Machin’s Mills counterfeits and not others. Also, stop straight-grading ED and damaged early copper.
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Oops that’s two. So “improve treatment of early coppers”.
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1) Improve turnaround times.
2) Better training of graders regarding varieties.“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
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While I would love to see obv/rev grading, I realize the expense would change the hobby and not "feasible". BUT, I do wish grading companies would give equal treatment to obverses and reverses instead of the current method of obverse having the higher percentage of grade. JMO
Jiim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain5 -
I know I’ll probably get flamed for this, but I think it’s time to go to a 100 point scale.
If I may steal another: I’d like to see them improve turnaround times. Perhaps do a better job of creating a grader pipeline to fill those spots?
And one more cuz I’m greedy: STOP factoring toning into grades!
Having fun while switching things up and focusing on a next level PCGS slabbed 1950+ type set, while still looking for great examples for the 7070.
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In the battle against counterfeits:
1) Photograph ALL submissions
2) Provide an incentive (discount) to encourage reholdering and photographing previously holdered coins that don't have a matching photo.mbogoman
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/classic-issues-colonials-through-1964/zambezi-collection-trade-dollars/7345
Asesabi Lutho10 -
PSA (Collectible Card Grading), has just released that they'll publish grader notes to the submitter (only) for their highest tiers (Rarity/Walkthrough). I hope that the coin TPGs follow.
Collector of Original Early Gold with beginnings in Proof Morgan collecting.2 -
First one in, first one out.
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don1 -
You don't want a thousand word essay stapled to your coin slab?
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
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@jom said:
Do something to rectify the discrepancy in value between really nice high-end AU and crappy lower mint state coins. Something descriptive like AU63 or some such.jom
AU63????
Why not F45 or VG50?
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
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Collector coins especially gold to the front of the line, bullion to the back.
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For coins that do not cross over from another grading service, indicate the reason (i.e. does not qualify for Code 92, 95, etc.) or grade is x versus minimum acceptable grade of y per invoice.
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@jom said:
Do something to rectify the discrepancy in value between really nice high-end AU and crappy lower mint state coins. Something descriptive like AU63 or some such.jom
I think that all grading companies should grade their coins accurately and call them all AU-58!!!
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
BHNC #AN-10
JRCS #16064 -
I want to see less (no) market grading, it is well past time to stop ignoring rub and grading what are obvious AU's as MS.
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What you call it is irrelevant. Everyone knows many AU coins are nicer and hence worth MORE than many MS graded coins. The grading system should reflect that. To me it's arbitrary to make a coin worth a lot less (in terms of the numerical grading system anyway) just due to a little bit of wear. Wear is just another attribute to a coin like strike, bag marks and luster.
@jacrispies said:
@jom said:
Do something to rectify the discrepancy in value between really nice high-end AU and crappy lower mint state coins. Something descriptive like AU63 or some such.I think that all grading companies should grade their coins accurately and call them all AU-58!!!
It's supposedly accurate according to the so-called grading system we have now. But in terms of value in many cases it's way off. Frankly, this may very well be fault of the "numerical" grading system we are stuck with and so it may not be a "feasible" change as suggested by Mark.
jom
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I’d like to see strike designations—e.g. Full Bands, Full Head, etc.—applied to circulated coins when appropriate. Many AU coins would qualify.
As others have mentioned, I’d also like to see general improvements made to variety attribution.
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I would like to see PCGS match pricing with CACG. For Morgan and Peace dollars valued below $500 it's only $15 for grading. Most coins over $500 in value are $35 to grade.
"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them" Bruce Lee
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Turnaround times
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@Shurke said:
I’d like to see strike designations—e.g. Full Bands, Full Head, etc.—applied to circulated coins when appropriate. Many AU coins would qualify.As others have mentioned, I’d also like to see general improvements made to variety attribution.
I think they will designate some of those at the AU58 level if I'm not mistaken. At least FH on SLQs can be attributed in AU58.
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PCGS should designate roller marks as a mint made variety on Morgan dollars.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire9 -
A 1-10 scale on eye appeal.
The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.4 -
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Take early American problem coins seriously. They should be formally called graded, not Genuine (with a details on the tag). Yes, still details and a reason for it, but also included in the population census, even if it would be a separate census. There are coveted major rarities that are in the blind as it stands presently, unless one consults specialty publications, which do not get regular updates. It is something of fundamental importance that has been too long in the backseat while unnecessary bells and whistles get implemented.
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Another is the degradation of a planchet issue as an ungradable problem. As minted is as minted. A planchet flaw is a matter of aesthetics, for better or worse. An XF and an XF Details for a split planchet are both simply XF.
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I suppose you are right. So many out there hooked on numbers, the outrage would be tremendous.
"Two things are infinite: human stupidity and the universe; and I'm not sure about the universe."
-Albert Einstein-Mistakes are natural. But repeated mistakes without reflection are something else. That may be the “stupidity” he was referring to. In research, he admitted uncertainty openly. “If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” This shows humility. Even a Nobel laureate accepted doubt. That humility makes the quote less cynical and more observational.
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Instead if wrecking the current system with an AU63 grade for MS coins with a slight MS disqualifying factor, such as a slight rub, why not simply give the AU grade a "+". Very few AU58 coins have a "+", yet many are far more attractive than MS60-63. So perhaps CHD has an answer for eye appeal. These ideas while stirring much debate still have credibility worthy of consideration.
I do not think the system requires a complete overhaul, such as 1-100, but could be tweaked to make a grade more acceptable without seeing the coin. Then it gives a buyer more reason to wish to further investigate the coin's viewing before purchase.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain1 -
If I could force one change it would be this. I would force them to hermetically seal all coins.
It is my understanding that this step towards permanent protection allready exists. It is just nor done. James2 -
Because AU58 is a unique case. No matter how fabulous a coin may be as far as lustre, strike, eye appeal, etc., if it has any hint of rub, it should be graded AU. Where there are 11 mint state grades, there is only one grade for a coin that has a minor rub (more wear and you start moving down to 55, 53...). As such, AU58 coins can easily be more appealing than many (particularly low-end) mint state pieces, and may largely appear similar to a mid or higher mint state grade, except for the rub.
Since coins grading lower than 58 can move up or down in grade based on amount of wear, there's no need for new classifications; XF and 45 go together. You can rename 45 to F, but it's still a 45. Less wear than a 45 and it should be a 50. More wear and it should be a 40. AU58 is the only grade where more numbers could provide additional value.
JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research2 -
@airplanenut said:
Because AU58 is a unique case. No matter how fabulous a coin may be as far as lustre, strike, eye appeal, etc., if it has any hint of rub, it should be graded AU. Where there are 11 mint state grades, there is only one grade for a coin that has a minor rub (more wear and you start moving down to 55, 53...). As such, AU58 coins can easily be more appealing than many (particularly low-end) mint state pieces, and may largely appear similar to a mid or higher mint state grade, except for the rub.
>
Jeremy, I think one could reasonably substitute AU55 for AU58 in each instance you mentioned it in your above paragraph.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
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Retroactive and effective immediately, all coins that look like this will be deemed environmental damage!
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
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Only kidding, only kidding!
Don't get your panties in a knot. 🤣 😂
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
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@MFeld said:
@airplanenut said:
Because AU58 is a unique case. No matter how fabulous a coin may be as far as lustre, strike, eye appeal, etc., if it has any hint of rub, it should be graded AU. Where there are 11 mint state grades, there is only one grade for a coin that has a minor rub (more wear and you start moving down to 55, 53...). As such, AU58 coins can easily be more appealing than many (particularly low-end) mint state pieces, and may largely appear similar to a mid or higher mint state grade, except for the rub.
>
Jeremy, I think one could reasonably substitute AU55 for AU58 in each instance you mentioned it in your above paragraph.
Fair enough. What I'm hearing is AU58 and AU55 should have two grades, the AU number to indicate wear, and the MS number to indicate what the grade would be without wear. So then we could argue about who would rather have an AU58(64) versus an AU55(65).
JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research3 -
Something I have suggested for decades... an original surfaces designation. And it has been discussed here in the past. And given how TPG and sticker approval services unfolded, it seems harder to secure the barn gate... The concept was a lost opportunity to best protect a small and diminishing class of original coins from unnecessary enhancement that has ultimately created a class of second tier of coins that are just simply tough to look at and even tougher to accept.
Save your fingers Mark- I know it is not going happen.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
2
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