PCGS grade or data entry error?
ChipM
Posts: 10 ✭
Newbie here. I have purchased the annual $300 Platinum Maple Leaf Reverse Proof coins directly from the Royal Canadian Mint for the last 4 years. I recently sent the 2023, 2024 and 2025 coins to PCGS for grading. The 2023 and 2025 coins were graded PR70, but the 2024 was PR64. I've examined the coins side-by-side, both naked eye with very good light, and using a lighted loupe, and can find absolutely no reason the 2024 would be graded so far below. There are no hairlines or other damage.
The PCGS pop report shows a total of 22 of the 2024 coins with 19 PF70, 2 PF69 and my red-headed step-child.
The question is, has there been instances where PCGS errantly enters the grade into their database/system? That's the only thing that makes sense to me.
Comments
Howdy and welcome.
I am certain that in all the time PCGS has been around that they have entered coins incorrectly, but certainly can't prove so in your case. Do you have TrueView images you might be able to share?
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Welcome to the forum.
While probably very rare, grading/data entry mistakes of that type can occur.
I once witnessed the results of one which was the reverse of what you asked about. Decades ago, David Hall showed me a group of several common date Walking Liberty halves that had been submitted for regrade. I’m not certain, but I think they were either all MS65 or 66. Somehow, a minor 😉😉😉 data input error was made and they ended up being graded MS68! As I recall, the submitter was giving David Hall a tough time about remedying the error. Apparently, he was planning on selling his windfall, rather than checking with PCGS to see if there was a mixup.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Give us the cert number so we can look at the trueview. I once had a couple 1968-S plastic proof sets with nice half dollars. I broke them up and sent in the half dollars. They came back 3 points apart. Looking at them, there was a scrape on the reverse of the lower scored one. I do not remember it, but I must have done a poor job removing them from the plastic.
errors of all types including grades are made on labels
we can't help without pictures
Thank you, @TomB and @MField.
Here are the 3 TruView pics.
I appreciate any input. I plan on resubmitting for reconsideration since the value delta between 64 and even 69 is significant, but hate to pay if it's PCGS' error.
attaching photos like files isn't the way to go
just drag and drop
i'm adverse to opening attached files, even pics
Thank you, TomB.
I just posted the TruView pics, but their not the ones with the cert #s. Here are the banner pics with the cert #s.
Thank you.
Images often hide flaws. That said, I don’t see anything on the 2024 that would explain a grade of 64 (or 65 or higher). It’s probably a real long shot and might very well lead to a waste of time and frustration. But you might try calling PCGS, explaining your confusion and seeing if they could check for any clues regarding how the coin graded 64. If you elect to do so, mention that you suspect that it might be an input error.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
just typing the cert numbers would be fine, too
They look really cool!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
That certainly is not a 64 in my eye.
bob
He who knows he has enough is rich.
The Canadian encapsulation is easy to break apart than the US Mint. I have to be very, very careful breaking the encapsulation for the coins I get from the US Mint. I try if at all possible to not touch the coin in any way. I've been successful leaving the coin in 1 side of the capsule, covering with the mylar flip and then lifting the capsule off the coin.
Sounds good and understand. Didn't realize you could drag and drop. Here they are. Not sure if this is right. I expected to see the actual pics, not a URL
Thank you. I'll give 'em a call Monday. I tried today, but guessing they were closed. Didn't get a closed greeting, but sat in queue for way too long.
They are. I just received the 2026 issue today. The Canadian mint does a very nice job. I've bought a lot of low to very low mintage coins from them over the past few years and they are all really beautiful coins.
$300, that is a whopper of a face value! Not that it matters much.
a 64 would not need magnification at all
if you look on a numeric keypad the 7 is above the 4 and on a keyboard the 5 is next to a 4.
a 65 would need no magnification. both the 64 and 65 would be visibly beat in hand. no one accidentally hit a 4 instead of a 5 since it's not a 65 to begin with.
the 67 doesn't fly with me either as a possible "meant a 67, not 64" it's not a 67 because there would be a couple or 3 noticabe marks visible in hand.
this is a flat out air ball from pcgs. it needs a complete re-visit to pcgs as a mechanical/grading error
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there is something bothersome in the field to the right of the second A in canada. should that "be something" it'd go absolutely no less than 68. simple discoloration would not "be something"
I assume you're talking about the very slight dark line. Maybe the TruView is picking up something that's not visible at all via the loupe, but that isn't at all detectable that I can see. But I'm very inexperienced so maybe it is something.
Thank you very much for your input.
there are some challenges ahead
first, you need to get ahold of a live body
then you need someone to listen. they hear from "wrong grade" people a lot. "it just can't be" !! they're going to be skeptical by default. the good news is that it's got a 64 hung around its neck.
thenyou have to figure out how to go about it from here
to me it's an error and pcgs should pay, but pcgs might say you need to pay for reconsideration. the good news here is that the label says 64.
In my line of work I have seen a lot of numbers written and can honestly say a 9 and a 4 can be mistaken if the 9 is not closed all the way. It is possible.
Those are extremely cool looking coins. Thanks for sharing them.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
Excellent advice from other posters regarding contacting PCGS, and inquiring about a probable 'clerical/mechanical' error on the grade.
As an alternative to calling, you might want to consider e-contact. Here are some recent instructions from PCGS for doing this.
The upside to the digital approach is the fact that you can include the TrueView images to bolster your case that there was an error. Just like you did here.
Edited: changed from "e-mail" to "e-contact" in the second paragraph.