Who is the best upgrade guy?

JSsson · August 6, 2005 11:02AM

I keep hearing about dealers and some collectors who submit coins often to get a higher grade. Who are some of the best upgrade guys in the business today?

Do the upgrade guys set up at shows, and how do they get to buy the better coins for the grade?

F117ASR · August 6, 2005 11:19AM

100proof1957 · August 6, 2005 11:20AM

Pretty technical ? for a NOOB

roadrunner · August 6, 2005 11:23AM

Probably the Heritage gang...at least on pre-1930 coinage. There are certainly a number of individual dealers who are very good at this but Heritage is like a machine and they have extraordinary resources and skills.

roadrunner

Coinhusker1 · August 6, 2005 11:51AM

<< Pretty technical ? for a NOOB >>

Yeah, we are probably getting a lot of noobs from Ohio.

Russ · August 6, 2005 11:59AM

<< Yeah, we are probably getting a lot of noobs from Ohio. >>

Russ, NCNE

morgannut2 · August 6, 2005 12:13PM

Among the best "eyes" in the business IMHO are: Jim Halperin at Heritage, Warren Mills at Rare Coins of NH., the buyers for Steve Contousi at Rare Coin Wholesalers, and several others names I forget (look at the finalists in The PCGS grading contest). Part of their problem is staying unknown--I at least, watch their bids at auctions when the series I collect comes up. Probably one of the best collector' eyes is TDN, although Legend largely buys without his examining the coins first.

pharmer · August 6, 2005 12:47PM

Hmm, best upgrade guy... Well, now that you mention Ohio, would it be Tom? No. Although he did get some nice upgrades, right?

JSsson · August 6, 2005 12:56PM

<< Pretty technical ? for a NOOB >>

100proof1957,

I've been buying certified coins for a few years now, so I am aware of the whole upgrade thing that some dealers try.

michael · August 6, 2005 3:58PM

ryan carroll

jim helprin

CTcollector · August 6, 2005 10:27PM

I would have to agree with the Warren Mills recomendation. Not that Warren is a pervasive crack out guy, he just has an excellent eye. I have been buying coins from Warren's firm (rare coins of NH) for the better part of 3 years now. Occasionally, I get a note with the coins I receive, that says something to the effect - you have a first shot at this coin, if you decide to pass we are going to try to up-grade. A couple of times I have passed and sure enough the coin was on his website at a higher grade a few weeks later. After a few times, I got the hint. Also - what is good about Warren, is that he will review your coins and recommend an up-grade and do the submitting. I believe the customer pays the fees, but if the coin up-grades, he takes a small cut (I think an 1/8 of the increased value ?, I forget). Most other reputable dealers pay the fees and take a 50% cut. Some slimeball dealers, just buy the coin at current value, up-grade the coin and keep the increased value themselves.

merz2 · August 7, 2005 12:27AM

I believe Andy of Angel Dee's would have to rank up there with Helprin.IMHO

dizzyfoxx · August 7, 2005 12:28AM

<Who is the best upgrade guy?>

I understand how the "grading game" can work but having said that, the title of this thread is troubling to me.

Shouldn't a given coin stand on its' own merit regardless of whose "hands" re-submit it???

I think this is a part of the hobby that is a little

. ...JMHO

dizzyfoxx · August 7, 2005 1:00AM

<< 

<< Shouldn't a given coin stand on its' own merit regardless of whose "hands" re-submit it??? >>

Dizzyfoxx, in answer to your question - absolutely. I think you might have misunderstood the point of the discussion, however. It is about who is best at knowing/choosing which coins have the best chance at up-grades, not about one person having any more influence than another. >>

Actually that is how I interpreted the thread. I don't think that anyone is specifically influential on getting upgrades, I just feel that a coin should completely stand on its' own merit and if it was graded and slabbed in a given grade, and it's thought to be under-graded, then I would think most anyone who knows their coins should be able to spot a worthy upgrade candidate, and re-submit it for an upgrade to its' proper holder...JMHO

coinguy1 · August 7, 2005 1:08AM

<< ...then I would think most anyone who knows their coins should be able to spot a worthy upgrade candidate, and re-submit it for an upgrade to its' proper holder >>

Ah, but some "know their coins" much (much, much) better than others.

Sorry I (incorrectly) thought you had misunderstood part of the thread's point.

rainbowroosie · August 7, 2005 2:53AM

MS 68

JSsson · August 7, 2005 3:33AM

RegistryCoin · August 7, 2005 5:13AM

That's to discern from the rich, the really rich, the really, really, really, rich, the filthy rich, and the wealthy.

RegistryCoin · August 7, 2005 5:23AM

It is an awe-inspiring art we should all aspire to.

morgannut2 · August 8, 2005 6:16PM

The problem with using any of the names is telling the difference between an auction coin that is bought just to make a quick $150 wholesale-- verses an upgrade candidate. You still need to grade well to compete with these guys, and obviously on the bourse it's a lost cause as they get first crack on dealers day--

mercurydimeguy · August 9, 2005 1:33AM

I concur with the names that have been mentioned thus far, especially Warren -- he really has a good eye for coins. Andy Lustig has a great eye for coins also -- he happened to have placed 2nd in the PCGS grading contest a couple of weeks ago in S.F...impressive.

I would also add that it is very likely that some of the best upgrade people in the industry aren't even known to most, and they're probably smart to stay that way -- "flying under the radar". They might not even really be "in the industry," professionally speaking, but rather long-time collectors/numismatists.

dorkkarl · August 9, 2005 4:17AM

<< Who is the best upgrade guy? >>

david hall, PERIOD.

K S

tradedollarnut · August 9, 2005 4:37AM

Did all the people on this list work for grading services at one time or another (except for TDN)?

That's not me she's alluding to in the NW.

Who is the best upgrade guy?

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