Just curious-- how closely do dealers monitor and interpret the Guess The Grade threads?

Longacre · February 23, 2007 2:31AM

Personally, I love the Guess The Grade threads. Although it is hard to grade from a picture, the threads give a general idea of how good (or bad) board members are at grading. Does anyone know if there is some sinister aspect to these threads (from a dealer perspective)? I am not implying anything, but if people on the boards are continually off on their grade guesses, does that give dealers an unfair insight into a collector's grading abilities? For example, I just answered a GTG tread about a Southern gold coin, and I was way off on my guesses. Do dealers snicker in front of their computer monitors and say, "that Longacre guy can't grade worth a damn. If you see him on the bourse, sell him your overgraded junk because he will never know the difference."

CharlotteDude · February 23, 2007 2:46AM

I'm not a dealer, but I did snicker a little bit when I saw your grades, Longacre

Honestly though, I'm not a dealer, but I also doubt any professional numis would actually discount one's guestimation with a smirk, based solely on a photograph. Of course, if the coin is clearly in the XF-40 to AU-58 range, and the guess was VG-10, that would be a different story!

A good example as to why it's really about having the coin in hand to render a comfortable assessment. This way your chances of getting Stacks'd decrease significantly.

'dude

ScarsdaleCoin · February 23, 2007 2:47AM

I did not give it any thought...but now I am going to keep a little black book..... Longacre you can be my first entry...LOL

RedTiger · February 23, 2007 2:54AM

I'm not a dealer, however, I do wonder about some folk's grading ability. Especially those folks sinking major dollars into high grade coins, who don't seem to be able to grade worth a damn. Dealers love these folks because these are often the folks that buy the maxed out, low-end-for-the-grade coins at full retail prices.

Overall I have been impressed by many, though the quality of the images is a big factor. Those really big images magnify any hits, so most people tend to grade lower on those. There are plenty of novices offering their guesses, and as expected, many are way off.

I believe that I have become a better grader because of the many guess the grade threads. There are some series I don't collect and at least by looking at the threads, I get an idea of what folks look at for those coins.

Longacre · February 23, 2007 2:55AM

<< <i>I did not give it any thought...but now I am going to keep a little black book..... Longacre you can be my first entry...LOL >>

That will cost you an extra piece of candy at Baltimore.

ziggy29 · February 23, 2007 2:57AM

<< <i>I'm not a dealer, however, I do wonder about some folk's grading ability. Especially those folks sinking major dollars into high grade coins, who don't seem to be able to grade worth a damn. Dealers love these folks because these are often the folks that buy the maxed out, low-end-for-the-grade coins at full retail prices. >>

Didn't we just have a thread about "darlings" of the rare coin business like this not long ago?

mozeppa · February 23, 2007 9:29AM

they don't.

CaptainRon · February 23, 2007 9:48AM

I guess it would be possible, but damn that would take a lot work and effort. I just don't think someone would have the time. Besides can't most dealers get a general idea, on how likely the person is to be decent grader, just by talking to them a bit. Seems like what questions a collector would ask, and how they react to the answers would be a big enough tip right there.

JMO
Ron

Just curious-- how closely do dealers monitor and interpret the Guess The Grade threads?

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