Not to bash PCGS, but...

Shamika · September 22, 2007 3:13AM

Is there a series that you think PCGS could do better at grading?

fc · September 22, 2007 3:14AM

seems grade inflation has made a joke of this question.
their standards are fluid.

sTONER · September 22, 2007 3:30AM

everything,,

Swampboy · September 22, 2007 3:37AM

Poof!

not the thread either, the forum.

roadrunner · September 22, 2007 3:49AM

I can't think of any series that PCGS is weak in. There are some where they are too hard much of the time. Yet if you asked what NGC tended to be too liberal on, too often, I could give you a number of choices. And I don't drink Kool-aid since 80% of what I own is NGC graded.

roadrunner

Zoins · September 22, 2007 3:50AM

But are there any series where other TPGs are better than PCGS?

LindeDad · September 22, 2007 3:58AM

Is there a series that you think PCGS could do better at grading?

Just for grins tell us who is better at any of them.

al410 · September 22, 2007 3:59AM

I don't believe there is any TPG better then PCGS in grading any series, Watch any auction and see which coin always is considered more valuable, it is ones in PCGS holders and that is for a reason.
JMO

AL

RYK · September 22, 2007 4:01AM

I think that they do not understand circulated southern gold. The grading is all over the place.

Zoins · September 22, 2007 4:01AM

They could consider adding a line for FBL.

NumisOxide · September 22, 2007 4:06AM

I would say Feuchtwanger's Cents.

AU58WALKERS · September 22, 2007 4:09AM

I buy the coins and not the plastic....BUT...
If I am going to keep the coin in plastic, off to pcgs it goes for a "cross at any grade".

I like the taste of their KOOLAID!

GFourDriver · September 22, 2007 4:09AM

I think they have been a bit inconsistent in their grading of Matte Proof Lincolns lately. I don't mind conservative grading but consistency is all important.

Gemineye · September 22, 2007 4:14AM

<< Is there a series that you think PCGS could do better at grading? >>

I'm trying to build a low budget Kennedy series of the clad issues.The Silvers are done..and I'm satisfied with that.
I have no problem with their grading.In fact I find it quite good with respect to the grade vs price issue.

MrEureka · September 22, 2007 4:18AM

PCGS is extremely good at grading problem-free coins. They're more erratic when it comes to grading coins with non-fatal problems. (PCGS is not unusual in this respect. Everyone has the same problem, because the coins are more difficult to grade, and net grades are more subjective.) So I would answer the question by saying that the series in which PCGS has the most room to improve are the series in which net-grading is the most prevalent. Colonials, Early Type and Pioneer Gold come to mind. Perhaps it would be useful for PCGS to have more graders grade each coin in these series.

Doogy · September 22, 2007 5:01AM

<< But are there any series where other TPGs are better than PCGS? >>

yes, world coins. PCGS often mis-grades and mis-attributes world coins. that is one of the reasons you see mostly NGC slab in large world coin auctions, that and PCGS takes about a month and a half turnaround. I crossed all of mine over to NGC and have a half dozen more scarce world issues that will soon be NGC.

Doogy · September 22, 2007 5:08AM

<< PCGS is extremely good at grading problem-free coins. They're more erratic when it comes to grading coins with non-fatal problems. (PCGS is not unusual in this respect. Everyone has the same problem, because the coins are more difficult to grade, and net grades are more subjective.) So I would answer the question by saying that the series in which PCGS has the most room to improve are the series in which net-grading is the most prevalent. Colonials, Early Type and Pioneer Gold come to mind. Perhaps it would be useful for PCGS to have more graders grade each coin in these series. >>

seems like net grading for damage is all too common. both services foam at the mouth to have the rarest US and world issues in their holders, and will often overlook cleaning, etc. this 1893-S Morgan was recently on the BST forum, and i'd say it was cleaned and shows it. probably shouldn't have been slabbed at all.

bushmaster8 · September 22, 2007 5:31AM

<< seems grade inflation has made a joke of this question.
their standards are fluid. >>

What he said!

MrEureka · September 22, 2007 5:31AM

this 1893-S Morgan was recently on the BST forum, and i'd say it was cleaned and shows it. probably shouldn't have been slabbed at all.

Based on the picture, I'd say the coin is 100% salable as a problem-free coin, even without the plastic. Was it cleaned a little bit once upon a time? Maybe, but hardly enough to matter to 95% of the serious buyers for the coin.

Doogy · September 22, 2007 5:36AM

<< this 1893-S Morgan was recently on the BST forum, and i'd say it was cleaned and shows it. probably shouldn't have been slabbed at all.

Based on the picture, I'd say the coin is 100% salable as a problem-free coin, even without the plastic. Was it cleaned a little bit once upon a time? Maybe, but hardly enough to matter to 95% of the serious buyers for the coin. >>

Andy - seems like the "market grading" versus "technical grading" difference to me. Is is rare? absolutely! Is it still collectable? no doubt, and worth a bundle of money. but.....i'd hazard a guess if that coin were a common date, it wouldn't be housed in plastic due to the old cleaning.

oxy8890 · September 22, 2007 5:56AM

I have been very pleased with PCGS so far.

PerryHall · September 22, 2007 5:57AM

How is PCGS grading of early copper including colonials?

doh · September 22, 2007 6:13AM

I'm a big PCGS fan, so I can't badmouth them too much. I don't know if they're weak in any particular category, but I think they vary a lot in lower grade Merc Dimes and all circ grades of Morgan Dollars. Not too change the subject or anything, but NGC can't grade an Indian Cent to save their lives....

This is why we buy the coin and not the holder

Cgb · September 22, 2007 6:16AM

I have no problems at all with PCGS.

But still; Buy the Coin, not the Holder.

MrEureka · September 22, 2007 6:24AM

i'd hazard a guess if that coin were a common date, it wouldn't be housed in plastic due to the old cleaning.

Based on the picture, I disagree. And forget about "market grading" versus "technical grading". The debate is really about "PCGS grading" versus "Doogy grading".

TwoSides2aCoin · September 22, 2007 6:28AM

In a perfect world, we all are !
I use PCGS, exclusively..., but that doesn't mean I always agree.

7over8 · September 22, 2007 6:31AM

the coin pictured was not in any way cleaned.

i've said this many times before on this forum, you guys are way too quick to crucify a coin, determine it was cleaned, whizzed, etc, etc etc

i think most on this forum havent had enough experience even grading these raw, well before grading services did it for you.

i had a similar 93-s morgan offered at ask, raw, and several DEALERS "buried" the coin as cleaned, etc. i mentioned that they didnt know what they were looking at, which was circulation "chatter", and vowed they would see the coin in my case the next month +$1000 richer in price

it certified 5 points higher than my expectation at PCGS and i sold it soooooo fast the next show at + 1250 over the last month's price raw......

the dealers who labeled the piece cleaned, etc, had thier heads hung low

MidLifeCrisis · September 22, 2007 6:38AM

<< How is PCGS grading of early copper including colonials? >>

Colonials are generally harder to grade than other coins, mainly because of minting processes and striking characteristics. So I'm sure they are hard for PCGS, NGC or any other TPG to grade - especially consistently.

Of course, buy the coin and not the holder. However, 99% of the time I would choose a PCGS graded coin over the same coin graded by any other TPG. This is mainly because of their solid reputation with the US Federal series across the board.

In fact, if I see a coin I like in some other TPG slab, one of my first questions is "Will it cross to PCGS?" If both I and my dealer aren't very confident it will cross, I'll pass or haggle for a discount.

Nic · September 22, 2007 6:51AM

Early type in all metals.

What is wrong with that circ. Morgan? Must have missed a worse pic.

K

ColonialCoinUnion · September 22, 2007 7:22AM

<< PCGS is extremely good at grading problem-free coins. They're more erratic when it comes to grading coins with non-fatal problems. (PCGS is not unusual in this respect. Everyone has the same problem, because the coins are more difficult to grade, and net grades are more subjective.) So I would answer the question by saying that the series in which PCGS has the most room to improve are the series in which net-grading is the most prevalent. Colonials, Early Type and Pioneer Gold come to mind. Perhaps it would be useful for PCGS to have more graders grade each coin in these series. >>

I think this is an excellent answer.

Nic · September 22, 2007 7:24AM

Agree CCU. Nice post Andy. K

Edscoin · September 22, 2007 7:59AM

Well they are good at Grading Jefferson Nickels,BUT they don't have a clue what Full Steps are!

Steve27 · September 22, 2007 8:31AM

I think they could do a better job with all coins; there seem to be too many good coins BB'd for "cleaning."

Scavenger · September 22, 2007 8:48AM

If this question would have come up a year ago I probably would have thrown in a sarcastic answer. But, looking back at what I submitted and the grades and/or bodybags I recieved, I think PCGS gets it right most of the time. We all make mistakes once in a while.

Shamika · September 22, 2007 9:04AM

<< Well they are good at Grading Jefferson Nickels, BUT they don't have a clue what Full Steps are! >>

I tend to agree.

DJCoinz · September 22, 2007 10:38AM

<< They could consider adding a line for FBL. >>

Not to bash PCGS, but...

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