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What If We Think The Coins We Sent To Be Graded Are Not Right

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jbuck's Avatar
United States
187446 Posts
 Posted 01/13/2025  12:53 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
to the Community!

Your post was moved to the appropriate forum for the proper attention.
Pillar of the Community
United States
780 Posts
 Posted 01/13/2025  5:59 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add donnie59 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
A good grader can spend 30 seconds and tell you the grade.


I never said I was a good Coin Grader.

To my understanding, PCGS uses a consensus of three graders to issue a grade on a coin. I know this may take more than 30 seconds, and I can only assume they take their work seriously. The issue I have, and we've all seen it, coins are frequently under/over graded. Some of the worst instances are Full Steps and Full Bands. These coins are Graded for the Market, and sometimes the standards are very loose. I'm not against TPG's, but for me I only use them for very specific, and valuable coins.
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hfjacinto's Avatar
United States
7273 Posts
 Posted 01/13/2025  6:53 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add hfjacinto to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
To my understanding, PCGS uses a consensus of three graders to issue a grade on a coin


I know a grader on another forum and while it's 3 people, it's not a consensus.

First person (the grader) reviews and assigns a grade.

The coin is moved to an approver, that person reviews the grade and either accepts it or sends it back to reviewer person 1 with his notes

Person 1 can agree with approver or not. That's when a 3rd person comes in.

Either way after the grade is approved by 2 people the coin is sent to QA for a final approval.

Generally coins would only go to a 3rd person if they are high value/ rare / conditional rarities or the grade is questionable (usually with early coppers or issued with known striking issues). He hated these as it messed up his metrics.

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Freespeech57's Avatar
United States
613 Posts
 Posted 01/13/2025  11:10 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Freespeech57 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
In regard to the original post, any assistance from the forum will require pictures.
As to the broader question of TPG and grading generally, all collectors should study coin types (for unique issues, strikes, etc) and practice, practice, practice grading coins in hand, photo grade, or any other opportunity to review coins. It is educational and fun.
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United States
780 Posts
 Posted 01/14/2025  09:26 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add donnie59 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
@hfjacinto, Thanks for the details on the approval process!
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Australia
852 Posts
 Posted 01/22/2025  12:43 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add nealeffendi to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
The best method to learn to grade according to TPG standards is to own a number of already slabbed cheaper coins of the same denominations as your raw coins. For $260 you could have purchased 10 or 20 slabbed coins from dealers bins and then compared them to your coins. Then you might have determined that your coins are no better than the best/most expensive slab coin you purchased from the dealer and it that best coin was sold to you for say 20 bucks then you know it isn't worthwhile slabbing your coins.
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TinyRetreat's Avatar
United States
345 Posts
 Posted 01/23/2025  02:00 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add TinyRetreat to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
"Tuition" ... unfortunately. This was an expensive lesson.
Valued Member
United States
104 Posts
 Posted 02/05/2025  12:02 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Benny w to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I just sent in 8 to pcgs and 3 came back cleaned and 1 came back questionable color. . I was going to do a guess the Grade but I can't figure out for the life of me how to post a Pic on this forum anymore. Ive posted many in the past from my phone....anyways not the point of my post. As good as I think I am at grading coins I humbled myself and bought some incandescent bulbs 75w turned off all the freakin lights and ran should have done what I used to run through the basics before I sent in these 8 coins. I Thought I could see hairlines with the jansco lights but these coins could really go either way. Will post in new topic but to the op.....don't get discouraged. Buy a lot of books before you buy a lot of what you think are good coins to buy. Remember to only buy coins from a very trusted dealer and you shouldn't buy raw coins when your still this new to the hobby. Only send to PCGS,NGC and CAC imo and never buy coins that are a " good deal" because when you go to sell them it will be difficult. Pay a little more and buy a coin with nice eye appeal.
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