The PR-70DCAM Eisenhower Dollar That Isn't (Live Auction)

Considering I have submitted a number of Ikes - several of which came back, in my opinion, a point below expectations- I can say that they are generally strict. As for Proof Ikes- they have a history of handing out PR69DCAMS as if they were handing out Pez. 70s are another bird altogether. I have no clue as to why this thing made it... and maybe buying PR70DCAM Ikes is for crazy people or easy marks- but this looks no better than 68 to me.

I don't think that PCGS graders slowed down, magnified to 5x, and tripled up when grading the 25th anniversary sets that flooded them and the other top TPGs in the past months. This actually is my point about "professional" graders. They have been doing what they do enough (and are probably specialists in a few coin types) to grade accurately with the naked eye or with the aid of minor magnification (using a large lighted magnifier, maybe 2x, as a matter of course). They are good but some mistakes are made, few enough so as not to affect much, but some nonetheless. They probably don't spend more than 10 or 15 seconds per face, no matter what grade they are thinking of assigning. Basically they start at 70 and mark down from there and once both faces are viewed the lowest grade reached is assigned. If no mark downs were seen in the 30 or so seconds then 70 is assigned. Classic coin grading is probably different since 70s are not ever expected, even for proof coins, but modern mint direct coins, especially those of the past decade, are expected to be 69 or 70 with a very few 66-68 specimens thrown in. All of this doesn't mean they are being sloppy or even that they are setting their own standards aside. It just means that they are being practical and efficient. If a grader has become good enough that his/her 30 second grades are always the same as ones assigned using more time consuming methods (or with a few in a thousand mistakes) then there really isn't an issue. It still doesn't mean that I am going to pay for a coin based solely on its assigned grade and a book price. I am going to look at the coin and set a value of my own, using the assigned grade as a starting point. Even at PCGS, not all 70s are equal. There is a range of "perfection" and a range of values because of that. When "perfect" coins demand such a significant premium over "almost perfect" ones, I am never going to buy them sight unseen. I need images that I can grade from for myself.

I have no issue with buying PCGS graded coins...I just won't pay a premium for them