The reason is that grading standards change over time. Very slowly, but they do.
There's actually a nice little "sub article" about this in the introduction to the past few years' ANA Grading Standards book from Whitman Publishing. Let me see if I can find a quote...
There's actually a nice little "sub article" about this in the introduction to the past few years' ANA Grading Standards book from Whitman Publishing. Let me see if I can find a quote...
Quote:
21st Century Reality Check
Now, in the present 6th edition of this book, certain coins that might have been graded as VG-8, such as an Indian Head cent with not all of the letters visible in the word LIBERTY, can be graded Fine-12. Lest a reader get the wrong idea, this book reports the grading being used in the marketplace. It does not create it. [...] Perhaps lke the English languge, coin grades change based upon their use. [...] It may well happen that grading interpretations will shift some more in the future.
(Page 14)
21st Century Reality Check
Now, in the present 6th edition of this book, certain coins that might have been graded as VG-8, such as an Indian Head cent with not all of the letters visible in the word LIBERTY, can be graded Fine-12. Lest a reader get the wrong idea, this book reports the grading being used in the marketplace. It does not create it. [...] Perhaps lke the English languge, coin grades change based upon their use. [...] It may well happen that grading interpretations will shift some more in the future.
(Page 14)
Edited by SteveCaruso
08/11/2012 7:30 pm
08/11/2012 7:30 pm



















