Not illegal - there's no violation of law here. The auction MAY violate
that limit usage of numerical values of grade from unapproved TPGs. The problem there is that the TOS itself is unclear, requiring both a full front/back picture, plus not listing various unapproved information.
Quote:Graded coins and approved grading companies
A graded coin is one that has received a numeric grade (MS-65, for example) from a coin grading company. This numeric grade can be included in the title, description, or item specifics of the listing only if the coin has been graded by a company that has been found by us to meet certain minimum objective criteria.
Single coins listed in the Coins & Paper Money > Coins: US category with a starting bid price, reserve price, or Buy It Now price of $2,500 or more must receive a numeric grade from an approved grading company, and the numeric grade must be included in the listing. This requirement doesn't apply to bullion listings or collections, lots, or sets listed within the Coins & Paper Money > Coins: US category.
Approved grading companies:
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC)
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)
American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS)
Independent Coin Graders (ICG)
Criteria for approved grading companies
To be an approved grading service on
ebay, the grading company must, at minimum, meet the following objective criteria:
The service has graded at least 50,000 pre-1956 coins.
The service provides a live, online population report.
There are at least 3 graders on staff who are considered numismatic experts. A numismatic expert is an individual who has been a full-time numismatist for at least 5 years. At least 1 of the graders should be a member of the Professional Numismatists Guild, and all 3 should be members of the American Numismatic Association.
The service provides a written buyback guarantee for coins later determined to be counterfeit, damaged, misgraded, or misattributed.
Slabbed coins must be encased in a unique, tamper resistant holder with anti-counterfeiting measures (such as a hologram or other method).
The service enables online verification of unique serial numbers.
If a coin isn't graded by one of these grading companies, it's considered raw and must meet the requirements for raw coin listings.
A coin graded by a non-approved grading company can be listed, but the numeric grade can't be included in the title, description, or item specifics. You can't include an image of the coin in its graded holder if that image shows a grade that is not completely obscured and unreadable on the photo.
We're always looking for companies that meet our grading criteria. Coin grading companies that meet these standards are encouraged to contact us.
Raw coins
A raw coin is one that hasn't been graded by a coin grading company, or has been graded, but not by an approved grading company.
Listings for raw coins must follow these guidelines:
The numeric grade (such as MS-65, VF-25) isn't included in the title, description, or item specifics of the listing.
No estimate of value (even if personal opinion) or reference to a price guide is included in the title or description.
The listing includes photos of the front and back of the coin being sold, and you are authorized to use the photos. Stock photos and images that are dark, out of focus, edited, or misleading aren't allowed.
Photos or scans of coins in holders from a non-approved grading company cannot show a grade. The grade must be completely obscured and unreadable.
The starting, reserve, or Buy It Now price for the coin is less than $2,500.
Posted 08/25/2015 12:08 pm
