Comparasets

From my collecting days back in the 1980's I found these printouts called ELLESMERE NUMISMATICS. Near as I can remember you sent your coin in to Numismatic Certification Institute for grading. They than sent you back a certificate with the grade, date and owner's stated value with a picture of the obverse and reverse of your coin. Also there are pictures of other coins of the same date and mint, with similar grades. For instance I have one for a 1882-S Morgan dollar in MS-65, pictured front and back on a page with the obverses of a MS-65, 64,63,and 60. I also have one for a 1828 Large Cent I sent in that came back XF-40. I think I still have the Morgan, but not the Large Cent. Oh well. I guess this was the beginning of the professional grading craze that has terminated with the slabbing companies. I guess the fatal flaw was there was no way to prove that your coin was the same one pictured. Of course they solved that with another fatal flaw, encasing a coin in plastic for all time, so no one could ever hold it or enjoy it again. Oops my bias is showing. Anyone else been around long enough to remember these early professional graders?