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 Replies: 21 / Views: 2,349 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
701 Posts |
Hi, I sent two American Silver eagles for grading, and what I got back was "Questionable Color"....Is it, or isn't? If the experts don't know, then who. I received my coins in cardboard boxes not the regular plastic cases, and yet, I paid full price. The first picture is of one of my coins in raw state. Where do I go from here? Thanks for your advice, if any.    javascript:insertsmilie('  ') |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I agree entirely with PCGS.
It is often difficult to say with 100% certainty if toning is artificial or natural.
So PCGS hasn't.
It is for this reason that I personally do not credit any extra value to coins with attractive rainbow toning. For me, the value stays the same.
Like PCGS, I can't tell if artificial or natural, either.
I suspect that you may be disappointed with the PCGS result. I would just happily accept this coin exactly for what it is.
And that IS,
is OK.
Still a nice coin. There are many collectors who will still like the appearance.
There is a rather large body of opinion that suggests that
the grading and shipping fees are not justified, if the potential value per coin is less than $100.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
701 Posts |
@SEL_691, Aren't they trained...experts?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Completely unnatural looking.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
701 Posts |
@coinfrog, at least you're not undecided...I got it.
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
Questionable sources and unnatural toning aside, it still looks gorgeous. I'm sure someone will have an eye out for the rarity, even if it's frustrating to get multiple undetermined opinions.
Also, @coinfrog seems to know his way around a bit...and is pretty uncompromising in his opinions ;)
Thanks for sharing, all!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Questionable Color is PCGS' nice way to say "we are pretty sure somebody messed with it".
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5395 Posts |
No such thing as Natural or Artificial Toning with the grading companies ..... The New reality , MARKET ACCEPTABLE toning . Your coin is pretty , but the TPG was just covering their bases! You can get this kind of look on Eagles , Maples and 1 ounce Bars , just by having them in contact with wooden surfaces or surfaces with high sulphur content . We have a wooden cabinet that had two Canadian Maple Leaf Silver coins laying on top . Developed funky colours I have never even Knew existed ! Toned naturally from the wood , but I would guarantee NOT market acceptable ! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1667 Posts |
"what I got back was "Questionable Color"....Is it, or isn't? If the experts don't know, then who." it is "questionable color" meaning likely artificially toned, meaning they will not grade it. They gave you their opinion, and that's what you paid them for, their opinion of the coin. As far as the return packaging goes, they have those cardbord boxes for less than 10 slab submission returns now, and they usually use them for less than 5 coins so they can put the slips and returned materials in there also. If it's close to 10 or more they use the 20 coin plastic boxes still. They don't "charge" you for the slab holder they return orders in beyond whatever they charge in their submission fees. You don't pay extra for a 20 coin plastic holder or a 10 coin cardbord slab holder either way. Personally I kind of like the 10 slab box, it also takes NCG holders and will close still. Where do you go from here? you've got a coin in a slab with questionable color on it. If you don't like it you could crack it out, dip it properly and try resubmitting it, OR sell it as is in the slab, or crack it out and sell it as a super toned SAE like the coin cookers do on ebay. Or keep it. the third party graders give you an opinion for the price they charge, that's what they did. Agree or disagree with their opinion, that's up to you, but they did their job which was give you a professional opinion. Edited by Big-Kingdom
02/10/2021 11:54 am
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5191 Posts |
@Believe7,
did you buy this coin from Mike's Mountain Values?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
701 Posts |
@NumisEd...I got these here locally in southern CA.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
701 Posts |
@BigKingdom, I've been a member of PCGS for a few years now and I've never received, a cardboard box.
Own at least 6 of the real deal, must be hard times.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
701 Posts |
@PACIFICCOINS...Thanks for the info, gives me peace of mind.
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Valued Member
United States
271 Posts |
I can see PCGS not grading questionably toned coins or factoring in legitimate toning. If they provide a guarantee of value, they likely want to judge things that won't change and the origins are known, like date or mint mark. I wonder if they can be sued for making a determination of variable to unusual features without a large reference sample of similar coins to guide them with toning?
Stay well,
Diy89Nurm7
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8938 Posts |
@Believe, PCGS has switched to cardboard boxes due to a shortage of the plastic boxes. Their manufacturer is unable to produce and as such they have temporarily transitioned.
@Diy, they can't. Because the value of toning is subjective they will never assign a value to a toned coin beyond that of an untoned coin.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5246 Posts |
"Questionable colour"
In the CCF there have been many discussions of the possible subjectivity of grading, but there are written standards and pictures to use as a standard. With toning it seems there is no agreed upon method to determine artificial vs natural, so it seems sensible now to avoid giving an opinion. "questionable" to me means that it is too subjective for experts to give an opinion one way or the other.
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Replies: 21 / Views: 2,349 |
Posted 02/09/2021 6:14 pm
