Statistical Odds Of Getting A PF70 Coin

You're kidding, right?

This bears itself out in the pop reports for modern proofs. Nearly all get a 69 or 70 grade.

In round numbers - Buy 2 proofs from the U.S. Mint and 1 will grade 70. Granted submissions for any "problem" proofs are not being accounted for because those ones are rarely submitted.

Why would you want to get a modern coin slabbed when the norm for the coin should be a very high MS number ?

Statistically speaking yes. Now remember you can flip a coin 4 times and get "heads" 4 times but the odds of doing it are 16 to 1.

You bet acramos1: If you are selective in what you submit, you have good odds at getting a 70 from PCGS on a modern proof.

In simple terms; Let's say you buy 3 proof sets from the U.S. Mint. Under 10X magnification 2 of the 3 look perfect. You submit those 2 pieces. Odds are 1 of them will come back a 70. A good dealer can help you with this. Some coins are not worth submitting and any PCGS dealer can help you with that.

wheezydog: I don't think higher grades are being given out these days. Older proofs will rarely grade 70 and a 69 if tough to get if we're talking about coins minted more than 20 years ago.

Hey bherring1964, so if I bought two 1986 Proof Silver American Eagles, one of them might come back PF70 Ultra Cameo?

There again those are not new proofs from the mint. A 23 year old coin is unlikely to grade 70 at any major TPG. Tarnish and haze can creep in within a few years of minting, the coin has changed hands at least once and there's a good chance it's been removed from it's capsule at some point.

My example is based on recent (within the last 5 years) purchases from the U.S. Mint that have not been removed from the original mint capsules. Most of these coins will grade 69 or 70. If you are selective about which ones you submit, I believe you have a 50% chance of getting a 70.