PCGS Grading Ticking Me Off..

Just asking, how much does it cost to have coins graded by NGC or PCGS?

I think the 1885 is a little overgraded, and I would consider the quarter to be an AG but typically what the TPG's would call a Good. Grade wise I think they did good on the flying eagle but they may have missed something. There appears to be a clashmark on the reverse to the right of the T in CENT and below the T. I don't think that clashmark comes from the obverse of a FE cent. At least it doesn't look like it matches up to me. The 1857 coins with muled clashmarks tend to bring some pretty good money. The clash to the right of the T reminds me of the space between the hand and the cap on a Seated quarter.

Conder, according to every grading set of guidlines I have read land that quarter square on Good. And the 85 is most certainly a 64. But this simply points to how grading can be subjective to a point. Plus, I dont take the absolute best pics.

As for the FE, I can see absolutely nothing in that area. Looking with a 10x glass, and nothing but smooth copper. I would LOVE to find something like a die clash and make it even better.

First off, don't take PCGS opinions to heart. When they bag a coin it doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong, it simply means it's a coin they don't want in one of their holders. Unless it was obviously altered, harshly cleaned, AT'd or fake, it's just how they are. Honestly, IMO, most of the coins I've seen them reject are fine. You should hear my dealer rant. Everyone that submits coins complains at some point. It's all part of the game.

On your puck, I see it's basically flawless. When you get to the 66 and up grades PCGS and NGC grade mostly on luster. I've seen lots of blazing coins with more hits and some 65 and lower graded coins get 67 holders. It's really to the point of being ridiculous for both of them. They will ignore blemishes in favor of glowing luster. To them both: superior luster = higher grade. I suspect they didn't like the luster of your coin regardless of the quality. Again, I don't know much about these, but I suspect the higher graded examples are simply more lusterous.

As far as the questionable color BB, very, very common these days. It doesn't mean the coin has been artificially colored or AT'd. It means it doesn't fit their ultra conservative guidelines and nothing more. At the last trip to my dealer he had quite the stack of PCGS and NGC body bags, all relating to color. This is a guy that KNO .s inside out and upside down. IMO, none of the coins desirved to be bagged and all were legit (otherwise he would not have submitted). He usually just cracks the slabs and sells them raw. Sometimes he'll submit to the other grading service and sometimes back to the same one if he really wants the slab.....and....sometimes they come back slabbed. LOL

The whole TPG thing is not much more than a game. Don't take it to heart!

I get that it can be a game. My anger is that it IS a game. Just grade the blasted coin in a fair realistic manner. Its what I paid for.

We shall see how the Yosemite and Grand Canyons go. But at this point my PCGS membership will be a one year deal only.

Of course, I agree.

"A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?" - Joshua, War Games.

I am not collecting plastic. The simple fact of the matter remains that a graded coin has a higher value. I want some of my coins graded. They key date coins, the high grade coins, the investment coins, like that. Sort of like Car fax for coins IMO. I do not go out and search for graded coins to "buy the plastic."

As an example. In another thread I posted pics of some of my 1959 black beauty nickels. *I* know they are black beauties. *I* know they are MS63+ coins. Am I going to get a good premium per coin based on the fact that *I* know what they are? NO. Now, those same coins in TPG slab with the black beauty designation and there you go. A buyer seeing that attribute and grade from a known TPG like PCGS, NGC, ANACS or ICG will assure a buyer they are not being ripped off.

That aside, I am ditching PCGS. I compared their prices to ANACS (something I should have done BEFORE I paid for membership, I know) and the difference is ridiculous. To get those black beauties graded at PCGS is 58 bucks a coin. At ANACS, 24 bucks. Basic 15 day grading at PCGS, 30 bucks. ANACS, 19 bucks. AND I dont have to pay a membership fee at ANACS. Top tier company...top tier fees is more like it.

A quote from the official ANA grading standards book for Washington quarters:

Good, G4

Obverse: Hair is well worn with very little detail remaining. Half of motto is readable. LIBERTY and date are weak but visible. RIM MERGES WITH LETTERS. (My emphasis)

Reverse: Eagle is worn nearly flat but is completely outlined. Leaves, breast, and legs are worn smooth. Legend is visible BUT MERGES WITH RIM. (again my emphasis)

As I said, this is from the ANA handbook. If I cant go by ANA standards, what exactly am I supposed to use?