About Top 3 TPGs

Coin collecting and grading is a very personal thing to a lot of people. If they did start using the technology this way, I think some people would not like it, but if it would make for a more consistent grading system, then I think it would be good. As I said earlier, I would like to see this because it would allow us to, eventually, get a more accurate count on some of the coins and their grades that are being resubmitted so many times. I think the people writing the software would have to be pretty aware of what makes a certain grade and what does not. Same with damaged, cleaned and brushed coins, as well as counterfeits. It would be a very interesting project.

The technology to actually do it right is rather more involved than one might first think. The scanning instrument requires micron-level resolution to differentiate between scratches and luster breaks, and this level of resolution comes with the tradeoff of lessened depth-of-field. An instrument capable of both high resolution, and sufficient depth-of-field to accurately survey a high-relief coin, is state-of-the-art even today. Now, further complicating the situation, one must consider speed. The scan must occur in a production environment, quickly enough to make the operation cost-effective and profitable.

Then one must consider the intangibles of eye appeal - luster, toning and the like. I believe that an economically-viable implementation exists with today's technology - I've talked to people on the technology end who believe it can be done - but the resulting product will require a sea change in the TPG industry.

It is, to me, a shame that PCGS has the process patented, because they have a vested interest in keeping it from the market.

I fear for all these reasons, we're not gonna see machine (computer) coin grading anytime soon. The top TPGs have too firm a grip on the market and have fought change to the current system for decades.