Hi. Les Fox here. I am the creator of Precision Coin Grading Analysis, the first ever grading service to attempt to clarify the true meaning of PCGS, NGC and ANACS graded coins, as well as other certified coins. PCGA is a new concept, which remains to be market tested, and which is currently being looked at very skeptically as all new ideas should be. However, let me first tell you who I am so you know that this is a legitimate attempt to improve coin grading and not a get rich quick scheme. I am PCGS Dealer #2032 and ANA Life Member #1331 (since 1974). I am also the author of 5 editions of "Silver Dollar Fortune-Telling" (1977-1987) and "The U.S. Rare Coin Handbook" (2000), the only book ever to involve the participation of PCGS, NGC, the ANA and 12 major coin dealers including Stack's, David Hall, Heritage and many other well known numismatic firms. I've been a coin collector since 1957 (age 10) and a professional dealer since 1969. I also published "Numismatics And The Law" in the early 1980's, a quarterly journal which attempted to name rip-off coin dealers (several sued me, but all lost) and advise coin collectors and investors on important legal matters. Okay, so now you know I'm not some anonymous person trying to make a name for himself by re-grading PCGS coins. In fact, all I'm trying to do is to verify what experienced collectors and dealers already know: that all MS63, MS64, MS65 and MS66 coins are not absolutely identical, and that some 65's are "just made it" coins while others are "just missed 66" coins. Right now there is no way to tell the difference. That's what I'm hoping to accomplish with PCGA grading certificates (every coin personally examined by me, every certificate hand-signed by me). Will these certificates add value to a pre-certified coins? I hope so, but it's my job to prove it. Clearly, if thousands of people agree with my grading (MS65.2, MS65.6, MS65.9, etc) PCGA enhanced grade coins may begin to bring premium prices at auction. If not, I will be discredited. My challenge is to convince the numismatic market that I am right, but not that PCGS or NGC is wrong. However, in response to the suggestion here on Coin Talk that I will not grade a PCGS MS65 less than 65, that is not the case. I will grade coins as I believe they should be graded. In most cases, PCGS grading is accurate within half a grade, and a very small percentage of all PCGS coins are "way off." NGC is not quite as accurate, and some NGC coins are more than half a grade off (or else PCGS coins are undergraded). Other grading services like ICG, SEGS, etc. are generally less accurate than PCGS and NGC, but who knows what my PCGA certificates will reveal? As to "who" I will report my results to, the answer is: to everyone in the coin industry. Believe me, eventually you will see what I discover in the pages of Coin World and The Numismatist, on eBay, on Google, on my website, and possibly many other websites. Keep an eye on Precision Coin Grading Analysis. The time has come for people to learn the truth about coin grading, the good, the bad and the ugly. My certificates will represent only my personal professional opinion, and I do not remove PCGS or NGC coins from their holders. But my professional opinion, and my reputation is the coin field, is very well known and respected. I've been dealing in Gem quality U.S. coins for 37 years. In 1988, I auctioned the multi-million dollar "Amazing Gold Rarities" collection of super Gem and rare U.S. Gold coins with Stack's (try to find a catalog - you'll be amazed yourself) at the Plaza Hotel in New York, and I hired David Akers to write the catalog. I've written several articles for the Coin Dealer Newsletter, and I taught the late Jim Blanchard the rare coin business in 1974. If you don't know who I am, that's because I've been doing other things for the past 15 years. I build custom homes, I'm an art dealer and I am now manufacturing a patented calorie counter for the Curves Fitness chain. Precision Coin Grading Analysis may prove to be the new grading revolution. That's my plan, and it may take a few years. But even if it fails, my heart is in the right place. And believe me, I can grade coins with the best of them. Thanks for reading this. Comments, suggestions and criticism welcome. Have a great day! Les
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Originally Posted by Silver Striker http://www.precisioncoingrading.com/
WOW! Here's a service that re-examines the grades assigned by all the major grading services and assigns a additional point grade between .0 and .9. Using this service will essentially double your original grading/encapsulating fees. It would be cheaper just to break out your slabbed coin and resubmit.
Although I don't see it on their website this statement is shown on their e-bay auction... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=130021615664
WARNING: WE REPORT "OVERGRADED" COINS
WOW AGAIN! Report to whom? If it's an ICG coin and we all understand how they may be a little lax with their grades. I suppose that he will assume their grading standards and point grade accordingly to ICG standards. What a can of worms here.
OK then what about under graded coins?
I am assuming that his service makes an assumption that the coin is already graded super accurately since his service will only assessing a grade from .0 to .9 above the current assigned MS grade (or PR, AU, etc.)
I as a novice cannot understand any need for this service or the idea behind it by re-examining the majority of all the TPG companies as we all know they have their own differing standards of grading.
The service and fees are IMHO, questionable. |
