PCGS slab error

I've seen about the same number of these errors called "mechanical errors" by both PCGS and NGC. It is unfortunate when it happens, but as others mentioned the errors often start when people fill out the submission form wrong. I agree that the finalizer in the grading process should be watching a little more closely to these things don't get out.

I have had a few of these mechanical errors on past submissions and I know for sure PCGS will pay shipping both ways and correct it for free if they think it's a big enough error. For example, if they had a regular 1909 VDB in a holder that says 1909-S VDB... they wouldn't want that out on the market and they'd make sure it gets fixed. But in most cases you at least need to pay to ship it to them (or drop it off to them in person at a major coin show).

Speaking of mechanical errors, something like the difference between VDB and no VDB is easy to see. Also, whether a coin has a mintmark or not is easy to spot just by looking at it. But if the major grading companies can still make mechanical errors of this type, isn't it also likely that the grade itself may have a mechanical error??? When you're looking at that coin graded MS65RD, maybe it was supposed to have been MS64RD or maybe MS66RD??? I've seen mistakes like that which were obvious. I've seen a VF Indian Cent that was in an MS64RB holder!!!! an obvious mistake. But would a MS64RD in an MS65RD holder be obvious???

Bottom line, never rely 100% on what is written on the label.

 

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They exist. Sometimes just simple mechanical errors and sometimes they blow it completely. I collect Conder tokens and you should never buy an NGC slabbed Conder without double checking the attribution. I have seen a LOT of misattributions. The worst was one where the D&H # was wrong, the county was wrong, the denomination was wrong and the edge inscription was wrong, all on one coin. Then there is one Middlesex variety, I believe it was 342, that they are batting a thousand on. I have seen about have a half dozen of them so far and they are ALL attributed as 339. Both varieties are for the same person and they are similar in appearance, but they are easy to tell apart. Only problem is the 342 is common and the 339 is rare and they are identifying them all as the rare variety.

 

This was probably the biggest mechanical error I ever had... I initially thought I might have scored a HUGE upgrade on one of my coins I submitted for regrading... but ended up being a mechanical error. Anyone see what is wrong with this picture??



PCGS paid shipping both ways to fix this one and they were very cool about getting this coin and the rest of my submission correct. Turned out to be a pretty simple mistake, but one that should have been caught before my order shipped... but I did get some express grading vouchers from them so that helped a little... even though I would have rather had the grade stick!!!

 

Doug.. thats no mistake.. Joe the Hippie encapsulated that one.. : )

Ilinni, How long were you in the hospital with the heart attack when you first saw that on the slab?

 

Actually, you pay TPGs for an opinion, nothing more.

 

How about this one?


This is one rare Roosie!

 

Is that supposed to be a sample of the kinds of mistakes they can make?

 

For the British collectors:

I saw this coin on a recent E-bay auction. No big deal. We are all human and we all make mistakes...except PCGS, of course:




guy

 

funny, but possibly true.

 

They are called mechanical errors and just like us making a typo in a post they are not that uncommon for any of the grading services. Also most are fixed when the submiter of the item receives it back and sends it back in as in most cases it causes problems trying to sell the coin rather than adding any value.
Just look at the one pictured above slab says it's a 1912 when if you look closely you will see it is the rarer 1912-D worth about 5 times more.

 

I think you are being a little harsh on the TPG's. Every company and every business has errors in their production. Just because a company produces a product that isn't perfect 100% of the time doesn't mean they aren't doing their job right. They even acknowledge that this happens sometimes and they are willing to fix it without charge. It seems to me they are doing the best that can be expected and the few mistakes they make are fixed.