So I sent 9 NGC MS67 quarters in to PCGS for a crossover and none of them crossed over. What the heck?
Simple. PCGS uses a five-person blind grading system that is nearly foolproof. NGC, and other grading services do not. So, in my mind, any coined NOT graded by PCGS is suspect. In most cases, I have been told to drop at least two grades. Believe me; I sent a bunch of Morgans to PCGS thinking I had a 'gold' mine. Not one coin graded higher than MS 64 and several came back as ungradable! Costly lesson!! The advice I was given is to take your perspective submissions to a reputable coin shop and ask them for an opinion. They usually don't charge for the service, and it could save you hundreds in wasted grading fees. The people I talk to are Registered Reps for NGC and PCGS and they cannot lie to you.
NGC and PCGS are tough on each other. Crossovers are difficult to get. Hopefully you didn't crack them from the slabs. Also NGC doesn't mind a crusty coin and will grade it for it's condition and eye appeal, while PCGS can be stingy with heavy or thick toning. Do you have photos?
The TPGs can be more harsh when a crossover is attempted. Plus they tend to be more cautious since they are looking through a slab as opposed to a raw coin (the plastic might be hiding something that would be easier to catch raw). The above example looks to have some spotting (reminds me of milk spots on silver bullion or on some proofs). That could be the reason it did not cross.
I don't know. 0 for 9 has me scratching my hea d. I have another order of 18 trying to cross over. Guess I can expect same outcome. Here three others that didn't make it.
Some of those seem to show the spots too. Sometimes you also run into the more strict grading periods-that could have happened here.
My perception is that PCGS is much more conservative when it grades modern coins than NGC. It is for that reason that PCGS moderns often sell for more money, sometimes a lot more money. I also think that politics can be involved. The guys who get the very high grade pieces in the beginning, can end up getting very high prices. The people who are registry obsessed make this market. After a while, it seems like the graders lighten up and more high grade pieces are "made." When then happens, the registry people lose out because the increased supply lowers the prices. Going by the photos, it looks like you may have been treated fairly with the lower grades. To me MS-67 is almost like a "walk on water grade." You really have to look hard to find the defects. The strike should be will above average, which includes whatever rough spots may have been on the planchet before the coin was struck. I see some small patches on your coins which were not flatten out when they were struck. It isn't post mint damage, but you also don't expect to see them on an MS-67.
What the heck ? It's fairly simple, and to be expected in most cases - because the two companies do not use the same grading standards. Each and every TPG there is uses their own, unique set of grading standards - and they are all different from one another. To compound the problem, with one given coin series, PCGS uses standards that are tougher than those used by NGC on that specific series. While with another given coin series, NGC uses standards that are tougher than those used by PCGS on that specific series. And of course the same is true of the other TPGs as well. When it comes to the number of graders used by each TPG, yes some use 2 graders and a finalizer, some use 3 graders and a finalizer. But I have never heard of a single one that uses more than 3 graders and a finalizer. And they all use a blind grading system, which is defined as the grader not knowing who the owner/submitter of the coin is. Given all of this it's pretty hard to ever expect that any given coin will be graded the same by 2 or more different TPGs. What's more, it's fairly common for the exact same coin to be graded differently by the same exact TPG that graded it the first time. So when the exact same coin can be graded differently by the exact same TPG, how can one ever expect 2 different TPGs to grade the coin the same ? That said, it is also fairly common for a coin in an NGC slab to be sent to PCGS with the result being that coin is given an upgrade by PCGS. Or, for a coin in PCGS slab to be sent to NGC and be given an upgrade. And of course each has been known to downgrade the others coins. And every now and then - they cross. All of this has been going on for as long as all the TPGs have existed.
Show me a high MS version of one of those quarters without the milk spotting. The one I got for my type set has the same.
Maybe the spots theory of mine wasn't accurate or there is a threshold of spots (a few are ok but more than that is not).
Luster plays a big part in the grade. If it doesn't have that mirrorlike fine luster, it is going to be hard to get a top pop with PCGS.
I just don't know. I think full luster would be needed for a 67 at any tpg. I didn't think it was that rare to get a coin to cross. I have 7 more I need to decide what to do with. Maybe put under microscope and compare them with some 67's I have that are graded by pcgs.
TPG's grade luster and contact differently, those fine grazes when the coin rotates are also graded differently. It's their Nitsche, You won't ever hear @Insider say differently.
Crossovers aren’t impossible but they aren’t easy. Depending on the value of the coin, you are often better off trying to buy the coin in the holder you want as opposed to paying for crossover attempts.
Quite true. And one must also keep in mind that there people out there, more than a few of them, who are paid big money by large dealers and auction companies to do nothing but search out coins at auctions, coin shows, and coin shops that they know are highly likely to upgrade or cross at a different TPG. That's their sole job, it's the only thing they do. They travel the country going to all the shows and auctions searching out those coins. And that makes it a great deal more difficult for an average collector to do the same - because somebody's already been there and beat ya to it.
