What? ANACS downgrades PCGS by four grades!! A Kennedy Half.

I agree that nothing is impossible, but you would think that the seller would have mentioned it if PCGS didn't recognize the variety. Maybe the OP just forgot to mention this fact to us. Who knows!

Chris

 

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Nope I pasted what he said and that was all. I have asked for further information but nothing as of yet.

 

That's why the seller's story doesn't make sense to me. You would have thought he would try to resubmit to PCGS, first, since it would probably be worth more in the PCGS slab. At the same time, let's suppose that he did submit it to PCGS and they downgraded it. He might have been entitled to compensation.

But hey, what do I know!

Chris

 

Not sure PCGS recognizes that variety. As many have said ANACS wins hand down on some of that type stuff.

 

While it is possible, the whole thing makes no sense whatsoever. PCGS is MUCH tougher than ANACS about 99% of the time--the whole thing seems fishy to me.

 

Well no reply so maybe it was just small talk.

 

I will expand a bit on my previous reply, which was written when I came in the door last night after a very long trip to see a few clients.

My reason for BS is gut feeling, just like the OP believes the story due to gut feeling. I have no issue with the idea that a coin could grade four points lower at ANACS than at PCGS, although I do not think it would happen often. This is especially true with proof coinage where the difference between proof grades can be quite small. However, the difference in appearance between an untoned modern proof that grades 67 and one that grades 63 is significantly large. It is so large, in fact, that I would be surprised to see a four point swing in either direction.

A cross from PCGS to ANACS is also curious, but if the owner wants a variety designation on the slab and PCGS does not recognize the variety then I can see that happening with some frequency. Given the value of the coin in an unattributed PR67 PCGS holder, perhaps $35, and one in an attributed ANACS holder of the same grade (I don't know the value) then a crossover might make sense. The only value information I can find is from completed ebay transactions where the ANACS PF63 sold for about $25 and an ANACS PF66CAM sold for $65. This seems to infer that the value difference is not all that great to warrant the crossover expense from PCGS to ANACS. Of course, if ANACS was doing a special where the coins could cross for a greatly reduced fee or for free and if the shipping were combined with other coins or other folks then the investment for the crossover might be incredibly small.

Overall, I have no issues with a coin crossing from one service to another and having different grades or with a coin being graded within one service and coming back at different levels. It happens in both directions to all grading services. My response was based more upon the idea that all the stars had to align (low cost initial acquisition; low cost crossover; greatly different grade in spite of the fact that untoned, modern proofs should not have such variance) than with anything else. Like I wrote previously, I went with my gut on BS, but could obviously be wrong.

 

He did get back with me and I do believe him. Here is why, he must be a variety collector/seller because his reply makes sense.

So he must send a lot of them off and has seen this thing happen before. I know he uses NGC as some of the coins I got were from them. However if it is a variety, I assume he uses ANACS and they too have made mistakes.

I replied and sent an explanation of what I heard about ANACS and ICG switching. I am curious if he will reply.

So in summation I believe what he said, maybe not 100% because a 4 point drop is what I would expect from PCGS crossover from an PCI or something but not the other way. Still TPG's make mistakes just like everyone else. In this case it was a costly one.


When I get it I will post pictures etc....then we can let the sparks fly...

 

Inconsistent grading by any service gets the customers to wonder if the grading service should be used at all.

 

Inconsistent attributions by any service gets the customers to wonder if the grading service should be used at all.

 

The ONLY reason folks rely so heavily on AND continually promote PCGS is the "perception" that they are a tough grading service.

The reality is that PCGS "wants" you to believe this as it promotes their business and insanely high attribution fee's! Plus, it gains them a retail market share since if everybody believes that PCGS is tough then they'll pay higher prices for PCGS Products.

My experiences range from "why'd they grade it that high" and "no way that was cleaned" to "why'd they change it to a Monroe" on my PCGS submissions. I have also gotten back some very tough ANACS Submissions as well.

The bottom line is that folks need to learn their coins and stop relying upon PCGS to make their decisions for them. Yes, it can be very lucrative for small time resellers but to actually believe that one service is better than the other is just naivety.

TPG's grade coins based upon "opinion". "Opinions" can and often do change. Even within the same TPG.

As for the OP, his seller noted that the coin was over-graded. THIS, I believe as I myself have received over graded coins back from "the Worlds Greatest Grading Service".

 

I forgot all about this one.....here is my pictures of the coin..