Got my Thai notes that I got in the auction back from PMG. Not bad but a little disappointed that the listings in the auction did not show that a couple of the notes had repairs done to them. Talking with PMG, upon the lady I deal with checking the grading notes, they did not specify where the repairs were so not sure I can find them. I also apparently didn't notice very faint writing on the reverse of two of the notes getting an "annotation" designation of the reverse of the label. My main problem with PMG is the inconsistency on how they label things. For example, I sent in some autographed notes awhile back. They all came back with annotation on the label but I have seen some that say courtesy autograph. Others say graffiti and not annotation.
I wouldn't be patronizing that auction again. To me, repairs & issues should be stated before any auction & most of the top tier auction houses extend this courtesy. I had a bulk submission with PMG last year & got 2 notes that were sold to me as UNC that came back with disappointing grades. One was AU58 5 Pounds from Australia & the other was UNC64 (no EPQ) for my personal collection. I want to part with the 1st but keep the 2nd one (from Malta) as a reminder of how often we "roll the dice" buying ungraded. Before my PMG submission, I had about 150 Bank of Canada notes graded by our BCS (Banknote Certification Services) in Canada & was surprised by some of my low grades. He used a light box to detect the most minor imperfection(s). Some notes I that I expected an UNC64 got only AU50 & some I expected AU55's got an EF40. This helped me lower my expectations when I did my first PMG submission. You must be pleased with the One Baht with the Gem 65!
Were pictures provided of the notes showing the reverse and the label clearly stating repairs/annotation? I've learned not to completely trust auction listings. I look at, for me, the coin and holder. Sometimes there are mistakes. But, I'm not a paper collector. Are you able to verify PMG certs online?
Most of the notes I can handle and look at but sometimes you just never know. Usually repairs and other defects are noted in the listing. I have been buying from this particular auction, the only big one in Thailand, for several years. I once bought an error note in the auction that PMG would not grade and the person, who I have known for years, that has been doing the auctions for 20+ years bought it back from me so I only lost the grading fee. But sometimes it's a chance you take that no matter how hard you look at a note, me not being a grader, I may not spot where a repair has been done. I use a flourescent light to look for erasures and other things on the notes and do my best to look for problems to help me decide whether to bid or not. This was the first time I got any notes that did not have repairs listed so I will just have to be more careful in August at the next auction. I had a large Thai coin collection but have been selling it off in the auctions there as I am concentrating on the older currency now.
Aaah. You would think they'd have mentioned any problems. I have an interesting sample slab with a Thai medal in it! Is this the same auction house you bought your notes from?
getting notes and coins graded is a gamble sometimes you win and other times you lose just depends on what the graders see that you don't
Yes, he does currency and coins in sample slabs from PCGS and NGC and now the new SIAM coin grading in Thailand that got started during COVID with the problems of sending stuff in for grading. But now he, the owner, gets all the samples and hands them out to usually people that send in stuff to be graded through him. In the past PCGS and NGC had the samples to give out. I have been able to get most since I have known him for several years and have bought a lot during auctions but not as easy as before.
