Big One = PCGS Secure Plus

It sounds a little to me like they are trying to claim the niche cac has occupied.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I'm not that bright, but could "laser technology" be over-hyped?

If I doctor a coin and change the identifying marks, how will the scanner recognize the doctored coin from the original, pre-doctored coin in a huge data base?

I don't think this technology can better detect doctored coins if it isn't in the data base. If so, why risk the chance of honestly resubmitting a coin for this new security feature and end up with a previously slabbed coin being deemed a doctored coin?

So go the risks for those with a slab fixation.

I'm sure greater minds than mine could explain this.


guy

 

Is this similar to a half grade??? example: 64.5 ??

 

The above was my first and only impression of the laser tagging. I personally do not believe that PCGS sees the tagging as a deterrent to resubmissions. Rather, I believe they may see this laser tagging as quite the money maker.

One thing that very many in the numismatic community seem to overlook or forget is the fact that PCGS is a publicly traded corporation. As such, their only (and legal) responsibility is to the interests of their stock holders. A publicly traded corporation must hold the stock holders' interests first. And profits are amongst those interests. As a corporate institute, PCGS could care less about the collector community. If the numismatic community benefits from their endeavor to generate profits for its stock holders, then all the better.

That said, imagine the profits that could be made if you can receive a coin re-submission. Scan it through a laser scanning unit, have the coin's footprint validated through their database, and return the coin to the submitter in a new slab with the grade assigned in the database. No grader needed, just a quality control agent to compare the original grading session's photograph to the coin in hand.

Now, as a quick note, for those that seem to not fully comprehend the technology we have today, for the price of a brand new SUV, you can purchase five Tesla Personal Supercomputers, each of which is more than powerful enough to accomplish the footprint comparison in a large database.

In my opinion, this laser tagging has little to nothing to do with security, or finding stolen coins, or any of the such. Being the "good" corporate entity they are, PCGS is enabling yet another "service" implementation ensuring higher profits for its stock holders.

 

interesting

 

Oh. I didn't catch the part where you have to pay extra for the + designation.

If that's right, then shame on PCGS.

That is, more shame than they should already have.

 

From what I've read on all the forums it seems it isn't free. (But I could be wrong, or that policy could change). But it seems the only way to get the option of the + designation is to pay for the PCGS Secure Plus service, so while you technically aren't directly paying for the + option, the only way to have a chance at it is to pay extra.

 

An astute obvervation indeed! :thumb:

 

Interesting how some of the threads at the PCGS site about the new grading service have "disappeared".


guy

 

Back in 1986 when Professional Coin Grading Service began its operations of grading and certifying results, Coin World was filled with pages and pages of reader opinions, both in favor or disfavor of what this company was trying to achieve.

I never knew what all the fanfare was then, and I still do not. The grading "standards" have never been standard. I remember terms used in the early 1990's like "over-graded," "numis-hype" and "grade-flation." The whole numerical grading system was appropriated from a published system originally limited to large cents from 1793-1814 by Sheldon. All of a sudden, this numeric grading system became nirvana, the holy grail.

If members here or elsewhere like certified coins, that is fine. But for my collecting interests, entombing a coin in some superior plastic "slab" for some fee is of zero interest. Collectors should learn to grade their own coins. There are certainly plenty of good grading guides and sources available to the collector, from the old system of Brown and Dunn, to Photograde, to ANA Standards and many more.

Q. David Bowers has stated time and time again, buy the book before the coin. This advice should apply to grading guides, as well.

 

Maybe a little propaganda here ?? LOL

 

I absolutely agree :thumb: ...however, TPG slabs minimize storage risk and increase the velocity and accessibility of the coin market...which isn't all bad.

 

I agree with onecenter. Seems like the people who get their coins graded are pretty keen on the grade before they send it in. The only plus getting a higher grade is when you want to sell it. Regardless what people says, the slab DOES sell. I don't like the idea of a third party grader telling me what my coin is worth. If you're into quality, you already have the savvy to know what condition a coin is without getting it graded.

 

and authenticity. PCGS call it what you will - still sounds like bubkis to me. if i wanted to send in a few pieces id still rather goto NGC.

 

Hey guys, haven't posted here in awhile. Interests change. How is this new service going to compete with CAC? When I got the email about it my first impression was they are trying to compete with CAC for this + service. So now are we going to have people wanting CAC Certified and + PCGS Slabs? I don't see the need for + when CAC already does it.

And what's up with this laser thing? The coins are scanned with a laser, like when they take photo's of the coins? Can't people just crack them out and sell them?

 

meh

 

First, I think it is BS that you have to even pay more for the Plus service.
Second, I can't believe PCGS has already updated there price guide to reflect prices for plus coins.

really!!....how did they already compile the price guide for the plus coins?

 

How do you think cleaning/toning affects the "fingerprint"?

 

So there is no such thing as Santa Claus, Easter Bunny or MS/PF70 coins? Would a "70" coin not be perfect? If it was indeed perfect, would not the one next to it be its clone? There should be no tell tale signs of anything on perfection.