explain this grade please?

Doug,

I have on many occasions criticized the mantra "buy the coin, not the plastic". Although I do employ it in regard to Jefferson Nickels and I certainly form my own opinion of a coin's grade independent of the TPG grade on other series, I do not have the hubris to think that I am always right and the TPG's are always wrong. Grading is subjective and the grade an individual assigns to a coin will depend greatly on how that person ranks the elements of grade in importance. For example, a strike conscious collector will be much tougher on a weakly struck coin no matter how good the luster & eye appeal are. Everytime I think a coin is misgraded, I strive to understand why the grader assigned the grade. Most of the time, this exercise provides me with a legitimate reason that is not simply "the coins is misgraded"

Most collectors would be wise to simply accept the grade assigned by the TPG's because they don't have the requisite grading skills in order to properly employ the "buy the coin, not the holder" mantra. Would you disagree with that? Didn't think so!

And while we are discussing mantras. How about this one! It is impossible to grade a coin by looking at photographs. Now where have I heard that before. That's right, a really old guy with sunglasses and a mustache said it.

 

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In my opinion, the dies were overpolished.

 

thats plain wrong we have discussed coins worth over hundreds of thousands of dollars. you have never been wrong at grading with pics. unless you have started making mistakes recently

 

I can't explain away the hairlines. However, it is my belief that they are the result of a combination of factors. Some are the result of die polishing and some are the result of minor mishandling. Furthermore, in hand, I bet the hairlines are much less pronounced and much less distracting.

This is not a proof coin and is not subject to the same scrutiny of hairlines. The coin is a mint state coin with prooflike surfaces. Based on the assigned grade, the star desgination, and the CAC approval of the grade, the appearance of this coin in hand must be very impressive despite the hairlines.

Without seeing the coin in hand, it is impossible to grade this coin. Maybe someone who collects prooflike coinage could chime in about the difficulties of grading PL coins from photos. Jason, are you out there?

 

What excuses? You haven't seen the coin in hand. You know darn well how difficult it is to grade PL coins from photos yet seem convinced that both NGC and CAC are not only wrong, but definitively wrong.

I will accomodate your request and post links to threads on Cointalk in which I have publicly stated that the TPG was wrong. But as rare as it is that I publicly disagree with a TPG, think about how often you do disagree. If I had to estimate, you think about 5% of all TPG graded coins are graded accurately. That means only one of two things. Either you have no idea what you are talking about or you use a different grading standard than the TPG's. You decide!

http://www.cointalk.com/t108897/

http://www.cointalk.com/t84957/

When you grade coins Doug, you really should post the clarifying statement "based on my standards". Because after two years of watching you grade coins, you do not use the same standards as everyone else (including the TPG's).

 

Well if RLM's cents are any indication of TPG vs. "our" standards than I'd have to say they are over grading most of the time (based on the photos of course). I use this as an example only because most of us are familiar with it.

I admit that I'm far from knowing a fraction of what I should, but after joining CT I've spent just about everyday actively learning about this series. I think I can say with confidence, again, that the coin in question is a dog.

 

Harsh~ness Abounds

Are you folks discussing this quarter?

It's got a lot of stickers and certifications & opinions and such.

But the photos, hopefully, do it no justice.

Ugly should always be in the eye of the beholder......and the girls always get prettier at closing time.