I have a question about how coins are graded by TPGs as well as how you would grade them yourself. If one side of a coin is in better condition than the other side, how is it graded? Are the two sides averaged? I have seen several capped bust halves where the front could be VG8 to F-12, and the back is G4. How would a TPG grade that, how would you grade that? If the two sides were G4 and F12, would they average them and say VG8, or is it the lower of the two grades? Also, when grading proof coins, I know part of the requirements are number, severity, and location of scratches. If the obverse of the coin has an amount of scratches that would make it a MS63, but the back had an amount that would be MS65, what do they do? Would it be an average, MS64; the lower number, MS63; or possibly the higher number, MS65?
I'm not sure how TPG's do it but I treat both sides as if they are one. So if the back is G4 and the front is F12, the coin is G4 because I'm grading the whole coin in itself, not each side of it. It's just like if a coin has a big scratch or gouge on one side, it's considered damaged. You can't say "Oh the obverse is MS65 but the reverse is damaged." To me, it just doesn't work that way. Treat the coin as one, not two.
Ok, that sounds right. Also, I just thought about how for Morgan dollars, both sides have to be PL or DMPL for them to be assigned that label.
Sometimes they let it slide, if it is the reverse with the problems. Look at enough 2 1/2 Indians where the reverse is probably a couple grades lower than the grading service grade. The obverse counts for more in some coins.
Not gonna disagree with you Owle, but they claim that they do not do that. And as a general rule they don't.
