How do I get a job with NGC/PCGS

I might have been feeling too confident. I am going to attend both summer sessions before attempting to find work with them.

 

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Jason, It's in the genes. Your ancestor's are noted for handling gold & silver. You are in the loop.

 

What kind of remark is that to make? Doesn't seem nice to me.

 

Too bad there is no temp. agency for coin grading companies. I have had jobs where temp. to perm. is often an option if the company likes you. What you see at some of the most profitable coin shops is a sharp grader with talent. But many of those workers must adopt the company's policies and philosophies, so you might have to check your Boy Scout principles at the door. Grading services have confidentiality agreements, like the big investment houses. Gotta be really careful what you say about insider or "secret" matters that could be a problem if divulged.

 

Careful what you wish for.

Grading coins may seem glamorous from a distance but I agree with the others. Looking at hundreds or thousands of ASE's or rolls of 2012 cents from bulk submissions all day long isn't the career choice I'd jump at. Sure, there may be the odd gold coin or rarity that would come by but something like that would probably go to graders with more seniority.

 

???

 

I believe this is in reference to a gold mine that is owned or partially owned in the OP's family, as discussed a while back.

 

There are super graders who have achieved job security and probably have really good lives. Why do we never here the testimonies of active graders? Confidentiality agreements. Those people know how to keep their mouths shut. When a New England shop owner was asked why they don't give the customers grading and pricing information on raw coins that come in the door, the guy said as an aside that they keep them in the dark because that way they can buy a lot cheaper, "CC" Morgans walk in the door, and they make a critical grade judgment that may not be at all on the side of the customer. They know what uncertified coins will likely grade. I have known dealers who will buy Bust $5 pieces as AUs that grade MS, huge spread!

The graders work in pitch black rooms, with strong halogen and other lights and they must perform day after day at reliable levels or they are gone. For young men and women who are thinking of getting a job like that, I would echo what William Shatner said of his Trekkie followers--get a life! There are lots of jobs out there for intelligent, physically fit young people. You can always go to coin shows on the weekend, and in that department, "the early bird gets the worm".

 

In the department of travelling coin buyers I think of David Carr and Dale Larson. They are stars in this department, Carr is at the shows early, Larson is often in Alaska or wherever else his contacts tell him to go. Nice people. At some point the new material will dry up and all the people trying to make money at rare or popular coins will have to re-invent their work plans.

 

How would one of these top graders do if they went around to coin shops and shows as a buyer cherrypicking raw coins. Shouldn't they be able to pick up undergraded stuff and get it slabbed for resale ?

Would a typical dealer make it as a grader ?

What does a grader earn ?

 

Jason, what I would say is there is a difference between being a decent grader and a professional one. Many people after a while can learn to grade ag-xf quickly. I learned as a kid and still can. Au versus BU takes some time. However, if you can identify regularly ina couple of seconds without a loupe between 65-66-67-68 then maybe you should grade for a tpg. These are the trickier areas, along with identification of forgeries. A good grader is good at these trickier areas, and can help spot forgeries for the services.

If you are good at those tricky areas, give it a shot. If not, I would simply suggest working on it until you get more competent in the harder aspects of grading.

Just my opinion.

Chris

 

Graders make $100K plus after a while at PCGS/NGC, less at the others.
Travelling around to shops hoping to find rare coins you can make money on is hard; usually the coins aren't there, or the shop dealer has his private stash and doesn't want to sell. Usually the shows will have the freshest material. But again, often dealers hold out for money over market values and Spectrum will not buy at those levels.

 

Seems like a decent salary, but you have to factor in all the optometry bills and medications for migraine headaches. TC

 

Are there union benefits and pensions and bonuses as part of the deal? Heck, in my town there are cops pulling in over $150K a year with private functions they do in addition.

 

No slight intended. "It's in the genes" refers to DNA. Same as it's in the blood.
Jason's ancestor's were in the gold & silver mining business, which is still an on-going project today.

 

RPGS (Rodeoclown's Professional Grading Service) has the best spot on grader out there, ME. If you don't like the grade I slap on your coin, then you can just crack it out and send to those other available sub par grading services like NGC and PCGS. :yes:

 

Oh I can definitely agree with that. At my local coin show, there are always coins that are "FS" when at best they are 2 or 3 steps.

 

Well, that isn't bad grading, that is "good salesmanship" (otherwise known as lying).