ANA Summer Seminar

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Aidan_(), Jun 9, 2016.

  1. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

    So what was it like meeting dem old crows?

    Tell me on the morrow old friend. Bed time beckons.......
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

    Young friend......I just remembered......and that's a task.
     
  4. Cascade

    Cascade CAC Variety Nerd

    Yeah, it was a nice bit of fun. I cherrypicked a top 100 Morgan vam 26a slider from the auction for $30 :)
     
  5. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    And the die material (bronze or iron) wouldn't hold up as well as the steel in the dies you made, so they would have to keep making new ones.

    And you probably had better tools. I don't know if the true ancient coin dies used punches. By the medieval era they were using punches, but often just a few general shapes and they would be used in combination to create features or letters.

    In many cases I believe that many dies were actually created by engraving not punching.
     
  6. SuperDave

    SuperDave Free the Cartwheels!

    I'm sure he's older, but messydesk looks like you should card him for beer. :)
     
    messydesk likes this.
  7. Cascade

    Cascade CAC Variety Nerd

    Summer Seminar 2016 is drawing to a close. A great time had by all :happy: :(

    :rolleyes:
     
  8. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    If only I could remember where I put my ID.
     
  9. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    So let's get this straight. An ex-PCGS grader (? or is he still there) who is instructing for two weeks shows you a group of TPGS coins graded MS-65 and lets you discover why they are not actually MS-65's but mistakes that should have been "problem" graded. Did I get that right?

    Sounds like you got a private lesson on detecting problem coins. That is a great opportunity! Nevertheless, I wonder what his :blackeye: motive is. Perhaps he considers himself a better grader than the current PCGS/NGC employees. Out of curiosity, I'm going to try to find out his identity in the seminar catalogue. There may be parts of this story that explain his actions.

    EDIT: Well, dead end...the four ex-PCGS graders are only teaching at one session. If one were teaching at both; I'd have my man. Next, I'll call some of the first PCGS graders and see if they worked with one of the four!:watching::watching:
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2016
  10. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    Did you note he said that was at the summer seminar two years ago? You have to check who the instructors were then.
     
    Insider and green18 like this.
  11. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    Yes. First paragraph - He took basic grading 1.

    Second Paragraph he begins talking about present (2016) seminar. First night...

    Also, I've never heard of an instructor missing opening ceremonies who was not delayed on arrival. I've only been there five or six times - last time four or five years ago. Perhaps things have changed.
     
  12. TubeRider

    TubeRider Active Member

    Insider, no you did not get that exactly right. Most of these coins were, in my eyes, beautiful 65's and probably 98% others would think so too. The lesson he was giving me was one of quality, one of finding the top tier 65, a 65 that he would allow in his collection, a 5 with a serious shot at 6. His level of knowledge and connoisseurship far exceeded mine and there was something about each of these coins that bothered him. His motive was simple, to spend hours teaching me a fraction of what he knows to make me a better grader. Some of these coins did have problems and had slipped through the TPG's, happens all the time. Somebody thumbs a coin and it slips into a holder. A few years later that thumbing shows up. Many coins in the SS class were buy-backs that the TPG's took off the market because they had slipped through. A lot of coins with minute wheel marks that had made it into holders and again fooled the graders in our class since the grades were covered for them too. When I came home I was shocked at what I saw on many of my coins. The TPG's graders in these classes very often disagree with each other on a grade and very often disagree with what is in the holder from there own company. TPGers make mistakes, that is what the whole crack out game is about. When asked how long he spends per coin in the grading room one of my instructors held up a slabbed, common date Peace and said, "A coin like this...6 seconds max."
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2016
    green18 and Insider like this.
  13. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    Six seconds. :facepalm: That could be the reason why the errors slip through. Somewhere on CT, I challenged members to pretend they were grading three or four coins including removing it from the box, flip, grade, entering it in the computer and returning it to the flip and box. NO ONE bothered to try this and report the time it took. I think my average was around 20 seconds.

    PS I know many of the Summer Seminar instructors and have been in the classes. They are part of a large group of numismatists who freely and at their expense pass on knowledge to all of us.
     
    green18 likes this.
  14. TubeRider

    TubeRider Active Member

    Hey Insider, I want to thank you!! Five Months ago I asked everyone the question of which instructors to choose for Grading 2, week one or week two. You were the only one to respond and I went with your recommendation. Here was your response;

    Week #1. ONLY because John is a CURRENT GRADER for NGC. + Steven worked for PCGS and David is a dealer. One of each.
    Week #2. Is two dealers and a former grader. Missing a current grader.


    I could not have been more pleased with the graders. They were all great! David, coming from a high end dealer perspective adds a whole new dimension. David, (sarcastically) "This coins a 4 but it's going to be in a 5 holder." and then tosses it down the table to John and Steve. It was great. Also the six seconds was with the actual coin in hand, I do not believe the grader is the one taking it out of the flip.

    Thanks Again
     
    Insider likes this.
  15. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    Actually, I've looked into a grading room at several TPGS's (not PCGS but I've talked w/their graders). The graders each take a container (box, tray, etc) and each coin is in a #'ered flip. They have a computer screen to type in the grade for each coin they examine. The finalizer in charge of each tier is the only one who can see the grades of the graders under him who saw the coins first. After grading a coin, the grader must enter it, put it back and get another. At one service I saw wheeled carts piled with boxes at each grading station. Things were pretty hectic.

    I'll bet someone in CA could call PCGS and tell them she was doing an article on grading. Tell them she had seen all the TPGS excep PCGS and they would give her an inside tour! ;)
     
  16. TubeRider

    TubeRider Active Member


    I promise all of you, we missed opening ceremonies!!
     
    Cascade likes this.
  17. TubeRider

    TubeRider Active Member

    Insider.... just curious. What could possibly be wrong with a guy taking me under his wing for a couple nights and showing me, one on one, incredibly detailed levels of grading? What did he do wrong that you feel you need to 'Call him out?' He was incredibly gracious and generous, I got more out of those two nights than I have in two weeks in the classroom at SS, and my two weeks in the classroom have been INCREDIBLE!!!
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2016
    Insider likes this.
  18. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    That sounds like Jerry Bobbe. You got a good lesson there, and he's worth listening to when it comes to discerning quality issues. While he was a grader for PCGS in the early days, he's by no means a TPG fanboy.
     
  19. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    I was not questioning you, I was "down" on him. You missed one more of Summer's experience. Fortunately, you got a better and more satisfying one instead! :joyful:
     
  20. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    See Post#58 too.

    There is NOTHING WRONG. That is what happens out there (not to the extent of 1 on 1 for a couple of nights). It is a real shame you missed the ceremony, it is a real shame he did not have more of you together.

    Several classes I have been in have gone on for hours after dinner and were optional. SS is about learning. You my friend got very lucky and had probably a never to be experienced again week.

    BTW The last time I was at SS, I suggested to Susan that ANA set up a mentor program similar to what happened to you. Looks like that instructor had the same idea. :happy:

    Have I redeemed myself in your eyes? :sorry:
     
  21. Cascade

    Cascade CAC Variety Nerd

    Summer Seminar is 40% education, 50% networking, 9% friends & fun & 1% complaining about the dorms ;)
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page