Does NGC and PCGS have a reference example that they use to grade more unique coins?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by coinnoobz, May 5, 2017.

  1. coinnoobz

    coinnoobz Member

    as the title states.
     
    coinnoobz, May 5, 2017
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  3. BooksB4Coins

    BooksB4Coins Newbieus Sempiterna

    Well, if truly "unique", how would they (or anyone) acquire examples to use in such a reference? Perhaps it would be helpful if you further clarified. ;)
     
    BooksB4Coins, May 5, 2017
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  4. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    I believe they have a reference set for all older coins designs.
     
    kanga, May 5, 2017
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  5. jester3681

    jester3681 Exonumia Enthusiast

    I think an experienced grade can look at the wear on a coin and grade it appropriately. There is also knowledge of the series - certain Civil War tokens, for example, are always poorly struck, so a quick glance at a truly uncirculated example may appear quite worn. How does this apply to a unique example? Experience, expertise, and history. Most unique coins don't appear out of the blue - there may be new varieties discovered within a run of coins, but the rules from the other varieties more or less apply.
     
    jester3681, May 5, 2017
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  6. Burton Strauss III

    Burton Strauss III Brother can you spare a trime? Supporter

    Nope. At least for US, PCGS have moved to large photos - the coins in their US grading set have been sold into the market in the last six months or so at hefty premiums.
     
    Burton Strauss III, May 5, 2017
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  7. coinnoobz

    coinnoobz Member

    Graders are only human. There are so many different types of coins and tokens, and no one can be expected to know them all.
    Unique in a sense of not so common world coins/weird designs, rather than the typical american silver eagle. I'm referring to the coins that they personally may not have seen before(for whatever reason). It doesn't mean they are rare in any sense. For those types of situations, surely an example will help.
     
    coinnoobz, May 6, 2017
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  8. coinnoobz

    coinnoobz Member

    Hmm makes sense. i guess weird designs would probably not be mistaken for damaged marks if they do have the appropriate experience.
     
    coinnoobz, May 6, 2017
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  9. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Not doubting what you are saying but I am curious as to what the source of your information is.

    As to the thread question, the TPGs at least used to always have a grading set for all US coins. But there may be an exception or two in there in regard to "all".

    But with world coins or non US coins that's a different matter. At one time at least they used to outsource the grading to a recognized authority when they got a coin they were unfamiliar with. But I seem to remember reading that they hired additional personnel to help solve that problem. However, nobody is an authority on all world coins. It's hard enough to be an authority the coins of 1 country or minting entity let alone several hundred of them. With coin one coin alone, the ducat for example, was minted by over 300 different minting entities.

    Given that, when it comes to grading world coins, I am forced to assume that they fly by the seat of their pants if you will for there is simply no other choice in house. Or, they continue to outsource the grading.

    But I will say this, they need to do better. And I say that with conviction because I can prove beyond the shadow of any doubt that they have in the past and continue to grade many counterfeit examples of Netherlands gold ducats. And that's just one coin - out of many thousands.
     
    GDJMSP, May 6, 2017
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  10. Burton Strauss III

    Burton Strauss III Brother can you spare a trime? Supporter

    Several sellers have been selling them, look for a Gnnn number in addition to the grade, e.g. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1921-Morgan...-from-Official-PCGS-Grading-Set-/252831630855

    From the listing:

     
    Burton Strauss III, May 6, 2017
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  11. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Thanks. I find it quite interesting that PCGS did this. It makes me wonder though if they have merely replaced their grading sets, or just some of them, or merely replaced the old grading sets with new ones.

    So I guess I'll ask, has anyone seen anything written about this, anywhere ? Other than on ebay that is ?
     
    GDJMSP, May 7, 2017
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  12. Burton Strauss III

    Burton Strauss III Brother can you spare a trime? Supporter

    Burton Strauss III, May 7, 2017
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  13. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    I was aware of all that. What I was asking for was any written reference, besides ebay, that PCGS had or was selling their grading sets. Or, that they were merely replacing their old grading sets with new examples.
     
    GDJMSP, May 7, 2017
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