Dynamics of Coin Forum Grading

As is the case in many earlier threads there is a relatively predictable pattern which develops in a "Grade Opinion" discussion. There are those members who can be counted on to praise the coin and give a relatively high grade and there are those who will find fault with the coin and normally grade below what the coin owner expects.

Since this is my 5000th (and could be anyones last like Speedy said) post I wanted it to be an interesting one. My question to the forum membership is this, How Do You Grade, when asked to speculate on the grade of a coin by another forum member? Do you assign a grade like a prospective buyer or dealer or do you grade like the coin owner and collector?

Take Care
Ben

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Congrats on number 5,000 Ben!!!! To answer your question about grading. I guess I fall under the category of "coin owner and collector" with anyones coins that I'm grading, whether it be here in the forum or for someone here where I live. But I feel that I'm a very conservative grader because the last thing I want to do is overgrade a coin for someone for them to be disappointed later on if they try to sell, because we all know that sometimes a few points on the grading scale either way can make a world of difference in value.

 

I grade coins impartially.
I try to use all the technical merits that I have knowledge of.
That being said, I lack a lot of the knowledge necessary to be proficient on many of coin.
I usually throw my opinions in on peoples photos, so I can be corrected if need be, and learn.

 

I grade coins kind of both. I try to grade what the coin looks like it should be, and what my gut tells me. I know some (not all) dealers generally grade a bit under if they are buying the coin, to make a profit, which is understandable. Nothing really wrong with that. When I see a coin I am going to buy or coin or so, I grade it by what I see if that makes any sense at all. Now I generally undergrade my own coins a bit, fearing of maybe missing some things, or favoring it and grading it a little higher than what it is. So I normally try to grade it conservativly if that makes any sense. When I grade a coin on here, I don't really know how I grade them if that makes sense to fit into your options. I don't think I grade like a dealer, but I don't think I grade them like a collector either since I fear of favoring the coin if it was mine. And that is just me. So I guess I just more than anything use my gut. Sorry if this all sounds like rambling, can't really get out what I want to say. And, congrats Bone on the 5,000 post! Very awesome. :thumb:

Phoenix :cool

 

I generally use photograde specs, But I have a problem with gold and Type coins, and knowledge of weak strikes and 65+ coins. All my ASEs look 70 to me, but are graded 69.

 

Congrats on the 5000th post Ben. I try to grade impartially and not pay attention to what others are saying, so that I have my own independent opinion.

 

Well actually this is the 2nd time I've hit 5000 since the forum split.

Suppose I'm more liberal in my grading than most, but then I don't post a (opinion) grade thinking that the coin owner is planning on parting with their coin based upon my views. To me, simply a collector who has never sold (given away many), a coin is like a used car and the grade/condition is always up to the interpretation of both parities involved in the deal.


Your Friendly Collector
Ben

 

Interesting question ! I had to reflect a bit...

I grade like a prospective buyer, as if I'm considering buying it for my collection. This also respects the $$$ issue - I don't want to overpay, so I don't want to overgrade.

And l also agree with Indianhead - I honestly want a buyer to be happy, so I grade the same when selling (or I like to think I do...).

 

well i grade like a prospective buyer cause i think what type of money i would pay for that coin based on the grade i give it

since i am not very experienced in grading i use mostly my gut feeling

 

these are all very interesting comments on grading. i am reminded of a great comment that appeared in coin world issue october 29 page 14. it is a guest commentary on the CAC by burnett marus and has to do with the tpgs and 'graders grading graders' it's a very good read and i hope everyone has a chance to read it, i think you will find it entertaining. jmho

steve

 

Think about the SIZE of the pictures...TPG's never go above 5X magnification, when they use any magnification at all.

Coins that are enlarged in the Coin Forum posts can lead to undergrading since the large pics show detail that a TPG never sees and has no need to.

 

I always try to grade impartially on the forum as I figure it's not my coin and will not be my coin. The person showing the coin is looking for an opinion or sponsoring a contest.

Many times the coin in question is slabbed by a reputable TPG. I always find this interesting as to what my opinion is vs the TPG. Like many others I feel I'm a decent grader. However, when one gets into high end AU and MS it becomes much more difficult for me and I believe I tend to become very conservative. I'd never make it with SGS.

Of course we're also looking at pictures on the forum and not the actual coin. This is why I hate "U grade" auctions on the internet so much.

So many good points have been made here. Size of picture, what system one uses, experience. Guess that's what make's it interesting. For the record my loupe of choice is a 16X by the way.

Great thread bone. I took some very nice scans of a few coins last night. Perhaps I shall put one up for opinions now.

 

That's an interesting observation. I would put myself into the novice category. I usually go by Photograde for circulated coins, and freely admit that I have enormous trouble properly grading uncirculated coins and probably only get within one grade on a good day [i.e., if I say it looks like a 63, at best it's probably a 62-64 with enormous potential differences in value].

 

Very good question - I try to grade the same way all the time, just trying to be accurate. I use my grading book a lot. I will probably be a novice for the rest of my life. Weak strikes are very hard to tell in some cases. With high MS coins I also become more conservative - and I probably do take into accounts areas that TPG's might not. As for accuracy of grading I have a hard time with large cents on coin condition - eye appeal(even for lower grades) will mean I might bid more. When talking about some coins a mistake from f to vf to xf can mean hundreds of dollars in price, and at the same time two coins with the same technical grade can have 100's of dollars difference in price. I have yet to determine a good way to come up with a premium for eye appeal. Sigh - lots of learning to do.

 

I guess I grade based on a buyer. Seeing as grade, whether by an average collector or a professional grader, is subject to opinion, as we've said here before. So, I think we are all honest in our differeing views, noone being more right or wrong than the other. Thats not to say there aren't those who purposely misgrade coins to profit by conning the inexperienced, but I've never seen those people here.
Guy~

 

I am sorry, but I am confused! I work for GEC and I thought that ALL coins were ms70.

 

I hardly ever grade, I just Oooohh and Awwww.

 

First, congrats on 5000 posts Ben!!!!!!!! I hope can last here long enough to get there as well! Second, GREAT thread, as can be told by the lively discussion.

My opinion is that Doug hits the nail squarely on the head. I agree with his comments in total and would only add that I hope that I grade in neither way that you suggest Ben, I try as much as I can to objective and accurate and only after I have objectively graded a coin do I then make any judgements (decision of value or purchase price, etc.). As far as grade goes though, I try to remove any emotions from the grading of the coin, and judge the coin for what it is rather than get excited at what it might be.

I'd like to also add that if you ask people how they grade, you would expect for everyone to say that they grade accurately. In much the same way if you asked them if their political leanings were conservative or liberal, most would tend to say that they were neither but fell somewhere in the middle. My point is that most people are not subjective enough about themselves to give you an honest answer.