Big One = PCGS Secure Plus

PCGS ain't got nuthin' on Goldfinger's laser!!!

"I welcome any enterprise that will increase my stock" -Goldfinger

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I was kind of dissapointed. I thought it was going to be something bigger. This is basically the NGC star system on steroids. That is just my opinion. It could be very useful for higher grade more expensive coins I will never be able to afford

 

The way I interpreted the actual announcement the laser identification aspect had nothing to do with "grading" at all, it deals more with tracking. They could have set up a system that left the grading out completely and still used the laser simply to track coins. At least that's how I read it.

 

They went back to 1991!!! When they unveiled their Expert System computer grading back in 1991, one of the claims they made was that it created a fingerprint of each coin so that if it was ever resubmitted the computer would recognize it.

And as far as the + goes this is not really any different than the half point grading the Accugrade did back in 1984 or Compugrade did in 1991.

And what is this that the + can be used on XF-45 to MS 68 but not on MS-60 or MS-61??? You can have 45+, 50+, 55+, 58+, no 60+ or 61+, but then 62+ is OK? Come on, either the whole range or it's just a gimmick. Frankly are there that many coins with big jumps between grades below 62? Do they really need a 45+?

 

Yeah... I have looked at a very similar machine a few times at shows. The machine I saw scans the coin... and give a supposedly unique readout of the coin. I asked how they were sure it was completely unique and I was given something similar to "It just is" for an answer. I wasn't impressed. I didn't find much science to prove their claims. I mean who's to say that 1 our of 5,000 coins would't read the same. Especially when you get series where a lot of nice similar coins exist.... such as 1881 S Morgans.

 

I guess PCGS felt confident that it was "Unique" enough for them

 

Hello everyone,

Wow. To me this is a big let down. I was really expecting something 'unbelievable, and this? Well I don't have any coins, nor could i afford them that would get this unique rating, so that does nothing for me.

Also they say there going to scan all coins or just high grades coins? Sorry I did not pick that up in the article? Either way are they going to be storing these on multiple systems, in case one crashes, and they loose everything That would be embarrassing huh? Also about this laser stuff,, some say they have seen it, is there any site, or info we can go look at about it by chance?

Lastly not sure who said it but I fully agree this does no good if all the TGP's do not laser the coins and share information. That in my mind would really be saying there looking out for the customers best interest. By sharing information that shows the other TPG's there scanning system and let them use it as well. Some how I do not think that is going to happen, but I could be wrong.

Kind regards,
Stan

 

Ok...it's used for identification/tracking. Let's assume the laser technology works flawlessly. It still only works against previously lasered coins.

If a thief is smart enough to know to cracked out a coin in this type of slab, he/she might be smart enough NOT to resubmit the coin to the same grading company.

Likely Scenario: The stolen coin is submitted to another grading company (NGC, for instance) and the coin is sold over and over. Some time later, the current owner decides to submit to PCGS for crossover grading. Assuming no damage has happened to the coin over this period...the coin is determined (by PCGS) to be stolen. They confiscate the coin and the current "owner" is out the coin. I smell lawsuit! :hammer:

Question: Does anyone know if cleaning/toning of coins affect their "fingerprint"?

 

they said " Initially, PCGS Secure Plus will be offered for Walkthrough, Express and Gold Express service levels for raw coins, regrades and reholders."
So for right now they aren't doing it for all coins but hopefully they will expand it to more coins in the future. (Right now it will only "revolutionize" the coin market for the very expensive coins.)

Two coins with the exact same pattern and size marks, nicks, scratches, die polish lines etc?

 

Imagine 2 MS67's... virtually mark free... possibly even struck with the same die pair.

I know it's not very likely... but I have to think it's plausible.

 

Sure I can imagine it. Why are they MS-67 instead of 70? A few tiny marks. Will they both have those same tiny marks in the same place and the same size? Move one mark over just a bit and you have a different fingerprint.

 

I think it's a pretty neat system myself. Nonetheless, I think it's more of a CYA for PCGS to prevent people from playing the crack and resubmit game.

 

That's exactly what I was wondering.

 

Probably, because I don't think you can grade consistently with eleven MS grade points, now they have added 7 more MS grades. No way to do that consistently, but the scanner recognizes it when it is resubmitted and it gets the old grade. No more payouts for downgrading.

The only thing I wonder is what percentage of the coins submitted to them are actually coins that have been through before? This would eventually greatly reduce that number.

 

Just keep adding to the already confusing grading charts. Who wants a plus ( + ) sign on the holder? Always finding ways to make them more money.


Oh well, who ever wants to spend money on them go ahead.

At the end, it's all about the money and the hobby loses the real meaning of collecting thanks to PCGS.

 

So, are my non-CACed, old style green label PCGS graded 1909S VDB and 1914D Lincoln Cents less, the same or more desirable?

 

I'm still not sure how I feel about the whole thing. The plus designation will also be available at NGC in about 60 days (NGC to use plus designation), I don't like that you have to pay extra for the plus service, imo it should be free, just like the star designation.

So I wonder what kind of premium a MS65+ star will bring.

P.S. Am I the only one who finds it ridiculous PCGS already has a price guide set up for the + designation, even though a single coin hasn't sold yet?

 

So, if you don't pay for the star rating, they will deliberately undergrade your coin? Or, if you pay for the service, they will mark up your inferior coin by adding a plus?

You get what you pay for?

Sounds like a crock to me.

 

Ya know, why cant they just call it an EF-47?

 

No, the star designation is only done by NGC, and it is 100% free. You submit your coin, pay the regular grading fee, and if the graders feel it has exceptional eye appeal it gets a star. The + service you have to pay extra for, and that doesn't guarantee it will be given a plus, they are only giving plus designations to high-end (for the grade) coins.

*The star designation and the plus designation are two different things.