Was just looking thru my newest Jack H. Beymer price list of IHC's and I noticed some of the grades were odd compared to what we're used too. They have; FR 0.5, AG-3.5, AG-3.75, G-5, & VG starts at 7. If the coin community has accepted the 70 point grading system as it is, how does a well respected dealer get away with his own lower grading system especially VG-7?
It isn't all that unusual for dealers or even collectors to parse the grading scale so that they use grades that aren't standard within the hobby-industry. In such instances one might think that the person using such a micro-grading scale might be attempting to give an even more accurate grade than would be available with standard grades alone.
I believe the VG-7 is a typo (not sure why). A 7 can be abtVG-7 or G-7. I've seen FR-1, FR-2, AG-3 (about G-3), G-5, but never the decimal point fractions. I consider Mr Beymer to be a reputable coin dealer thus he must see some differences between the coins and has made a decision to express those differences (however minute) in decimal fractions. You can be sure a grade AG-3.75 will be a better (higher grade) coin than a AG-3.5 or an AG-3. Clinker
he may be reputable, but not a typo, or it has been one for MANY years. I believe that it is a way to overcharge (as his prices reflect) for a near VG coin. Quite a few years ago I saw his stuff at a coin show. I was shopping for a 1901 S quartrr at the time. He had several, about 3 as I recall... all Graded G-4. Each one had an AG reverse. so, he may be reputable to you, but overpriced and over graded to me.
VG7 is actually a fairly common grade; the EAC folks use it. Same with G-5. I've never heard of the fractional grades before (although I agree in theory that there should be something like an AG 3.5), but it doesn't surprise me at all that he'd use them. I certainly consider Jack reputable. Doesn't mean I like his prices, though.
