An elderly coin dealer and former coin shop owner has an ad in the current CDN, a Mr. Sol Lewanda on the second to last page. He lists some Morgan dollars in mint state and some gold coins that are "Civil War Era". "Honestly graded" the ad says. I called him up and said why are you calling the coins "Civil War Era" if they are from way before the Civil War? He said because they were coins that would circulate during the 1861-5 years. Hmmmm. Then I asked him by what standard he had proferred such lofty grades to these coins, and what regulatory organizations he was a member of. His answer: He is a strict grader and the modern TPG's are pikers in comparison; he is a member of none of them and can give no references, just his word as to return privileges. If you call him up take note that he is a bit hard of hearing so please speak up. Caveat emptor X 100.
Pikers as in overly cautious? Does that mean he was accusing himself of not being very cautious with his grading?
I think he used the word "amateurs". Thanks for bringing that up. Piker means someone who does things in a contemptably small way. I think his meaning is that he is the authority, the expert while the TPG's don't know what they are doing or haven't been around as long as he has.
