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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;earlyrarecoins, post: 403411, member: 15054&quot;]There has been a rising amount of discussion on various forums regarding PCGS, NGC, ANACS, and TPG&#039;s in general.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I believe it is extremely important for the collector to learn how to grade on their own.&nbsp; And many times, even at PCGS, the graders get it wrong.&nbsp; They may not know the weak strike characteristics of a particular die marriage.&nbsp; They may excuse a cleaning on a key date coin, and still slab the coin.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I notice many collectors, even advanced collectors, will demand PCGS slabbed coins only for their collection.&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It is a dangerous business buying the plastic instead of the coin.&nbsp; PCGS holders many cleaned coins, and coins with other problems.&nbsp; Don&#039;t think that buying PCGS coins eliminates the risk of buying a problem coin.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>If you learn how to grade the series you are collecting, then you can eliminate the risk of buying a problem coin.&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also, we have seen an increasing amount of fake slabs.&nbsp; You just might be purchasing a counterfeit coin in a counterfeit PCGS slab.&nbsp; Then we have stories of slabs being unsealed, the coin is removed, and a substitute coin is put in it&#039;s place.&nbsp; The slab is then resealed, and it looks as if it hasn&#039;t been tampered with.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>All of this can be avoided if you learn your series.&nbsp; Understand each die marriage, and the characteristics of each.&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I will guarantee that learning to grade on your own is the most important part of collecting.&nbsp; Once you do this, you are free from TPG&#039;s, and you won&#039;t need to rely on them.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>TPG&#039;s tend to vastly overgrade key dates such as the 1916-D dime, 1877 cent, and the three key date barber quarters.&nbsp; The only way you won&#039;t overpay is if you know the grading standards.&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It cannot be stressed enough, you must grade for yourself.&nbsp; And you must be able to detect cleanings, and it a coin is genuine or not.&nbsp; This will require a great amount of work, but it is necessary.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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