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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;brg5658, post: 2405058, member: 29751&quot;]I think a lot of the OPs &quot;gripe&quot; is due to the area where he collects.&nbsp; A huge amount of the TPGs business is in the slabbing of uber-common bullion.&nbsp; In that arena, it&#039;s all smoke and mirrors, and arbitrary and unwarranted mark ups for the &quot;magical&quot; 70.&nbsp; If your goal is to hoard silver and gold bullion, then TPGs should never be a part of that equation IMO.</p><p><br /></p><p>I do personally think TPGs serve a purpose, but I am also of the philosophy that people take them too seriously and that micro-grading differences have really consumed the hyper-competitive registry players.&nbsp; There is often no defensible difference between an MS66 and MS67 graded classic silver coin, but the price tags could be multiples in difference.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>The crossover, regrading, maxing out, and registry games have filled the pockets of dealers who sell the &quot;best of the best&quot; -- think Legend Numismatics here where they sell PCGS graded coins only, and rave about how they are for the most discerning collectors.&nbsp; In reality, they provide investments for billionaires and millionaires who don&#039;t give one toot about numismatics, history, or the hobby.&nbsp; That model seems to have subsumed much of the hobby, and if you visit the PCGS coin forums, you will quickly see how many have drank the kool-aid.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have been slowly getting out of collecting USA coins.&nbsp; The prices are simply silly for inconsequential differences in assigned numerical grade.&nbsp; The vast majority of collectors have been hoodwinked into thinking the grade on the label is somehow magical and infallible.&nbsp; The TPGs have also been enablers of the madness that ensues after the US Mint releases a new &quot;limited edition&quot; trinket.&nbsp; For example, the new 2016 Gold Mercury Dime was followed by immediate flipping and hype, only worsened by the TPGs.&nbsp; The double-whammy US Mint / TPG machine really brings out the sleaziest of the hobby, and I just don&#039;t care to be a part of that.</p><p><br /></p><p>OK, rant over.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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