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Message:: [QUOTE="statequarterguy, post: 1875809, member: 21782"]Sure, they've loosened the standards, the Red Book calls it "gradeflation".  I've noticed it most with the next generation of PCGS slabs after the green label – compared to today’s slabs, you can often ad a grade to the green label. The last time I read the PCGS standards they said a PR69 should only have flaws visible at 5x magnification, but most 69's I see have flaws visible with the naked eye.  I’ve also noticed some crazy high grades on hoards.  I bought a 1956 Omaha Hoard MS65 Franklin and returned it, as I have MS63’s that look better.  It will be interesting to see what the Saddle Ridge Hoard actually looks like compared to previous top pops. I guess it increases their profit by satisfying more customers, especially the big sellers, with higher grades on their slabs, although, IMO, it lessens their credibility. Even if the collector doesn't follow the rule, "Buy the coin, not the slab", the higher graded coins are worth less than they would be if standards were stricter, because there's more high grades out there.[/QUOTE]