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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;calcol, post: 3885372, member: 77639&quot;]A little clarification (I hope!<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />).&nbsp;&nbsp; I think grading standards have loosened a bit over the decades, but haven&#039;t seen definitive proof.&nbsp;&nbsp; So it&#039;s just a feeling or intuition.&nbsp; I pointed out in my original post that there is only one way to prove it.&nbsp;&nbsp; Pointing out individual coins or selected coins as a group that have gone up in grade won&#039;t do it.</p><p><br /></p><p>The intention of my original post was to point out that gradeflation, which I consider as established fact, can have two causes:&nbsp; 1.&nbsp; Loosening of grading standards, which is the subject of endless arguments.&nbsp;&nbsp; 2.&nbsp; Grade ratcheting, which definitely exists.&nbsp; As long as previously graded coins can be submitted with no chance of&nbsp; the grade going down, subjectivity in grading insures that some will get a higher grade.&nbsp; And this will happen even with no change in grading standards.</p><p><br /></p><p>In more statistical terms, for plus/minus variation in grading, the minus option has been taken away by the submission policies for reconsideration or regrading of coins submitted in their existing slab.&nbsp; There&#039;s only one way to change if change occurs, and that&#039;s to a higher grade.</p><p><br /></p><p>I chose the term &quot;ratcheting&quot; because the current grade is like the current position of a physical ratchet.&nbsp; And like a physical ratchet, if there is movement, it can only be in one way ... in this case, to a higher grade.&nbsp; Long term effect is to raise the population of graded coins to a higher average grade.</p><p><br /></p><p>Cal[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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