I think PCGS misattributed my coin

So PCGS is really starting to get on my nerves lately. So I sent them a 1947 Canadian Half Maple Leaf and what I thought could possibly be a Curved 7 variety. However, after sending it off to them I did a little more research and was convinced that they would say it was a Straight 7 variety. So the grades came in the other day and they attributed it as a Curved 7 and I was very happy, although still not convinced it was a Curved 7. I wanted to sell the coin and the book value is $3,300 in XF40, which is what it graded at. I put it up on eBay and within 3 hours I had someone email me and say it wasn't a Curved 7. So I guess what I'm asking is what do I do? Here is a picture of the coin for you to lend an opinion.

 

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I'm starting to shy away from PCGS. I've been reading a lot of bad about them.

 

Yeah I hear ya, but I'm annoyed because their mistake is the difference in almost $3,100. How do you mess that up?

 

They are horrendous at attributing foreign coins. I once had an Islamic gold coin of the 'Abbasid dynasty - slab that said "Islam king dinar." No mention of date, mint, or caliph.

 

If I was you I'd be happy. You're not the one who misattributed the coin and it's in the slab. Even if it is a straight 7 someone will buy it because of what the slab says and you'll be up $3,100 dollars.

 

Yeah as long as someone buys it and doesn't know what their talking about. I don't want to be the guy who misleads people into buying a bad coin. I just don't get how they do something like that.

 

Yes, they got it wrong. Your coin is a "straight 7" version.

See this link to the maximum size version of your PCGS pictures.

And, see this link (scroll down) to see that your coin is clearly what is called the "straight 7" version.

It is pretty well known that PCGS is not good at attributing World coin varieties (and sometimes, even very obvious US coin varieties).

 

If you submit proof of their mistake to customer service, maybe they will re-slab it on their dime.

 

I'm sorry, but this is a HORRIBLE approach to numismatics and honesty. PCGS got it wrong, and the coin should be sent back for a proper attribution. I would give them a call and complain....they should foot the bill for shipping back to them and back to you to fix their error. I hope you didn't pay too much for this coin. I mean, I hope you didn't pay curved 7 money for it from someone else.

 

I actually didn't pay anything for the coin, it was my great-grandmother's and I took it out and had it graded by PCGS along with a 1948 and a 1946 Hoof in 6. I put down in the variety box Curved 7 on the submission form, thinking it may be a Curved 7. It shouldn't matter what I put in the variety box, because it is up to them to properly attribute the coin.

 

Am I missing/not understanding something? This doesn't look like a Maple Leaf, either. PCGS will correct the mistake. They might make you pay to send it back, though.

 

This isn't cool. They should fix there mistake. And for the Selling it as something its not. That isn't cool. Would you want to be the one paying $3,100.00 for a $500-$600 dollar coin? I know I cant afford to loose big like that. If it were me I would do the right thing and send it back on there dime. or Clearly mark it as a mistake grading on there part and sell it as a mistake graded coin. at least then they know what they are getting into. or just save it. cool talking piece for your collection.

 

It is good that you pulled the auction i know lot of other seller who would still list it and make $$$.

Famous,
That is bit risky because people generally don't read descriptions'. And seller could on the hook if the buyer buys it based on picture also in some areas you can get into legal trouble for selling a item incorrectly labelled (i know there is market for mislabeled slabs).

 

I was trying to figure out whether any sort of PCGS value guarantee would come into play...?

 

I would definitely get it re attributed , If you leave it in the wrong slab someone down the line is bound to get burned , imagine if you were looking for a curved 7 variety and your Mom knew it and went out and bought the coin off of ebay for you , would you feel right knowing she over payed by thousands when you could have corrected it . The golden rule comes to mind here .

 

If someone had bought it I'd like to think pcgs would buy it back as it's there error.
But this looks like it would apply op and I'd push the issue on them paying to ship it back. I don't see why they wouldn't pay for shipping in back to them as they either pay a small amount now for shipping or potentially have to buy the coin back at some point for thousands due to their error.

Q: What should I do if my coin is labeled incorrectly?
A: PCGS will correct, free of charge, any mislabeled coins. Please fill out a submission form, mark "Other" as the service level, write in "Mechanical Error" and include a short note on the form describing the mistake. Be sure to write in the Declared Value for your coin. If you are not a Collectors Club member, please contact Customer Service at (800) 447-8848 or info@pcgs.com to have a submission form mailed to you. Please mark the outside of your shipping box "Mech. Error." PCGS will fix the label and reholder your coin in approximately 10 business days and ship the coin back to you free of charge.

 

Thats kinda what i thought. " imagine if you were looking for a curved 7 variety and your Mom knew it and went out and bought the coin off of ebay for you , would you feel right knowing she over payed by thousands when you could have corrected it "

 

and in one easy lesson my friends herein lies the problems with these grading companies, how much do the charge per coin? how many mistakes do they make? i have heard quite a few horror stories about mis-graded coins which only adds to my argument that every collector should be able to grade their own coins without lining someone elses wallet. these companies must make mega bucks out of collectors and i am happy to say i have never contributed to their wealth, just buy a good grading book and do it yourself instead of paying for someone else to do it for you.

 

When you are willing to pay someone else for something you can do for yourself two things are mostly to happen.
#1 The service will become so high in cost you will not be able to afford it.
#2 The service will be so sloppy you will not want it.

 

And, just to put it out there, for future reference: While I think this mistake is definitely PCGS's because of laziness or just simple ignorance -- if you are unsure of an attribution, don't pre-fill the PCGS form with what you "think" it might be. PCGS in all likelihood just simply assumed your attribution on the form was correct. Like I said earlier, they really are not very good at attributing World (non-USA) coins. I have seen dozens of mislabeled slabs. NGC also makes attribution mistakes, don't get me wrong. It just seems they make far fewer and less egregious mistakes on World coins than PCGS.

They call it "mechanical error", which is usually reserved for the label on the slab having a typographical error (e.g., calling something a Proof instead of a non-proof or typing the date incorrectly). When the entire sub-description of the variety is wrong then it's more than what I think of as a typical "mechanical error". Plain and simple, they screwed up.