Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;cpm9ball, post: 901218, member: 24633&quot;]Of course the TPG&#039;s are going to make mistakes, but you must keep in mind that the graders &quot;go to bat&quot; thousands of times per week. I&#039;d like to see a pro ball player have that many &quot;at bats&quot; per week and still maintain a .750, .800 or .850 average.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Yes, grading is subjective, and the major grading services can and will vary in their opinions, but once you have looked at thousands of certified examples (going to coin shows helps) you will begin to see trends in how those opinions are formed. It is best to stick to the top two, NGC &amp; PCGS (in no particular order). Next in line are probably ICG &amp; ANACS, but below that, all of the rest are considered <b>third-world</b> grading services that will consistently over-grade and/or slab problem coins.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Naturally, you don&#039;t want to get ripped off or overpay for a coin, and that is where searching auction archives can help you determine a reasonable price. Price guides like the Red Book, Coin Values or Numismedia are all just that, guides! Most of them list prices that are often higher than true retail. The CDN Greysheet can also help because it gives you ballpark figures of what most dealers are willing to pay for sight-seen coins.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>If your sole purpose for collecting coins is to maximize the return on your investment, then forget it. Buy real estate! But, if you find pleasure in collecting coins as a hobby, you will never go wrong. You&#039;ll make some mistakes along the way. Anyone who says they haven&#039;t is only fooling themselves. Take your time and don&#039;t make rash purchases. Asking questions in forums like this before you make your decision will help to minimize those mistakes. Sure, you&#039;ll get varying opinions, but if we all thought the same, this world would be pretty boring.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The most important thing is to have fun!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Chris[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in