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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Insider, post: 3029158, member: 24314&quot;]I am the ICG grader who looked at the coins in Sarasota.&nbsp; This post provides me an excellent opportunity to explain the inner workings of <b><span style="color: #b30000">ALL TPGS</span></b> as they pertain to grading.&nbsp; It will also become a topic for my <i>Numismatic News</i> grading column so THANKS! <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie50" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> I wish more folks took the time to do tests such as this!</p><p><br /></p><p>I have looked up the ICG internal records and will be able to post my show opinion, the owners opinion, my grading opinion in the office, and the grading opinion of the ICG Finalizer (a 40+ year professional numismatist).&nbsp; It will take a while to write what I have promised as so many factors are involved.&nbsp; Folks interested in my comments will need to wait a few days. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie3" alt=":(" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp; </p><p>So as not to keep you waiting, I see nothing in the above post that needs to be defended either concerning myself or ICG. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie7" alt=":p" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> I understand the reasons for each grade and after I write my comments, I believe members will understand how things work - &quot;in the real world.&quot;&nbsp; For now I&#039;ll leave you with these thoughts. </p><p><br /></p><p>1. There is a sign on our table that ICG show opinions are just that and not binding. </p><p><br /></p><p>2. Your personal grading standards are not the same as mine, not the same as others, and not the same as those of the TPGS&#039;s.&nbsp; <b><i><u><span style="color: #ff0000">Buy the coin and not the label</span></u></i></b>.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. There are examples of over graded, under graded, correctly graded coins in <b><span style="color: #b300b3">EVERY</span></b> MAJOR TPGS SLAB.</p><p><br /></p><p>4. There are examples of coins with <span style="color: #ff0000">obvious problems</span> that are <span style="color: #00b300">straight graded</span> in <b><span style="color: #b300b3">EVERY</span></b> MAJOR TPGS SLAB.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Finally, as the OP wrote above, I tell it straight with no holds barred no matter if a coin is &quot;raw&quot; or whose slab it is in! </p><p><br /></p><p>PS <i>Nonsense, such as jokes about ANY particular TPGS is not tolerated on the PCGS forum.&nbsp; <span style="color: #b30059">I found that out the hard way when I posted what I thought was another humorous interpretation of what the ICG initials stand for and received a severe warning!</span></i><span style="color: #000066">&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie46" alt=":facepalm:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie10" alt=":oops:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></span></p><p><span style="color: #000066"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #000066">To be continued...</span>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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