NCG Versus PCGS

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Richard1972, Jul 20, 2008.

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  1. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Ruben do you realize what the mechanics of grading at a TPG are ? NGC for example grades 150,000 coins a month. Now that isn't 30 days as you might think. First of all there are only 23,24 working days in a month. Then you have to subtract the days the graders go to coin shows. Let's say that's 5 to 6 days a month. That leaves them with 18 days to grade 150,000 coins. And NGC or PCGS has, (someone can correct me if I am wrong) 8 or 9 graders each. And there are 4 of them in the grading room at a time, all grading each and every coin. Do the math.

    Oh yeah, and all 4 of them have to know how to grade any coin, not just one or two of them - all of them. Any coin that comes in they have to know how to grade it. And they also have to know how to tell if it is real or not, if it has been altered or not, if it has been harshly cleaned or not.

    This isn't something you just "teach" anybody. These people are experts who have spent their lives learning how to do this. Yeah there are a few who have the knack and they pick it up quickly and at a young age. But even they have been doing since they were kids - still takes years.

    It's an art Ruben, it is not a science. And there is no measurement or instrument to help them. They just "know" their jobs.
     
    GDJMSP, Oct 29, 2008
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  3. mrbrklyn

    mrbrklyn New Member

    I know, but I'm talking about a staff of maybe 100 graders, or even 1000, each which has expertise in a small area, which they repeatedly do to a measurable perfection.

    Ruben
     
    mrbrklyn, Oct 29, 2008
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  4. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Well that's my point, you aren't talking about the real world. And in all honesty, your idea wouldn't work in the real world. The cost would be outrageous and there are no where near that many graders.
     
    GDJMSP, Oct 29, 2008
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  5. Arizona Jack

    Arizona Jack The Lincoln-ator

    I had a total of 7 MS-65 RD 1909-VDB's at my table this weekend, 4 were PCGS and 3 were NGC.

    Sold the NGC's $15 cheaper and sold 2 of them @$200 each.......they were the nicest of the 7, sold zero PCGS's....

    The buyers were picky and chose the NGC in this case only, usually they'll go for the PCGS, but we tried to get them to buy the coin and not the holder, and they did. The NGC coins were the best COINS
     
    Arizona Jack, Oct 29, 2008
    #64 + Quote Reply
  6. mralexanderb

    mralexanderb Coin Collector

    Glad to hear that they're going for the coin and not the slab...

    Bruce
     
    mralexanderb, Oct 29, 2008
    #65 + Quote Reply
  7. mrbrklyn

    mrbrklyn New Member

    Well in the real world my metthod would allow them to grade perhaps a million coins a year instead of 100,0000 and grade them with more accuracy because there is no such thing as a human craft that can't be validated and described tatistically. in fact that is one of the first rules of validation.

    Ruben
     
    mrbrklyn, Oct 29, 2008
    #66 + Quote Reply
  8. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Ruben - you didn't read correctly. They grade 150,000 a month - or 1.8 million per year as it is.
     
    GDJMSP, Oct 29, 2008
    #67 + Quote Reply
  9. mrbrklyn

    mrbrklyn New Member

    regardless, what ever the production is it can be generally brought up to 10 times speed with specialization under a validated process.

    Although it is impressive that so few graders can cover than many coins. It gives me even less confidence in the grades.

    This is not a criticism of the graders, but an evaluation of the grading process. It is ridicules to have 8-9 graders, 4 in a room at the same time, to grade anything that comes in the door, $150,000 coins a month and do authentication as well.

    You have to break this down into specializations and find talent that can differentiate different segments of the product line.


    Ruben
     
    mrbrklyn, Oct 29, 2008
    #68 + Quote Reply
  10. rlm's cents

    rlm's cents Numismatist

    Ruben,
    If your business plan is that much better and your grading is superior to what NGC and PCGS are doing today, I am sure that it will be rapidly accepted by the collecting community and a chance for you to become wealthy. Here is a chance for you to get a quick start
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200267940023

    FWIW, their last listing was for $50,000. I am guessing they would accept tht offer as BIN.
     
    rlm's cents, Oct 29, 2008
    #69 + Quote Reply
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