Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GDJMSP, post: 19621, member: 112&quot;]You ask good questions&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />&nbsp; Let&#039;s see if I can answer them.</p><p><br /></p><p>Before one can say that a given coin is deserving of the grade assigned - you must qualify that statement by determining what grading standards you are going to compare it against. Rather obviously - if the coin is slabbed - the grading company in question thinks it met their standards. But does it meet yours ? And if so - what standards do you use ? This is the real question.</p><p><br /></p><p>Grading standards need to be defined - they need to be distinct for each individual grade. And they should not be arbitrary - they should not change. Certainly it is acceptable, and necessary, for examples of each coin series &amp; mint to be graded on its own. In this way the standards do change from one series and one mint to the next - but only in this way. Unfortunately this is not how the grading companies work - as their standards do change over time depending on market conditions.</p><p><br /></p><p>All the same - your standards should not change. But one does need to keep abreast of the changes taking place in the grading company standards so that you know what you are buying when you buy it. </p><p><br /></p><p>You say that there are thousands and thousands of 69 &amp; 70 coins out there. Well, you&#039;re correct, there are - at least for the Proof versions. But there are not many examples of MS69 &amp; 70. Even an MS68 is hard to find. Of course these numbers are assigned based on the standards used by the grading companies. And when you question this grade - what basis, or standard, are you using ? Is it a standard that you made up for yourself or is it a standard that others have told you about ? And if it is - where did they get it ? And is it an actual written set of standards or is it just some perceived notion ?</p><p><br /></p><p>This is why there is so much disagreement about grades. Very few use the same set of standards - or even have a set of standards. That is why there needs to be changes within the grading industry, and even more so amongst collectors. We need to all agree on the same set of standards. And until we do - then what we already have - chaos will result.[/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