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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Leadfoot, post: 1540519, member: 2972&quot;]If you expect to understand TPG grading of coins, you will have to set aside your preconceptions as to what&#039;s &quot;RIGHT&quot; and what&#039;s &quot;WRONG&quot;, but rather observe and try and figure out what &quot;IS&quot; and &quot;IS NOT&quot; -- and forget about &quot;consistency&quot; across grading standards with different types of coins, because you will not find it across series in TPG graded coins.&nbsp; Heck, even within a series it&#039;s not applied consistency by the TPGs (for example, take a look at this recent thread: <a href="http://www.cointalk.com/t214263/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.cointalk.com/t214263/">http://www.cointalk.com/t214263/</a> ).</p><p><br /></p><p>And FWIW, St. Gaudens DO follow a strict grading system in practice, but it is subjective in nature, particularly within the bounds of TPG grading as it applies to MS/AU coins.&nbsp; As compared with ANA standards, TPGs are much more nuanced in nature -- which is related to the difference between technical (ANA) and market (TPG) grading -- and this nuanced nature is part of the argument for those who prefer a more objective view of grading (ANA).</p><p><br /></p><p>Using your example, and with respect to TPGs, sometimes 2+2=4 and other times 2+2=5.&nbsp; The sooner you get past your aversion to this the sooner you will truly understand TPG grading and be able to predict it with some level of accuracy.</p><p><br /></p><p>IMO and respectfully submitted...Mike</p><p><br /></p><p>p.s. Mark, You are welcome.&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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