If you send a coin to a TPG to get slabbed, what will they do if they notice a variety during the grading process that would increase the value of the coin? I am wondering if they would contact you to see if you would like to get the variety attributed or just grade it as usual. Thanks, TC
There are a few varieties that are well known enough that if they are noticed they will go ahead and identify them, but in general no they will just grade the coin and no mention of the variety will be made on the slab or to the submitter.
If it's a major variety they'll ID it, for minor varieties they won't. For instance, consider chain cents. The S-1 variety is a major variety and instantly spotted, even on seriously worn coins - it's the AMERI reverse, and they'll say AMERI on the certificate. The same is true of the S-4 variety (periods after date and LIBERTY). However, they will not ID the minor differences between a S-2 and S-3 chain cent. So what is the dividing line bewteen major and minor ? Roughly speaking, it's The Red Book. Generally, if it's a Red Book variety, they'll ID it for free. More precisely, it comes down to their coin numbering system. If it's a unique coin in their book, they ID it. Their book tends to follow the Red Book. They publish their coin numbering system on their website.
