Grading coins

[Arne]

Good afternoon all, I have recently managed to purchase a few proof four coin Britannia sets in various years, I have done this as an exercise really on the basis of cost. I am intending once I have received the coins and given them the once over to see about getting some of them graded, without sounding like a cheapskate is there any one or where they can be looked at to see if any / all are worth grading rather than actually sending them to the graders, this maybe so obvious to more experienced collectors which I do not profes to be, so if anyone can offer anything constructive I would be very very grateful.

Thanking you in advance for any replies ,enjoy the rest of your day.

Regards arne.

[James32]

12 minutes ago, Arne said:

Good afternoon all, I have recently managed to purchase a few proof four coin Britannia sets in various years, I have done this as an exercise really on the basis of cost. I am intending once I have received the coins and given them the once over to see about getting some of them graded, without sounding like a cheapskate is there any one or where they can be looked at to see if any / all are worth grading rather than actually sending them to the graders, this maybe so obvious to more experienced collectors which I do not profes to be, so if anyone can offer anything constructive I would be very very grateful.

Thanking you in advance for any replies ,enjoy the rest of your day.

Regards arne.

@GoldDiggerDave

[GoldDiggerDave]

Here is my honest 10p worth.    If a coin has any marks hairlines etc it is very unlikely to grade high.  Even if the silver coins and I stress silver are brand new and look good they still are proving very difficult to grade and get the top marks everyone wants.    With new gold proof coins its 98-99% PF70UC with new silvers its 50-60% ish if you are lucky to get the top marks.  I don't know what it is but silvers are being shredded my both the NGC and PCGS.

 

Can you look at a coin and say it will get a 70   no.   You have to pay the entrance price and ride the grading rollercoaster!  

 

[Arne]

Thank you for your 10 pence worth gd Dave I do appreciate your time and effort to reply I still have some sovereigns I would like you to take a look at. I am away for a few days but on my return if I may I will pm you regarding these.

Many thanks regards arne.

[AndrewSL76]

Presuming that this discussion is all about modern coins? If it is about older proof or circulating coins then hairlines or small marks are not so significant. You won't get a PF/PR70 or MS70 on any coin that is from the Victoria or Edward/George V period.

I grade with PCGS and do quite well with the circulating half sovereigns and some old silver. I cannot assist with the grading process itself - though I have helped a few people in the past (but cannot at the moment) - but if you open an account with NGC or PCGS you can just do this yourself and it is very very very easy. You just have to fill out the form and send the coins! If you only have one or two a year etc. then makes sense to use a third party, otherwise just do it yourself and treat the cost as part of the education fee. I have graded a LOT of coins through NGC and PCGS for myself (that I either keep or sell via auction) and recommend it as it is an interesting process and you have full control over the submission and tracking. At this time I am only grading via PCGS because for personal reasons I will not deal with the clowns at NGC London.

Cheers.

[GoldDiggerDave]

@Arne I’m doing a comparison soon of the graded 2oz silver gothic reverse coin.

@CoinStruck has kindly sent me his very conservatively graded PF67UC from PCGS……need to talk to my mate @Darr3nG to see if he still has a few of these it would be good to look at PF70UC to PF67UC to see if we can see any difference. 
 

[AndrewSL76]

Sometimes I think to really understand the difference between a PF69 and a PF70 you need to know the grader’s star sign and/or whether they are in a good mood that day. For me grading is only properly relevant for non-modern.

Bearing in mind the process of grading and second pair of eyes approach, I think considering star signs and mood swings means a complex approach……

[GoldDiggerDave]

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Edited March 5, 2023 by GoldDiggerDave

[Arne]

Thank you for those that have past comment on my post I am getting more of an idea of which direction / path to follow, I do appreciate any advice. Regards all arne.

[GoldDiggerDave]

15 minutes ago, Arne said:

Thank you for those that have past comment on my post I am getting more of an idea of which direction / path to follow, I do appreciate any advice. Regards all arne.

No one really knows, someone tried to talk me out of buying the 2oz gold Una and the Lion,  It's all about what right for the individual.  Its not solely about making money, graded coins are good for a point of reference, I am building a graded run of George 5th sovereigns trying to get a very good spread  from AU 53 upwards to MS 66 .