I continue to remind myself how much of a butthead I can be so often.

I recently dropped a bomb, sharing my frustration with my fellow collectors (you fine folks) about a masive submission to NGC under their bulk grading program. It really is a great program, just frustrating for s fairly high strung person such as myself. As most, if not all of you know, if one is a dealer (maybe a member of collectors society or the ANA) one can submit a ton of coins (minimum 100 all of the same type (ie Jefferson Nickels) and NGC's fabulous grading staff will prescreen them and grade the good one's with a minimum grade you specify and not grade one's that fall below that grade. There are several other items to take into account and one should contact NGC to discuss how it works but suffice i to say that a certain percentage (I don't know what it is) must grade at least as high as your minimum predetermnined grade, if not you can be charge $1 oer coin that does not meet the grade OR you can give permission to drop your minimum grade. Be prepared though, as one is not paying even close to premium, these sumissions are the absolute last to be graded so if you need them rathe rquick don't go this way.

I also sent in a few notes, five to be exact to PMG, just because I was curious what they would look like and what they would grade.

Just when I am ready to blow my stack here's what happened:

1) PMG grded, finalized and shipped my items within 2 days of my posting. I am absolutely thrilled by the results and the presentation of their holders. The even allowed me to place my name on the holder "Thompson Collection" at no charge. Very, very cool and at no extra chharge.

2) On Friday last I looked at the NGC Dealer Portal just to see in the off chance that any work had been done on y Nickels. Much to my surprise I saw that 318 had been graded and were in quality control. Ah quality control, pergatory for we coin affecianados. This means (at least) another week before shipping the coins. So...today, just for fun, I look on the NGC Dealer Portal and what do I see? Finalized, imaged and shipped.

Did I score big with the submissions? Not really with the Nickels. I will be able to share them with my fellow collectors to fill in their sets and maybe even save a few for myself (I did get 1 MS-67).

Did I score big with the PMG submissions? Actually yes, I had a 1928A Silver Certificate Woods/Mellon Funnyback come back at MS-64. I am trying to get a picture up for all to see, it turned out great.

Thanks for everything NGC and PMG. Nice work and keep up the great work. You sett the standard in customer service and quality.