An amusing find in my coins.

While sorting through my coins deciding on what I want to focus on and what coins will be sold, I came across and amusing (to me anyway) on the NGC vs. PCGS pricing difference.

I truly feel the ONLY reason PCGS coins are valued differently (mostly higher) than NGC is PCGS graded coins are the only ones allowed in the PCGS set registry. To me, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand this. I follow the precept of "buy the coin and not the holder. Given the same coin, in the same grade, with the same eye appeal, I'm probably going to buy the one that is less expensive. Quite frankly, I feel both grading services do their best, but I prefer NGC because of their more reasonable grading fees. So if the coin meets with my tests of quality, it doesn't really matter which grading service slab it's in.

Now to the amusing part, I feel PCGS talks themselves up as the best. While looking at my Trade Dollars, I'm keeping one of the 5 I have, I would like to make a matched set of AU coins. So imagine my amusement with the 2 coins (shown in the picture), which are both graded AU58 by PCGS. The one on the left is the keeper, it's an 1878-S. To my eye, it has very nice luster and is well struck. To the right is the one I'm going to sell, it's and 1876. Now, again note both coins are graded the exact same grade, but I DO NOT FEEL the 1876 is anywhere close to AU58. First off, supposedly eye appeal is a (major?) factor in determining grade, and there is no way the 1876 is close to the 1878-S. It's toned, not obnoxiously so, but still does not have the luster of the 1878-S

Now the second reason is the test. I would like to hear from other Society members as to the big reason I don't feel these 2 coins are the same grade. (I do feel the 1876 is either AU50 or 53.) What do you all think I saw under my glass. It's on the reverse, hopefully you can see it in the pictures.

All for now.