After sleeping on it and reading other opinions on the issue of NGC detail grading, I can see the bigger picture.

Thank you Society members for chiming in on the issue of details grading. After reading up on the issue and sleeping on it, I am thinking clearer on the subject.

Our coins are national treasures and an important part of our nation?s history. As hobbyists, whether we realize it or not, we are entrusted with continuing a legacy for future generations by ensuring our coins are preserved. Even a raw Mercury dime set that I own with coins grading mostly good to very good is housed in an intercept folder. To the extent that detail grading encourages coin conservation, I am all for it.

In Numismatics, there is a finite supply of coins for a larger demand. Generally, this is a good thing because it increases the value of all our coins. However, this great demand and increased value encourages counterfeiting also. To the extent that detail grading promotes encapsulating whatever raw coins are left in the marketplace and discourages counterfeiting, I am all for it. In fact, I think this is a win, win proposition. Normally, an increased supply brings down prices. I would argue that the demand for non-problem coins would always be higher than that of problem coins, maintaining the value of the non-problem coin. With increased supply come options for those with budgets that are more limited. Rather than buy raw coins, the person with a limited budget can buy a problem coin at a discount rate. This protects the seller and buyer alike and decreases the demand for raw coins and potentially counterfeit coins.

The portion of this new policy that leaves me a little hesitant is the 50% points. I think my desire to populate my registry sets with the best coins I can afford fuels this hesitancy. On the other hand, as I was checking the points I could have with my problem coins, I stand to gain a lot in terms of overall points. Now this is my dilemma, do I take the purist stand or do I take the benefit. After giving this some thought, I concluded that it is in our nature as humans to compete. This is what NGC and PCGS are encouraging with their registries. NGC, understanding human nature, effectually goes a long way in establishing and maintaining a numismatic legacy for future generations. There are some super sets out there, and I thoroughly enjoy perusing those sets and dreaming of what I could do with a little more money. Coins at 50% value will never challenge the top sets, but will allow wannabes, such as myself to complete a set or two. The more complete registry sets that there are, the greater the legacy we leave behind, regardless of the coins that populate the sets. Besides, I cannot compete with sets that are 30-50% complete either, so I might as well try to complete as many sets as I can and upgrade them when my budget allows it. In summary, I think I will take the benefit.

Pictured below is ?the Charlie Brown Christmas tree? of coins, my genuine ANACS Dahlonega half eagle. This coin though butchered deserves a place in the registry, if for no other reason than that it is an important piece of our numismatic heritage from an obscure branch mint. Thank you NGC for recognizing this.

Gary