Thought I had filled a slot with a key date except for one small detail

There isn't a collector among us, who I'm sure owns at least one coin that they feel is undergraded. I feel the reason for this is due to one primary aspect of grading--that is Eye Appeal. Unfortunately grading-even by the 2 big TPG's- is always going to be subjective.

All of us with any experience in the hobby understand the main criteria used in grading-contact marks, hairlines, luster, wear on circulated coins. However this will get you to a technical point for an iffy range--then everything gets thrown out practically as "eye appeal" is then gauged.

As a Walker collector who has looked at thousands of this series I'll use them as an example.... A coin may be very clean/clear of marks ( virtually pristine) average to well struck for the date and mint and with frosty luster and this coin is likely to get an MS66 or 67. They just don't give the "white" Walkers higher grades than 67 simply because there are thousands and thousands and they don't catch the eye as much-even in near perfect condition.

However I have seen repeatedly coins with weak strikes--flat head on Liberty, no discernable thumb and incomplete skirt lines ( and not just S mints)--I have seen such coins even with chatter in the fields get that same MS67 grade if the coin has some attractive rim toning or satiny luster. Now I'm not saying anything is wrong with either, it's just the way it is. If one is a collector you must understand this subjectiveness or you'll pull your hair out wondering why your obviously superior technical coin is lower grade than that scuffed, weakly struck toned coin. ( not to mention it may cost you a few bucks if you start fruitlessly sending in your coins for regrade.)

Well I've gotten way off of track from my original journal intent-- which I tend to do-- it was not meant to be about the subjective and eye appeal aspect of grading and how HUGE it is ( when a single point in grade can mean $500 or $5000 value-it's pretty huge).

I also wanted to mention the human aspect--which is sometimes things just get missed. It is an effort to failsafe this by having 3 seperate graders look at each coin--but I've studied enough about the human brain to know how easily it fools itself. So it is not surprising that just plain old errors occur.

I had recently purchased a 1914 Barber to fill a slot in my "Fine to XF Only set". I ended up being pretty disappointed when I had purchased a coin that was suitable in quality and in a middling grade that wasn't too expensive, only to find that there was one detail that ruined my deal.

The 3 graders at PCGS had missed it, the consignor to auction missed it ( giving the benefit of the doubt) and the auctioneer missed it-- but the 1914 I purchased when viewed under magnification was actually a 1914-S with the S either altered or abnormally worn to the point of being barely visible to the naked eye. It is one of those things that once someone points it out to you it is obvious however I can see how it was missed. Especially if the submitter had entered 1914 on his invoice and the 3 graders weren't looking very closely for it. ( you do know that the vast majority of coins get 3 to 5 seconds of perusal for grading by each grader, right?) I can see it now............

Grader #1: Barber Half 1914--hmmmmm, uncleaned, no enviro damage, dings or gouges.....obverse has all letters of LIBERTY legible and reverse has full shield/lines..VF20...NEXT...( passes it to grader #2-repeat...

Well, I'm starting to really ramble. I'm not going to mention the TPG or Auctioneer by name--after all, to err is human I do want to say however that with a single phone call the transaction was voided and an assurance of refund was given to me. A tiny little error for a tiny little worn mintmark but the value of the 1914 in VF is $500-600 and the 14-S is $150-180..happy hunting

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