Zebo

Thank you!

 

I just added a custom set for the 1945 - 7 "American sovereign" which was a gold coin the Philadelphia Mint made for Saudi Arabia. I could post a picture and write-up box for my 1947 one pound piece that is PCGS graded, but now I can!

 

I looked at your "American Sovereign" set and found it fascinating! I had no idea that we made payments to Saudi Arabia after WWII with Philadelphia minted gold disks. The irony of it is that while our government could pay it's debts in gold, the American people were forbidden from even owning gold, let alone pay anyone with it.

Gary

I have placed a few bids on both of the American Sovereigns with no luck (yet). Interesting history and they would go nicely with my soverign sets. For now - I can look at Bill's.

If what he says here is true

 

 

That is an enormous *IF*

 

And that is where Mark and I disagree.

 

NGC and PCGS have both changed their standards over time. It's inevitable, it is unsurprising, and everyone knows it. NGC has not remained perfectly constant over 30 years - it just isn't possible.

 

There are 2 other fallacious assumptions embedded in this announcement:

 

1. PCGS has had a serious decline over the past couple of years. I'm not sure this is true. You can pick a half dozen examples and try to build a case that PCGS is slipping, but I can pick a half dozen overgraded, cleaned coins in NGC holders. Shoot, I'll bet someone could find enough cleaned/AT/problem coins with CAC stickers to make a case that they are shoddy as well.

 

2. NGC is better than PCGS. No, actually, y'all are pretty much equal. There are areas that one of you is clearly better (I've said it many times before), there are areas where one of you is worse. On average, you were pretty much equal. The thing that set NGC apart, their openness and willingness to listen to the customers, have both pretty much been obliterated by this announcement.

 

In fairness to NGC, however, Dena responded to my request to cancel my membership and give me a refund. They are going to refund my membership, and she said that all feedback is being forwarded to Mark Salzberg. I really hope he listens and rescinds this announcement. If NGC rescinds this decision, I will immediately renew my membership and restore my Registry sets.

On a positive note -- Dena is great to work with and she represents the company well.

After digging into a few registry sets I see that even though your PCGS coins are given a score in the NGC registry they are not included in the total. Therefore there has been no advantage with PCGS coins except for show. Example I note is Dr. Mark Dixon set of proof Franklins. His PCGS coins are scored but not tallied for totals.

I disagree - my PCGS coins have points that count towards the total score. As for the custom sets - I agree with most everyone. It is nice to have them included. If PCGS is over grading their coins (again) then do not nclude the grade. Over grading is a great way to increase business of resubmitting for higher grades. Too bad!

I agree with Coinman - I do not believe the Supreme Court will hear the case.

Intreresting and compelling set. Wish I thought of it.