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Two basic grading questions

Started by HiHoAudio,

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HiHoAudio

HiHoAudio

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I have been meaning to ask these two questions for awhile.

 

1) Is the grade that NGC assigns a coin the average of the obverse and reverse or is it determined by the lower side? For example, if the obverse of a coin grades MS63 while the reverse grades MS65, will the coin merit a MS64 (average) or a MS63 (based on the obverse)?

 

2) How many people are involved in grading one coin? Is it one person who best knows the series or a consensus by several graders?

 

Thank you.

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RMontgomery

RMontgomery

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When grading, particularly in the uncirculated range, one should figure that the obverse commands a significantly higher weight than the reverse when factoring the overall grade assigned. I generally feel that the obverse represents 65-70% of the overall grade and also to the point that as the obverse goes, so goes the rest of the coin. Therefore, should the obverse of the coin grade a 60, that's going to be the grade. The reverse really won't influence that grade higher. If the obverse is 65 and the reverse a 63, then that coin will be pulled down to a maximum grade of 64. A 65 obverse combined with an even worse reverse will likewise lower the grade further.

 

Rick Montgomery

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